Posts Tagged: herb gardening

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13
Apr 10

Growing Herbs in Pots – Convenience Plus

Growing herbs in pots… super convenient if you love using them for homeopathic reasons, or just to enhance the taste and aroma of foods.

It may be time for you to consider growing herbs in pots, right inside the kitchen door or better still, inside the kitchen.

You can legally and easily grow herbs in a garden or even on a windowsill inside your kitchen. Herbs can be grown in a pot, and though they are slightly different than plants grown in a container, they can still come out fresh and ready to use.

The first thing you should know about plants in pots is that they should be situated in front of a window so they can have easy access to sunlight… fluorescent lighting can be used in some cases.

Make sure that you situate the pots according to how much sunlight each one needs.

For example, herbs like basil and rosemary need full sunlight. However, lemon balm and parsley grow best when given a bit of shade. Meanwhile, ginger and mint can grow in full shade.

Gardeners who like growing herbs in pots are advised to use deep pots of 6-12 inches deep (10 inches is a good average to work by).

You can get larger containers if you want to put several herbs in one spot, but when it comes to individual pots, you have to provide enough space so the root system has room to grow.

Amend the soil you plan on using.

Remember that herbs will grow best in aerated and alkaline based soil. Proper drainage is important so make sure there are holes on the pots to keep the soil dry.

It is best to soak herbs in water before you begin.

After watering them, you let them dry for a period of 2-3 days. Soak them again and make sure they don’t wilt from too much sunlight. Some herbs will dry (and eventually wilt) quickly so you may have to water these herbs every day.

If you are growing herbs in pots then you will have to water them slightly more often. Clay pots tend to dry quickly when compared to plastic or wooden materials. Also remember that the smaller the pot, the more water you need.

There are advantages to growing herbs in pots, even some over planting them in the ground. You get to plant more densely when you use a container. You can keep a close eye on them and keep them within a convenient reach.

They are also close to the kitchen (or in the kitchen) for fresh picking and easy use.

You may have to tender the plant once in a while or check the drainage, but for the most part, it’s just like having a miniature garden in your home.

Growing your own herbal plants can save you money, provide better quality ingredients and bring you a lot of joy.

Imagine being able to grow your own rosemary, thyme or ginger! If you have ever stocked up on certain ingredients for the season, or have ever experienced frustration because the supermarket was out of your favorite herb, then growing herbs in pots may be the ideal solution.

Peter Bourke is a passionate, herb gardening expert… for more great information about growing herbs in pots visit http://www.WhatAreHerbs.com.

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12
Apr 10

Basil – The King of Any Italian Herb Garden

One of the most delicious enjoyments of life are herbs. In addition to bring forward good looks to your garden they make meals flavor better and afford a nice fragrance to the air we breathe. In George Washington’s days each home had an herb garden that they used for cook, infusions and therapeutic intentions. The practice of herb gardening is gradually coming back.

An Italian herb garden is one of the most successful cooking gardens. Any person that has a sunny plot of land or a windowsill can cultivate these herbs like parsley, garlic, basil, rosemary, sweet marjoram, fennel, sage, leaf celery and oregano among others. A small garden plot can, without doubt, provide all the herbs that you will need for luscious Italian dishes. They are also effortless to cultivate in a sunny window or terrace for your year-round use.

Ocimum basilicum, usually named sweet basil, is one of the largest famous herbs.Frequently called the ‘king of herbs,’ basil can be cultivated inside the house or outdoors.?/p>

Basil seeds itself so effortlessly that you possibly will never have to purchase a new plant after the first year. There exist a lot of diverse kinds of basil, but all grow quickly. Do not allow basil flourish, or it will go to seed and will grow tall and leggy; to prevent that needs constant pinching back the plants tops and they will grow into compact little bushes.

