Herbs are wonderful to use in everyday cooking and a healthy addition to your diet. Many fresh herbs really smell wonderful! However, they can be rather pricey. It is pretty easy to start and grow your own herb garden so you will have fresh herbs right at your fingertips. The money savings with your own garden can be very impressive depending on how often you use herbs. Like most things, home-grown herbs just taste better!
Many herbs were thought to have magical properties, due in part, to their medicinal uses. Ancient Romans and Greeks used crowns of Bay Laurel to honor their heroes. Romans used dill to purify the air in their banquet halls. Sweet marjoram was used by the Ancient Greeks as a valuable tonic, and parsley as a cure for stomach ailments. In the Middle Ages, rosemary was eaten as a cure-all for headaches as well as for its tranquilizing effects. Science has continued toprove the valuable use of herbs in medicine.
If you’re not the type of person that wants to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden but you want to have a small plot of “growing things”, you should consider planting and tending an herb garden.
First you’ll want to choose the herbs that you’ll plant. You may find this difficult due to the huge variety of herbs available, either through local nurseries or by mail order. The easiest way to elect what you wish to grow is to simply look through your kitchen spice rack. Choose herbs that you are familiar with at first and then expand your garden as you learn more. 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.
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.
You’ll want to locate your herb bed in a convenient place. The easier it is to run out and snip off a bit of your favorite herb the more likely you will be to use your plants. Another benefit of having the herb bed close by is that you will have all that wonderful fragrance wafting through the open windows on warm summer afternoons.
What Makes a Good Spot for an Herb Bed?
Another thing you will need to consider when choosing the location of your herb beds is the amount of light the area receives. Some herb plants do well in full sunlight and others prefer to have a bit of shade. I have always located my kitchen herb beds in a combination shade/sun area of the house. I have, outside my kitchen door, a bed of thyme, sage, oregano, chives, parsley and garlic chives that has shade in the morning and full afternoon sun. They love it!
I always choose my locations for new beds by the amount of sunlight my plants need. Soil can be amended if you choose an area that is not very rich in nutrients, but it is difficult to change the amount of light a particular area gets.
Another thing you will need to consider when choosing the location of your herb beds is the amount of light the area receives. Some herb plants do well in full sunlight and others prefer to have a bit of shade. I have always located my kitchen herb beds in a combination shade/sun area of the house. I have, outside my kitchen door, a bed of thyme, sage, oregano, chives, parsley and garlic chives that has shade in the morning and full afternoon sun. They love it!
I always choose my locations for new beds by the amount of sunlight my plants need. Soil can be amended if you choose an area that is not very rich in nutrients, but it is difficult to change the amount of light a particular area gets.
What Should I Plant?
If you have never tried your hand at growing herbs, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of herbs that are readily available. Skim through your favorite cookbook or take a look through your kitchen to find the most commonly used herbs and start with those. Depending on the size of your garden space and how much time you are planning on putting in choose the number and types of herbs that suit you and your family best.
If you have never tried your hand at growing herbs, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of herbs that are readily available. Skim through your favorite cookbook or take a look through your kitchen to find the most commonly used herbs and start with those. Depending on the size of your garden space and how much time you are planning on putting in choose the number and types of herbs that suit you and your family best.
When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, herbs are very easy to start from seeds, and it is much less expensive than buying plants. One drawback to starting from seeds is the amount of time before you see the results of your work. So although planting your own herbs from seed is more cost effective, herb plants offer instant gratification.
Some herbs grow at an incredibly fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space, it will take over your entire garden in a very short time. Place mint and other invasive plants in large containers. This will prevent your garden from being overrun. Or you can cut off the bottom off a plastic 5 gallon bucket, bury it in your garden and plant your mint inside of it.
You will need to check the hardiness zone for your area to see if any special care is needed to over-winter any of the herbs that you plant. Herbs may be annuals, biennials, or perennials.
• Annuals (bloom one season and die)
• Biennials (live two seasons, blooming second season only)
• Perennials (overwinter; bloom each season once established)
Herbs for Beginning Gardeners
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) Sage is a woody, hardy perennial plant with oblong, wooly, gray-green leaves that are lighter underneath and darker on top. Sage grows 2 to 3 feet or more in height and has a tendency to sprawl.
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Thyme is a low-growing, wiry-stemmed perennial that reaches about 6 to 10 inches in height. The stems are stiff and woody and leaves are small, oval, and gray-green in color. The lilac flowers are borne in small clusters and the leaves are very aromatic.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Rosemary is a hardy evergreen shrub in areas where winter temperatures stay above 5oF (-15oC). In the Northeast, however, this perennial should be taken indoors and kept as a pot plant during winter. The narrow leaves have a leather-like feel and a spicy, resinous fragrance.
• Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) Parsley is a hardy biennial that is usually treated as an annual. It is popular because of its much-divided, sometimes curly leaves which have a characteristic flavor and smell.
• Oregano (Wild marjoram) (Origanum vulgare) Oregano, also called "wild marjoram," is a hardy perennial that has sprawling stems which can grow 8 to 2 feet tall. This plant is much coarser than sweet marjoram and smells more like thyme. It has small pink or white flowers.
• Dill (Anethum graveolens) Dill, a popular annual, has bluish-green stems that contrast with finely divided, yellow-green, plume-like leaves and yellowish flowers. Dill grows about 2 to 3 feet high.
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) Chives are small, dainty, onion-like plants that grow in clumps reaching about 10 inches in height. They are a hardy perennial with decorative, light purple flowers.
As your interest and knowledge increase, you can continue to expand the variety of herbs in your garden.
What Do I Need to Start Growing Herbs in My Garden?
