Instead of planting a big outdoor herb garden consider planting one indoors. Many smaller varieties and dwarf varieties of herbs grow quite well in small pots that can be placed on a kitchen window sill. Now when you are cooking you do not have to run to your outside garden to pick a few herbs to add to your cooking. You can just simply turnaround and grab a few leaves!

It’s easy to grow your own indoor herb garden. Many kits are available that have everything that you need to get started. Look for the chia herb garden which is a fun way to get the kids involved too. You can enjoy the same benefits that you would outside, but with a few distinct advantages with an indoor herb garden.

Advantages Of An Indoor Herb Garden

Monitoring your plants with an indoor herb garden is easy. If they need any maintenance you will notice quickly. If they need a quick misting you can accomplish the task with little effort. Outdoor gardens are more frequently overlooked. You will not have issues with bugs eating the leaves of your herbs indoors. You will not have to contend with trying to find a safe chemical that can be used to treat your herbs to keep bugs away.

You can do it within the comfort of your own home when it is time to harvest all of your fresh herbs. You will not have to deal with mosquitoes or other bugs while you are trying to garden.

When you plant an indoor herb garden you can bring in the wonderful fragrance that they provide. Now your kitchen will smell delicious like fresh basil or rosemary. Being surrounded by the fragrances of an indoor herb garden might even inspire your cooking. Instead of using dried herbs that have been sitting in a cabinet, any meals you do cook will now taste even better as you will be able to add fresh herbs.

Having an indoor herb garden will also protect any other plants that might be in your garden. Known to be extremely invasive are some species of herbs. Once they start growing they are hard to stop and before you know it your herb garden has taken over. By planting your herbs in small individual pots inside you can control its spreading.

Plants can make indoor spaces feel warm and cozy. Why not add a few practical plants to your kitchen to achieve the same result. You can generate an inviting atmosphere while growing herbs to use in your cooking.

For thousands of years the human race has used herbs in various ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive categories; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the article below we will debate each of these categories in order concentrating upon the medicinal uses and essential oils.

Through the ions o time there have been various other uses of herbs which we will not be examining here and these include them being used as cash, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask bad odors. Herbs originate from many parts of the planet and each race usually had unusual uses for them. It is interesting to note that the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greek and Sumerians, the Romans all wrote about them in detail and other writings exist from Ancient India and China. We shall be concentrating on modern uses.

Religious Uses Of Herbs

Herbs are still used in many across the world. Most Christians will recognize myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be very familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a species of Basil, as it is grown by many and worshipped as a Goddess. In Wiccan and Pagan religions herbs are used extensively in spells, rituals as well as for healing.

Culinary Uses of Herbs

The leaves of different plants are used in cooking however there is a difference between leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, and a herb, such as sage, in that the latter are used in very small amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person on the planet has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the blandest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.

The Medicinal Uses of Herbs

As well as being intense in flavor a herb can also have a profound effect upon the human body. Some types are used as recreational drugs, such as cannabis, which can cause legal problems as they can also have useful medical properties which are still being studied by scientists.

Essential Oils

An essential oil is the concentrate extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are usually created by the method known as distillation but some need a different process of extraction such as such as solvent extraction or expression.

Essential oils have a number of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However most folk know of their use in medicine and especially in aromatherapy and other forms of alternative medicine. I use lavender oil in a variety of ways, I add it to my mixture for my oil burner to make the room smell nice but I also use about three drops in a bath when I suffer from aching legs. When my limbs are extremely painful I massage it into the muscles but only when it is mixed with a carrier oil. As well as helping to relax the muscles it also helps me sleep more soundly.

Herbs should be handled with great care as some can be extremely poisonous to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are planning on having a baby as something that sounds safe could be terribly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be totally avoided in its dilute state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used however to avoid the risk of miscarriage you should avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you know for certain they are safe to use.

It is great to have fresh herbs at your fingertips for kitchen and medical use. However it has been said that all things must come to an end and this applies to the seasons, which means the end of your fresh herbs.

To be able to make the best of the herbs all year round, you will want to know how to preserve them so they can still be used during the colder months.

When to Harvest The best time to harvest your herb plants is just before flowering, which will occur when the weather begins to cool. Harvesting in late summer will give you the best flavor.

