The Beginner Herb Garden
Are you interesting in growing your own Herbs? Tired of buying them at the store? Here are some good tips on how to start The Beginner Herb Garden! For generations past, herb gardens were neither a luxury nor vanity; they were a necessity. Plants gave variety to cooking and provided medicines for domestic and professional use. Today Herb Gardening yields great pleasures: fresh or dried in food, in cosmetic and crafts, or for health care based on age-old practices.
Begin by growing herbs you know and will use. Grow no more than 3 or 4 kinds – get to know them. Decide whether you like and use them. Then you can add more next season!
Most Popular Culinary Herbs:
- Basil
- Chives
- Cilantro/Coriander
- Dill
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Sweet Marjoram
- Thyme
Growing Herbs
To grow, choose a sunny location and amend the soil with cow manure, even fine ground limestone to provide good drainage. Add lime & bone meal or other organic fertilizer. In containers, use a good quality potting soil. In the ground, combine perennial herbs in beds or borders. Add low growing herbs to rock gardens or mass with other bedding plants. Add herbs to vegetable gardens as some varieties provide insect control & deter deer.
Harvesting
Harvest herbs frequently. Cutting makes the plant bushy. Dry your cuttings quickly to keep their flavor and aroma. Tie in small bundles with rubber bands and hang inside where there is good air circulation, or spread leaves on a screen. Store in airtight containers and label – dried herbs may be hard to tell apart.
Enjoy!