One of the easiest plants to grow in your garden are herbs.There are many different kinds of herb gardening tips, just as there are many different varieties.They are drought tolerant, can be grown either in the garden itself, or even in small pots, making them ideal for smaller spaces, and even in a sunny window sill. Because they have a relatively short growing cycle, it is possible to have all the fresh herbs and spices throughout the year, even in the winter time.
It needn’t take that much space. A plot of land measuring approximate 200-400 square feet should do you quite nicely. Find out the diameter of a mature plant; obtain some graph paper and sketch out your garden before you dig a single hole. Remember to allow at least 1 foot of space between mature plants for ease of weeding and pruning.
If you want a really fragrant herb to add to your garden, consider putting in some lavender. Not only will it’s scent make you want to spend more time out doors, but you can make satchels of the herb to put into your closet, or drawers, or any other place you want to avoid other smells, (like the bathroom.) Because you can make lavender satchels as gifts, you may want to plant as much as you can without jeopardizing your other herbs. This is where herb gardening balance is needed.
As the song goes, 4 great savory herbs to add to your garden are Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Fresh chopped parsley is a wonder addition to potato and pasta salads, not to mention a lovely garnish for many other dishes. Try drying sage leaves to add to many dishes including stuffing for turkey and chicken. And, both rosemary and thyme are excellent accents when roasting poultry and lamb among other savory dishes.
Tarragon is another herb gardening must. This herb is a basic necessity for Bearnaise and other sauces, and is a great additive to vegetables, soups, and other dishes. Tarragon is really expensive at supermarkets, but can be grown in the garden and used any time.
If you have a knack for canning, or like to make vinegars, whether for your own uses, or to give as gifts, then you should plant dill herb. While cheap at the store, it’s even cheaper to grow, easy to maintain, and no herb gardening area should be without it.
While not everyone likes onions, chives are a favorite for almost everyone. They have so many different uses, as a garnish, a mild flavoring for potatoes, salads, and other dishes. The problem is that if you buy fresh chives, you have to deal with the onion part, which usually goes bad by the time you get around to using it. Chives is an herb that grows great in the garden, and when you are out herb gardening, it provides a pleasant aroma. It can also be a natural deterrent for some garden pests.
Unless you know the secret to how cilantro grows, it’s one herb that really isn’t worth growing. Some herb gardening specialists, like professional growers, can catch it before it bolts, but most people will be lucky to get even one or two pieces. If you buy cilantro at the store, you can preserve it. Put the bunch you buy in a glass of water, cover it with the same bag you bought it in, and put it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to two weeks like this.
Mint is a crazy plant and caution should be used when planting this herb. While it makes great tea and garnish, no matter what the variety, it is an herb gardening bully. It has tangled roots, that like to spread out and snuff out the roots of other plants, and once it takes hold, it is impossible to get rid of it. Even if you put weed killer around it, it will dig down deep and come up somewhere you least expect it. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add it to your garden, but you should only plant it in a container, and move this around often so the roots don’t come down through the water holes and go into the soil.
Want to find out more about Home Herb Gardens, then visit Winston Tietgens’s site on how to choose the best Herb Garden Plants for your needs.
Like other plants, herbs are annuals, perennials and biennials so it’s a good idea to have a variety of different types of plants.
Annuals need to be planted from a seed or a small plant every year and will not survive a frost. Examples of annual herbs are basil, cilantro and summer savory. Perennials like sage and winter savory can survive colder temperatures and will return year after year. Biennial herbs are plants that form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Biennials herbs grow for a couple of seasons and produce their leaves and roots the first season, and flowers and seeds the next year. Examples of biennial herbs are parsley, burdock, salvia and caraway.
Prepare the soil first by working it to a fine texture and wet it slightly. Plant the seeds in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them.Until the seeds have germinated, you can protect them and keep the soil moist by covering the garden with we burlap or paper.
Herb garden plants can be categorized into 4 types: culinary, aromatic, ornamental and medicinal. Each category has a different purpose, although many herbs fall into more than one category. Culinary herbs are used for cooking and are probably the most commonly grown type in home herb gardens. Because of their strong flavors, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities to add flavor to different types of food. Parsley is an extremely popular herb that is used mostly as a garnish.
Aromatic herbs have a wonderful aroma that fills your garden with fragrance. People have been using the oils in aromatic herbs to add fragrance to many items such as perfumes, soaps, and linens. These herbs are commonly dried to make homemade potpourri. Popular choices for homemade potpourri are lavender and lemon verbena.
Some herbs have been used for centuries to heal the body. These are known as the medicinal herbs. Modern medicine has recognized many traditional medicinal herbs actually do have healing properties, while others have not been shown to be helpful. Herbs used for medicinal purposes should be used carefully. Some herbs are harmless but others can be dangerous if eaten.
Ornamental herbs add beauty to any garden with their beautiful foliage and colorful flowers.
Although herb garden plants can be divided into categories, many will fall into more than one category. For instance, mint can be used for cooking, teas, fragrance and even pest control. Whatever the reason you have an interest in herbs, by understanding herb garden plants you are able to pick the herbs that will be most useful to you.
