Spice Up Your Cooking With Fresh Culinary Herbs From The Garden

By Jeff Glasser

Nothing can make a difference in a meal like adding fresh herbs instead of dried herbs. You can get fresh herbs at your grocery store but they do not store for very long and they can be expensive. Creating your own culinary herb garden is one alternative. Most herbs are easy to grow and maintain and can continue to provide for you throughout the course of the year.

With small pots and a few packages of seeds you can begin growing your own culinary herb garden right in your own kitchen. If you would prefer to keep your plants outside you will have no problem creating a culinary herb garden there either.

Plant Different Types Of Culinary Herbs In Your Garden

It is fun to create a culinary herbal garden that features multiple types of plants. One popular herb plant that should certainly be in a culinary garden is sweet basil. Basil smells wonderful when it's growing and brings so much additional flavor to meals when added fresh. Dried basil is generally unable to capture the true taste of basil. If you like to make your own pesto now you can have your own fresh basil to use in it.

Growing rosemary in your garden serves two purposes. Today it is predominantly used in a culinary fashion. Foods in the Mediterranean region are commonly seasoned with Rosemary. As an added bonus rosemary is a source of iron and calcium. Rosemary can also be used in a medicinal form as well.

You might want to make sure you have some Thyme planted in your culinary herb garden if you enjoy Greek, French, or even Spanish cooking. This herb is used to add flavor to a variety of meats and adds a little flavor kick to eggs. Thyme also has antiseptic qualities that have been used for centuries.

Sage makes another great addition to a culinary herb garden and has the added bonus of producing beautiful flowers. Sage is said to have numerous medicinal benefits as well.

Whatever you decide to plant, do not forget to have a little fun with your garden. With the different varieties of plants you have selected create a unique herb garden design. Organize them according to how they are used. Just make sure wherever your herb plants are located they are meeting the requirements they need to grow and have the appropriate amount of space. Otherwise your hard work will be wasted and you will be forced to start all over again.

Nothing can make a difference in a meal like adding fresh herbs. With tiny pots and a some packages of seeds you can start cultivating your own culinary herb garden right in your own kitchen

Get The Family Involved With A Chia Herb Garden

By Jeff Glasser

With the new chia herb garden growing your herbs has never been easier. Everything you need to grow your herbs comes packaged with this set. With the chia herb garden, growing herbs is so easy it offers a great way to get children involved in the fun. Everyone can have their own herb to take care of as each kit comes with multiple pots and seeds. From seed to in your food, this kit will provide your family with a lot of fun as you grow your own herb garden for the kitchen.

What Comes With A Chia Herb Garden

Four small terra cotta pots with matching saucers comes with each chia herb garden kit. Saucer liners are also included which will help prevent water from leaking through the terra cotta saucer. Their simple decorative design will look great in your kitchen.

You have a little bit of a choice as to what you want to plant in the terra cotta pots as six different types of seed packets are provided. The varieties of seeds included with your chia herb garden are dill, sweet basil, curled parsley, chives, cilantro, and sweet marjoram.

A plant marker for each of the six varieties of herbs can be used to identify which pot contains which herb.

Also, packaged in the set are four specially designed chia growing sponges. These will provide the medium in which your seeds will grow.

The most important piece of your chia herb garden kit is going to be the directions. In the direction booklet you will find everything you need to know about growing and maintaining your herbs from seed to maturity. Also included in the direction booklet are a number of recipes that incorporate the fresh herbs you are growing in your chia herb garden.

How Do I Grow My Chia Herb Garden

You can easily plant your chia herb garden in a few simple steps. The first thing you will need to do is moisten the chia growing sponges for each of the pots. Drop one into each of the four pots once they have taken form.

After you have chosen your four seed varieties take the first package and distribute the seeds on top of the chia growing sponge. Continue the same process for the other three seed packages.

You will begin to see your seeds sprout with regular watering. Once they reach a certain size you will be able to transplant them to an outdoor garden if you wish too. The instruction book covers transplanting if you decide to do it.

Growing your herbs has never been easier with the new chia herb garden. This set comes packaged with everything you need to grow your herbs...Browse more no cost articles at www.organicgardening.jsgenterprises.com.

So You Want To Plant A Herb Garden?

by Rachel Ray

Herbs have been around for a very long time and served different kinds of purposes. They have been used to treat sickness and season cooking as well as being used in many craft projects. Interested in starting your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to begin an herb garden.

Plan your garden. Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials? Are you wanting certain plants for cooking, or another purpose?
How much space will they occupy when they are full grown? You can purchase a book or go to the library that can give you the right information on what specific plant's requirements for each variety. You can also check out a gardening book or catalog or the nursery you purchase plants from to give you that information. You'll want to look at sunlight needs as well.

Make your garden plan on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won't be in danger of getting dug up, or try to place them in an area of the garden all their own.