It is not necessary for you to run out and buy a greenhouse or till up half of your yard to start growing your own herbs. Try starting with a small kitchen garden and work up from there as your knowledge grows from season to season.
First, decide whether you are going to plant your garden in the ground or if you would prefer to grow your herbs in a Container Garden. Container gardens are practical for those who have limited space for planting, or who would like to be able to bring their garden indoors during the winter months. Depending on the types of herbs you choose and where you live, some of them may have to be planted in containers so that they can be moved indoors once the cooler weather
hits. Once you have made up your mind, you’ll need to take a trip to the local nursery or garden store. At the nursery, you may want to ask for help finding herbs that grow well in your area.
Now you will need to have decided whether or not to start seeds or if you prefer to purchase plants. This is completely up to you and will not affect the quality of your garden in any way. We recently moved from our home of many years and had to leave behind my mature herb beds. Unfortunately, our move took place in the middle of winter and my plants were covered with snow so I could not take starts or cuttings with me. Once spring came to our new home, I immediately hit the local greenhouses and purchased several herb plants so that we would have
some right away for use in our kitchen. For the more exotic herbs that I enjoy, I purchased seeds to start so that I would have a lot of plants once they had come up. Most herbs are available as plants or seeds – the choice is really how fast you want to get your herb garden going.
Now that you have everything you need to start your herb bed, head for home and start planting!
What's left? Enjoy Your Herbs!
Now that you have your beds planted you should begin to reap the rewards of your labors. Whether by using your herbs in the kitchen or just sitting in a chair out by your garden and enjoying the wonderful fragrances, herb beds are a fantastic way to relax after a long day.
For more information about other eBooks in this series or Herb Garden Info visit:
http://growanherbgarden.blogspot.com/
Some herbs grow at an incredibly fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space, it will take over your entire garden in a very short time. Place mint and other invasive plants in large containers. This will prevent your garden from being overrun. Or you can cut off the bottom off a plastic 5 gallon bucket, bury it in your garden and plant your mint inside of it.
You will need to check the hardiness zone for your area to see if any special care is needed to over-winter any of the herbs that you plant. Herbs may be annuals, biennials, or perennials.
• Annuals (bloom one season and die)
• Biennials (live two seasons, blooming second season only)
• Perennials (overwinter; bloom each season once established)
Herbs for Beginning Gardeners
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) Sage is a woody, hardy perennial plant with oblong, wooly, gray-green leaves that are lighter underneath and darker on top. Sage grows 2 to 3 feet or more in height and has a tendency to sprawl.
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Thyme is a low-growing, wiry-stemmed perennial that reaches about 6 to 10 inches in height. The stems are stiff and woody and leaves are small, oval, and gray-green in color. The lilac flowers are borne in small clusters and the leaves are very aromatic.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Rosemary is a hardy evergreen shrub in areas where winter temperatures stay above 5oF (-15oC). In the Northeast, however, this perennial should be taken indoors and kept as a pot plant during winter. The narrow leaves have a leather-like feel and a spicy, resinous fragrance.
• Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) Parsley is a hardy biennial that is usually treated as an annual. It is popular because of its much-divided, sometimes curly leaves which have a characteristic flavor and smell.
• Oregano (Wild marjoram) (Origanum vulgare) Oregano, also called "wild marjoram," is a hardy perennial that has sprawling stems which can grow 8 to 2 feet tall. This plant is much coarser than sweet marjoram and smells more like thyme. It has small pink or white flowers.
• Dill (Anethum graveolens) Dill, a popular annual, has bluish-green stems that contrast with finely divided, yellow-green, plume-like leaves and yellowish flowers. Dill grows about 2 to 3 feet high.
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) Chives are small, dainty, onion-like plants that grow in clumps reaching about 10 inches in height. They are a hardy perennial with decorative, light purple flowers.
As your interest and knowledge increase, you can continue to expand the variety of herbs in your garden.
What Do I Need to Start Growing Herbs in My Garden?
It is not necessary for you to run out and buy a greenhouse or till up half of your yard to start growing your own herbs. Try starting with a small kitchen garden and work up from there as your knowledge grows from season to season.
First, decide whether you are going to plant your garden in the ground or if you would prefer to grow your herbs in a Container Garden. Container gardens are practical for those who have limited space for planting, or who would like to be able to bring their garden indoors during the winter months. Depending on the types of herbs you choose and where you live, some of them may have to be planted in containers so that they can be moved indoors once the cooler weather
hits. Once you have made up your mind, you’ll need to take a trip to the local nursery or garden store. At the nursery, you may want to ask for help finding herbs that grow well in your area.
Now you will need to have decided whether or not to start seeds or if you prefer to purchase plants. This is completely up to you and will not affect the quality of your garden in any way. We recently moved from our home of many years and had to leave behind my mature herb beds. Unfortunately, our move took place in the middle of winter and my plants were covered with snow so I could not take starts or cuttings with me. Once spring came to our new home, I immediately hit the local greenhouses and purchased several herb plants so that we would have
some right away for use in our kitchen. For the more exotic herbs that I enjoy, I purchased seeds to start so that I would have a lot of plants once they had come up. Most herbs are available as plants or seeds – the choice is really how fast you want to get your herb garden going.
Now that you have everything you need to start your herb bed, head for home and start planting!
What's left? Enjoy Your Herbs!
Now that you have your beds planted you should begin to reap the rewards of your labors. Whether by using your herbs in the kitchen or just sitting in a chair out by your garden and enjoying the wonderful fragrances, herb beds are a fantastic way to relax after a long day.
For more information about other eBooks in this series or Herb Garden Info visit:
http://growanherbgarden.blogspot.com/
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