The leaves of Sweet basil are inch-long, oval-pointed, dark green and have a clove-pepperish perfume and flavor.Sweet basil makes an attractive, luxuriant little plant, growing outdoors or more inside the house.A purple-leafed variety, ‘Dark Opal’ is decorative, affords an adorably indoor plant, and is equally valuable in cuisine.?/p>

Basil is a yearly herb and grows 12 – 24 inches (30 – 60 cm) as the height varies according to the type. When the plants have overtaken about 6-8 inches tall, you can start harvesting. Cut off the top 1/3 of the plant, just above a leaf intersection. Five to eight plants will afford sufficient amount of basil for the whole neighborhood.

Farming necessities for cultivating basil are: full sun, light, a soil with good drainage, rich in nutrients and a little acid; constant watering (don’t overflow); basil will not endure cold and do not forget cut off flower stems for a longer period of leaf production.

Basil can be started from seed or can be moved inside the house at the end of the growing period.If you are bringing basil inside the house, select the strongest plants.Sooner than the first frost, tear off them out of the garden and place them in pots or containers filled with fresh soil.Basil can also be cultivated in pots outside and treated the same way when bringing them inside for winter.Verify for bugs and if there is a pest, sprinkle with a soap and water spray.Progressively reverse the hardening off process by avoiding the containers or pots to be exposed to direct sunlight for approximately a week.The herbs will suit familiarized to the less amount of light they will obtain inside the house.Carry them inside the house or balcony and afford the conditions they need to keep on growing.

To stay lusty and flavorful, basil needs at least five hours of lusty sunlight a day.If you are cultivating basil on the windowsill or terrace, rotate pots frequently to be sure each side gets enough light. Basil leaves must not come into contact with the cold glass.Basil grows although better under fluorescent lights in the winter.Hang the lights 6 inches (15 cm) above plants and leave lights on for 14 hours a day.

In the backyard, basil can be cultivated with vegetables as it is effective to prevent both, bugs and pests.Basil also repels flies and mosquitoes.In the meals, use basil in tomato dishes (both raw and cooked), pesto, sauces, salad dressings, soups, mushroom dishes, mixed with other herbs, omelettes, pasta dishes, vegetables such as eggplant, squash, and zucchini.Use fresh leaves in salads and you also can add fresh leaves to vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.Basil can be used fresh, frozen, or dried.Use basil with discretion, as it is one of the few herbs that enhance in spice when heated.

Melanie Martin is an herb expert and passionate of Italian food. For great information on Italian herb garden, visit http://www.herbgardengrow.com and you could sign up for a FREE Herb Garden Secrets Mini-Course and learn more about how to successfully grown your own herb garden!

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4
Apr 10

Growing Medicinal Herbs in Case of Illness

Today when times are hard, most people are looking for ways that they can save money. Since they cannot save much on food and other essentials, most people tend to cut back on their health.

It’s really true that during this time, if you don’t have much money your health will suffer for whatever reasons. As people look for solutions to their problems, they have found that growing medicinal herbs can be that solution and cure for many common illnesses. We all know the healing power of Aloe Vera plants by simply cutting the leaf and rubbing the sap onto burns or sunburn for relief and a wonderful cooling effect.

Growing medicinal herbs within your yard can be one of the cheapest solutions to your problem. Herb gardening will provide you family with numerous benefits. There are lots of herbs that promote healing especially from common illness.

Here are some of the most common herbs and their remedies:

Painful joints—celery, rosemary
Painful muscles—chamomile, ginger, geranium
Acidity—chamomile, fennel, mint
Acne—chamomile, parsley, rosella
AIDS/HIV—garlic
Alcoholism—Melissa, milk thistle
Allergies—Echinacea
Alzheimer’s disease— rosemary
Analgesic—clover, lavender
Anorexia—cardamom
Anti ageing— lemon thyme, celery
Anti bacterial— turmeric, garlic, cinnamon, lavender
Antibiotic—rosemary, sage
Anti cancer—turmeric, lemon
Anti depressant— rose hip, lavender, lemon, jasmine, rosemary
Anti inflammatory— clover, ginger, basil, lemon, rose hip, chamomile,
Anti oxidant— turmeric and lemon
Antiseptic—cloves, ginger
High blood pressure—celery
Breast cancer—violet, clover
Chills-ginger
Cleansing—parsley
Colic—anise, chamomile
Coughs—anise, lemon thyme, fern, rose hip
Disinfectant-lavender, sage, lemon thyme
Fever—ginger, lemon grass

These are some of the most common grown medicinal herbs you can start growing at home. By growing some of these common herbs it is possible to have your very own first aid for most ailments and illnesses within arms reach indoors, there are still lots of noted illness and herbs that are not included here but you can research them on the web if you find your particular situation is not included in the above list.