Another thing to remember is that you should plant the tall ones at the back and the shorter ones in front. Provide your plants with enough space to grow and also consider their sunlight requirements. Proper position shall help you in this area.

If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole. Use a great quality potting soil and make sure it has proper drainage.

You can design your garden in a creative manner. Try using a wooden ladder or wagon wheel and lay on top of the garden. Then plant your plants in between the sections for a square or circular division and interesting look.

Different plants have various requirements, but many of them need alkaline soil. This is the reason why it's important to discover your plants needs before you begin the planting process. If you germinate your herbs from seeds on your own, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature and when it's safe to plant them in the spring.

Herbs can be very easy to grow on your own. Give each plant it's basic requirements in regards to sunlight, proper drainage, moisture and fertile soil and you're bound to get a great harvest.

Think about harvest time as well. What will you do with them? Eat or cook them fresh? Freeze or otherwise preserve them? You'll discover after your first year which ones you really liked and were useful to you, and which didn't work out as you would have liked. So next year your herb garden can be even better with more experience under your belt.

About the Author:

By Rachel Ray an avid gardener who loves getting out there in the clean air. Drop by her site for resources dedicated to assisting family and career life be more comfortable .

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A Guide To A Beginner's Herb Garden

by Rachel Ray

Herbs have been around forever it seems and serve different kinds of purposes. Herbs have been used to treat illness, maladies, and flavor cooking as well as being used in many craft type projects. Interested in starting your own herb garden? Here are a few pointers on how to start an herb garden.

Time to come up with a plan. Think about the various types of herbs you'd like to try and the purpose of those herbs, such as for specific recipes, etc. Would they be annuals, biennials or perennials? Make a wish list.

Time to research some specific information on those plants. How big will they be full grown? What are their sunshine and soil requirements? You can get a book at the library or gardening catalog of some type that will list those variables for you.

Make your garden plan on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won't be in danger of getting dug up, or try to place them in an area of the garden all their own.

Some tips would be to consider planting the taller plants towards the back of the garden and the shorter ones in front. Give your plants plenty of space to grow and mature to avoid overcrowding. Be sure to consider their sunlight requirements as well when choosing which to position to plant each plant.

If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole. Use a great quality potting soil and make sure it has proper drainage.

You can also have a square shaped herb bedding area. You can divide your square bed into sections. Consider edging it with stones or bricks for a lovely look . A wooden ladder can be used as well. You lay it down on your garden and plant your herbs between its rungs as a divider. You can opt to use a wagon wheel in the bedding. Planting is like planting with the wooden ladders only it will be a circular shape.

Different plants have various requirements, but many of them need alkaline soil. This is the reason why it's important to discover your plants needs before you begin the planting process. If you germinate your herbs from seeds on your own, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature and when it's safe to plant them in the spring.

Herbs are some of the simplest plants to grow. You need to provide them with effective drainage, sunlight, enough humidity or moisture and fertile soil. With these basic conditions they are bound to produce an awesome harvest.

You'll also want to consider what you plan to do with the harvest. Will you cook them fresh? Freeze or preserve them in some other way? You'll discover that you have some favorites each year and which ones didn't perform as you would have hoped.

About the Author:

By Rachel Ray an avid gardener who enjoys being out there in the clean air. Visit her site for ideas dedicated to assisting home and career life be more comfortable .

Herbs Battle Pests Easier With Proper Soil Balance

by Kent Higgins

Good soil is a crucial component for growing healthy herbs, either in the ground or in containers. Herbs receive the energy they need for growth and reproduction from the sun, but many of the components they use to carry out these sun-driven chemical reactions are derived from the soil in which they are planted.

The makeup of the soil determines a plant's water, nitrogen and phosphorous content, as well as its alkalinity, acidity and much more. Keeping all these factors in the proper balance is of utmost importance to the health of your herbs. Plants grown in outdoor soil have nature on their side and may require only a little bit of assistance from the gardener. On the other hand, the soil makeup present in a container garden is completely determined by the grower and may be altered to suit the needs of particular plants. Lavender likes good drainage and dry, alkaline soil, and sage can suffer root rot if the soil is kept too wet.

The needs of your plants should determine the type of soil you grow them in. Soils may range from sandy to clay-like, with many variations in between. Soils that are rich in clay tend to hold and retain water, while sandy soils, made up of glass-like particles called silicates, allow for better air flow and allow water to drain through them easily.

Most herbs are happiest with a mix of both soils, and you can vary the mixture to suit your particular plant. Sage, for example, likes drier, sandier soils, while peppermint thrives in a moist, clay-rich soil. A good compost can help with the soil balancing act.

Both airborne and underground pests are a consideration when growing herbs, but the proper soil maintenance can keep your plants strong enough to deter most of them. In fact, many herbs are pest-resistant when properly cared for.