You can also harvest during the growing season to create extra growth start your stock. Cut the stems in mid-morning after the morning dew has dried but before the afternoon sun has started to warm them.

Air Drying of Fresh Herbs

Air drying works best with fresh herbs that have lower moisture content like oregano, rosemary and dill. Herbs with higher moisture will dry better using a dehydrator.

To air dry fresh herb plants use the following steps:

1. Cut the stems and remove any unhealthy leaves.

2. Rinse stems with some cool water,

3. Pat dry completely. Important to ensure no mould occurs.

4. Bundle together in batches of four to six stems, and hold them together with a rubber band. Keep in mind that the stems will shrink as they dry so you will need to check them regularly.

5. Store bunches upside down into brown paper bags that have a number of holes punched in them. 6. Tie the bags closed and hang them up in a warm, well aired room

7. Check them every week or two.

8. Once your herbs are sufficiently dried, store in airtight containers.

Keep the containers away from direct sunlight and use within one year.

Using this process for preserving your herbs, you will be able to enjoy the savory aroma and flavor of home grown herbs year round. Your family will be amazed with how your will have fresh herb taste even in the middle of winter!

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.

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.

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.

List or draw your garden on paper first. Consider planting the annuals separate from the perennials so when at the end of the season you can pull up the annuals, you won’t disturb the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the outer edges of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won’t be in danger of getting dug up. They can also be placed in an area dedicated for just the perennials (which means they come up every year on 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.

It’s important to factor in the needs of each variety of plant. Many need alkaline soil conditions, so if you need to add any special additives you’ll already have that information on hand. If you start your own seeds, be sure to read the packet on the seeds as to water, temperature requirements, as well as 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.

Planting a container herb garden provides advantages that cannot be achieved through growing herbs in your garden. Container herb gardening provides the mobility necessary to protect your herbs from harsh outdoor weather and seasonal conditions, as well as predatory animals and insects. You will enjoy cultivating your herbs year-round in a more stable and forgiving environment than can be achieved through outdoor planting.

Selecting the right plants is the first step to successful container herb gardening. Other key factors to success include providing good, rich soil and controlling moisture and nutrients. Whether these factors are provided by nature or adjusted artificially, they are the key elements to your success.

If you’d like to try a herb container garden, there are a variety of herbs that can be grown in pots of all shapes and sizes. A small clay pot can do the job for thyme, while rosemary can be grown in a coffee can and basil in an old teapot. You can grow mint, sage, dill and even lavender in containers.

Like natural food products, seeds can spoil. For this reason, you need to start your herb garden with good quality seeds. The spores that are contained in the air can invade the seeds and react with the organic compounds within the seeds. Keeping your seeds fresh is simple, but you have to make sure that you look at the dates on the seed packages and throw out any that may have gotten wet.

When it comes to growing conditions, different types of herbs have different preferences. For example, basil prefers warm soil and doesn’t not like cold air and would not do well in front of a frosty window during the middle of winter. So, be sure that you put your container herb garden in the right place!

Sunlight hits most of the Northern Hemisphere’s populated areas from a more southern angle. Therefore, plants that do well in the sun should be located where they will have a southern exposure. Likewise, shade-loving plants would be better in areas facing northward or in shaded areas away from windows.

Prepare the soil as directed and maintain the desired level of moisture. A trick for keeping soil moist is to add clay chips to the pot, but clay may hold water for extended periods of time- the reason that clay soil should be mixed with sandy soil. One plant that does well in dry, alkaline soil is lavender.

Remember that over watering, leading to root rot, is the most common issue with container plants. Water as needed, for each individual herb; for example, peppermint grows best in moist soil while sage prefers a more arid environment.

Remember that to be moist is not to be soaked. Moist soil should feel springy, while dry soil is hard. Next, you can use a toothpick or a moisture gauge to stick in the soil. When you remove the toothpick you will be able to tell if the soil is wet or dry. The gauge’s reading will be more useful and more precise, though.

If you take care with planning your container herb garden, you will discover that these plants are simple to grow and manage.

What is food without herbs and spices, no matter where you are in the world the local cuisine will definitely require the addition of fresh herbs and spices. With the popularity of Gourmet Cooking shows on television we are all trying new tastes including dishes from all over the world. As most professional chefs prefer to use fresh herbs in their cooking why should we not follow in their steps and grow our own basic herb garden at home.