Herb gardening does provide relief to common ailments. It is also a good hobby and you can also start a small business. When you finally discover the secrets behind gardening, you can start adding different variations to your plants; you can sell them once you’ve started harvesting. Herbs won’t take much of your time, they are easy to take care of and very cheap. You just have to buy seeds and water them regularly; you only need to ensure they are free from pests so that they can grow freely.

Herb gardening is not an unusual thing; most people globally are taking care of herbs in their yard. They can testify that herbs truly provide good health and lots of benefits inside and outside your body. You can also study perfume and aromatherapy oil making, most herbs can be mixed with lotions and oils, and they are widely used for massage and spa. You can earn extra money from home by making your own line of oils and lotions through organically grown herbs. You don’t have to spend a lot because most of the ingredients can be easily picked in your yard. As you can see, you have a lot of things that you can do in a yard; you just need to be resourceful.

George Faulkner is a herb gardening enthusiast and experimental chef.He owns an maintains http://www.eHerbSite.com a resource for all herb gardeners. For more great tips and a free ecourse on herb gardening then just visit the website http://www.eherbsite.com/herb-gardening-general-information/

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4
Feb 10

Useful Tips in Designing a Roof Garden

A roof garden is a type of carpeting with plants on the roof of your house. It reduces storm water run-offs and improve the energy performance of buildings. The size and shape of a roof garden can vary. Several gardens are small because of the designs of the roof, while others may sprawl out across most of the roof.

Roof top gardens are efficient ways to eliminate water run offs. It is self-maintaining, constructed to save water, decrease energy cost, and provide an elegant ecological setting for native plants, rolling exotic grasses and herbal gardening as well as tresses for roof gardens.

Roof gardens are usually seen in urban areas where there is limited space for cultivation of edible and ornamental plants. It can be purely decorative, like a landscaped garden that encloses rooftop pools in high-status hotels. It can also be more useful, providing a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Herb gardening can be completed in your roof garden. This can be as simple as flower gardening or vegetable gardening. Choose herbs that can be grown in square foot garden boxes or containers. Several herbs can grow quite tall. You need to also think about their mature sizes prior to planting them. A small raised garden box or container garden is good because it is moveable.

Creating a roof garden can be very beneficial. Not only can it provide a nice landscape, it can also help raise the value of your home. When creating one, check the foundation of your building. Check for waterproofing, water drainage, and weighing ability. Always make sure that your roof can hold the weight that you will put on top of your roof.

When creating flooring for your roof garden, use lighter pavers, timbers, and stones that cannot be weighed down. Wood chips and crushed gravel is a great option for lighter flooring on your roof garden.

The first thing to consider when installing a roof garden is the fact that your roof should be flat and it should have several areas of accessibility. Check if the roof can support heavier loads because wet soil can add up to the weight to eighty or ninety pounds per square foot. If your roof cannot hold this much weight, you can still have a roof garden but you must have it only in bottles or containers, structurally changing your home.

Then, you need to make sure that your ceiling has waterproof membranes. Otherwise, water will sip out of your ceiling. The two commonly used waterproofing materials are rubberized asphalt and thermoplastic sheeting.

Next, also consider the climate in your area. Also see if your place is getting enough sunlight, or is being obstructed by taller constructions nearby.

Think of plants you would prefer in your garden. As long as your garden is planted in soil, whether it’s along the walls or in containers, these are perfect for a roof garden. If you have a very limited space, just reduce the size of your containers.

For more information on Roof Garden and Roof Garden Design please visit our website.

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