Planting chives, mint, basil and cilantro around your roses and vegetables can help keep aphids away, and basil can also stave off tomato hornworm attacks. Sometimes, though, the balance becomes more tricky, and you must determine what you want to attract and repel. If you want to keep beetles away, dill and yarrow will attract the parasitic wasps that feed on them, but then you have the wasps to contend with.

Because tomato hornworms also love dill, the herb is often used as a "trap crop," meaning you can grow it so that the worms will eat it instead of your tomatoes. Of course, using this method ensures your dill won't last very long. Many herb gardeners deal with such dilemmas by carefully using pesticides that harm the pests that certain herbs attract. These chemicals must be used carefully, though, if you plan to use your herbs as food seasonings. Even pesticides deemed "safe" on house plants can accumulate to toxic amounts over time.

So perhaps your best bet to fend off herb pests is to keep your plants strong and healthy through proper soil maintenance.

About the Author:

What better time than right now to explore and learn more on the subject of house plants. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com.

Choosing Your Herbs

If you are interested in herbs you may be astonished to realize how many herbs you are already growing.

Parsley, chives, garlic, spearmint, dill and sage appear in almost every garden. And they are among the most valued herbs. Do you raise violets, roses, nasturtiums and marigolds? These, too, are herbs, even though we call them flowers.

Along with these herbs, add thyme, summer savory, sweet marjoram, basil, lemon balm (Melissa), borage and chervil, and you will have a good start on a herb garden which will provide for most of your needs.

Herbs are fun to grow, and they are easy to raise unless you choose to make a major project of it. Unfortunately, I have never developed a “green thumb”; most plants don't “just grow’5 for me. But herbs do. With very poor conditions, I manage to have all the herbs I want for myself or to give to friends.

Although herbs are supposed to need plenty of sunlight and an alkaline soil, mine get shade and clay. They do best with lots of space in which to grow; I have practically none. Our climate is dry, the winds hot, the growing season short. And still, should you stop by some afternoon, I can give you a cup of tea flavored with lemon balm, herb-flavored canapés, and buttered scones spread with rose geranium jelly.

Fortunately for lazy gardeners like myself, those herbs most frequently used are also the easiest grown. One packet of seeds for each will be more than enough. If you have only a small space, divide the seeds with a friend, or save some for a second planting later in the summer, for plants to take indoors during the winter.

When deciding which herbs to put in your garden, remember that it must be suited to your particular way of life. If you enjoy entertaining and love to cook, you will want a garden planted mostly with culinary herbs. If you wish for fragrance primarily, you would choose some other herbs. Or if a collection of as many herbs as possible is your goal, still another plan would be needed.

Basic Herbs

Practically everyone who grows herbs has her own basic list, and you will not be long in finding yours. However, to start with, try these:

Sow seeds of: Sweet basil, Parsley, Borage, Dill, Burnet, Sweet marjoram, Chervil, Summer: savory, Get roots of: Spearmint, Lemon balm, Peppermint, Chives (bulblets)

Get plants of: Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender, The Culinary Seeds

Although when we speak of using herbs, we generally refer to the leaves, there are some which are better known for their seeds. Of these the most popular are:

Anise Coriander Mustard
Caraway Cumin Poppy
Cardamon Dill Sesame
Celery Fennel

Since the leaves as well as the seeds of fennel, mustard, dill, anise and caraway are used in cooking you may want to include one or all of them in your herb garden. However, herbs grown for their seed alone are scarcely worth the space and bother. The crop is too small to be of value, and you can buy fresh seed inexpensively packaged at any grocery store.

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Growing Your Own Herbs

If you’re not the type of person that wants to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, you might consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. While the product might not seem as significant, you’ll still enjoy the constant availability of fresh, delicious herbs to flavor your meals with.

First you’ll want to choose the herbs that you’ll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. But the best way to choose is to do what I did; just look at what you have in your kitchen. By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with include rosemary,sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others.

When choosing an area to put your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant. One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all the soil. This will allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants.

When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets. Some herbs grow at a dangerously fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space then it will take over your entire garden in a matter of days.The best way to prevent this problem is to plant the more aggressive plants in pots (with holes in the bottom to allow drainage, of course).

When it comes time to harvest the herbs you have labored so hard over, it can be fatal to your plant to take off too much. If your plant isn’t well established, it isn’t healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks like its not using them. You should wait until your plant has been well established for at least several months before taking off any leaves. This wait will definitely be worth it, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for years to come.
Once you’ve harvested your delicious home grown herbs, you’ll want to use them in cooking. Why else would you have grown them? Well first the process begins with drying them out. This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4hours. After they’re sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you can consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavor a dish.

If you want to store your herbs for later usage, you should keep them in a plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard will not work, because it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the first few days of storage, you should regularly check the container and see if any moisture has accumulated. If it has, you must remove all the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left from the first drying process, it will encourage mildew while you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew.

So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, it’s just a matter of harvesting and drying all your favorite herbs.