Have you tried cooking with fresh herbs from your own garden yet? Learn the secrets to a beautiful and delicious herb garden today at my herb gardening website.
Research is key if you are interested in taking up any new hobby and that includes herb gardening. There are many, many different types of herbs out there and each one is different and has different requirements for successful growing. The plants, some in perennials and others are biennials and whether you’re interested in a class of herbs or a specific herb, you will need to understand what is needed to ensure it gets the care it needs to grow into a healthy plant. This article will help you, and give you an understanding of what types of herbs are out there and what they are used for.
Examples of annuals are basil, cilantro and summer savory. Annuals do not survive a frost. Their growth term is less than a year, and they must be replanted every year. Perennials will return on a yearly basis, surviving freezing temperatures. Good examples of these are sage and winter savory. The groups known as biennials are plants that have only foliage their first growing season, but in their second season have flowers and seeds, then die. Parsley, caraway, and angelica are examples of biennials, and they do best when the seeds are sown in late spring directly into the garden plot. Soil should be well tilled and broken into a fine texture. The seeds are fine and should be placed in trenches or rows that are not too deep. Cover lightly with soil and firm it down. One method of gaining control of spacing of the seeds is to combine them with sand. If you cover the seed bed with wet burlap or paper it is a great way to keep the soil moist enough for germination.
The most useful to herb gardeners are culinary herbs due to their different usages in cooking. Herbs are used as garnishes in dishes and to add flavor to different types of food. Aromatic herbs add a beautiful, light and natural scent to any space with their pleasant smelling flowers. Some perfumes are made from different types of aromatic herbs. They can also be used to lightly scent clothing and linens and to make potpourri. Medicinal herbs have been used for centuries to air in curing numerous illnesses. Like all plants, some are dangerous and some are beneficial so when using herbs for medical purposes, it is very important to research which ones are safe to use and which ones are dangerous. Ornamental herbs are usually brightly colored and are used to brighten up an otherwise dull space that needs a little special touch of colour!
Growing herbs for their visual properties is also a reason to grow herb garden plants. Chicory have light or brightly coloured flowers, valerian have whitish or light coloured flowers. Also lavender has a soft purple coloured flower. These are just an example of a few plants with great dec orative beauty.
Herbs do not have just single purposes. They can be placed in many categories by their use. Mint is a good example of that, as it is used in cooking, tea, and medicine. It will help with pest control as well. Study to learn about the different types of herbs and you will be able to decide which ones you want to grow.
Are you looking for, hints and tips, make sure you check out Tony Stevens excellent siteGardening With Herbs Tips You can also sign up for the FREE Ultimate Herb Garden Mini-Course and recieve a FREE report. To find out more on Herb Garden Plants please click the links above.
Herb garden plants come in different forms just like the other types of plants. There are lot varieties of herbs and each one is different. Before deciding to have one of the different types of herb garden plant, you should at least have background knowledge of its proper use and how to take care of it. This article will help you to better understand types of herb garden plant and their proper usage.
Basil, cilantro, and summer savory which are known to be annuals will not survive a frost. They have to be planted from a seed or from a small plant every year. On the other hand, sage and winter savory which are known to be perennials survive in cold temperatures and comes back every after a year. Herb garden plants which are biennial form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Some examples of biennial herb plants are parsley, angelica, and caraway. These should sown in late spring directly into the garden. The preparation of soil is important. It should be worked into a fine texture and should be slightly wet. Seeds should be planted in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. You can plant fine seeds in a mixture of sand which will allow the seeds to spread more evenly. Covering the bed with wet burlap or paper is possible in order to keep the soil moist during germination.
Herb garden plants are also grouped into the categories for which they are used. Culinary herbs are probably the most useful to herb gardeners. They have a huge range of different uses in cooking. Because of their strong flavors, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities to add flavor to different types of food. Parsley are extremely popular herb garden plants that are used mostly as a garnish. Aromatic herbs have pleasant smelling flowers or foliage. Oils from aromatic herbs like loyage, mint, and rosemary can be used to make different types of perfumes, toilet water, or other various scents. Parts of aromatic herb garden plants used intact can also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. They can also be dried and made into potpourri which will enable them to be able to retain their aroma for a long period of time. Lavender and lemon verbenas are great herb garden plants to use for potpourri. Some herbs are also used for medicinal purposes. For centuries herbs have been thought to have the ability to cure the body. Present medical knowledge recognizes that some herb garden plants are beneficial to ones health, others are overrated. Herbs used for medicinal purposes should be used carefully. Some herb garden plants are harmless but others can be dangerous if eaten.
Herbs are also used as decorations to add beauty in the house. The most commonly used flowers are valerian for their crimson light colored flowers and borage and chicory for their elegant blue flowers.
While herb garden plants can be categorized into these different categories of uses, many herbs have multiple purposes. For example, mint may be used for cooking, tea, and pest control. Whatever the reason you have an interest in herbs, by understanding herb garden plants you are able to pick the herbs that will be most useful to you.
Before you continue your research online, make sure you check Jack Grants’ excellent free tips on Herb Garden Plants, and sign up for additional garden solution for his free newsletter. Click here.