It is quite easy to put in a basic herb garden to grow the ones used the most. Most of the common herbs used as spices in cooking can be successfully grown in average soil but some do request rich soil, such as oregano.

Additionally, some herbs in a basic herb garden such as parsley are biennial in nature. This means the first year they are grown they will not be useful for seasoning. It is during the second year that the crop can be used. Ideally, with parsley, , plant a new crop of seeds one year after planting your first parsley plants so that in a couple of years they will overlap, providing u sable seasoning every year.

Most of the herbs grown in a basic herb garden such as, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil are tolerant of direct sun, but will require a minimum amount of water to survive. You can harvest leaves, sprigs and twigs from any of your herbs as they are growing giving fresh organic herbs for your kitchen.

Although most herbs require regular watering, there are exceptions,thyme is a very forgiving plant and if it dries out will likely come back when an appropriate amount of water is given. As some herbs have different soil requirements and can grow under slightly different conditions, it is recommended that you separate them by variety to help get them started and keep them growing throughout their life.

Why Not Plant Your Herbs Close To Where They Will Be Used

For the sake of time and ease of harvesting planting your basic herb garden close to your kitchen makes a lot of sense. In the case of most herbs the entire growth does not have to be cut and used at once. With the right care, the spices will continue to grow and be usable during the entire season. As the season comes to an end drying or freezing the extra cuttings can possibly supply the herb throughout the winter, often lasting until the next crop produces the following year.

If you are little short on space why not consider companion growing? When planting a basic herb garden that would take more room than available, certain herbs can be planted among other plants, especially tomatoes. Parsley can play well with other plants specifically tomatoes, asparagus and among roses. Broccoli and cauliflower also welcome rosemary in their midst. Basil also likes to grow alongside tomatoes too.

The only problem with planting herbs among other plants is that they can be mistaken and trampled on inadvertently when weeding, pruning and maintaining the other plants in your mixed garden bed. A basic herb garden is a valuable addition to your kitchen supplies and really wont take to much of your valuable time to look after.

Herbs used as cooking ingredients have been a practice for over a long time. Growing culinary herbs in your garden at home allows you to have a fresh supply of herbs for your own cooking. There are various kinds of herbs according to its taste, they may be spicy, salty and tangy.

Parsley is a herb best applied to a fish dinner but this popular herb can be bestowed upon a variety of meals with appetizing results. Do not downgrade your parsley to a simple decorative role with your meal, enjoy it in your chosen recipe for the day.

One popular herb is thyme, the leaves of a small woody-stemmed plant. Thyme works well in meat sauces, delicate soups, or hearty everyday dishes such as tuna casserole. Whether grilled meats or gourmet cheeses, nearly every imaginable food can benefit from a little added thyme.

One beautifully pungent herb used as a common addition to Italian dishes — Basil — is used for good reason. It adds what many chefs like to call the ‘right’ touch. This is an herb of many uses, whether used for varieties of recipes from colorful pastas to cheesy pizzas, and is recommended greatly when preparing one’s tomato sauce for sophisticated, delicious pasta dishes.

Looking for something with just a little more zest? Aniseed may be the perfect solution. The oil of anise is actually used in the making of artificial licorice because of it’s licorice-like flavor, and will add a whole new dimension to the most basic dish. The slender leaves of the tarragon plant are great herbs to add to fish or mayonnaise-based dishes because of their spicy flavor.

Growing culinary herbs is so easy that anybody can do it. They are actually one of the easiest plants to grow and need only sunshine, water and soil. They are very resistant to disease and can endure adverse conditions well.

Coriander seeds are the seeds of the herb cilantro. Coriander seeds have a strong citrus flavor that compliments pork and makes wonderful curries and chutneys. Dill is a tangy herb traditionally used in pickling. It can also be used in zesty salads, chutneys and to flavor olive oil.

Many herbs are used in cooking that are members of the mint family. The two most common are sage and rosemary. Peppermint, a herb that gives a wonderful odor and taste is also a great addition to many items. If you’re looking for something to complement veal or potatoes, a good choice is mint. Mint is also used in soups and for making jelly.

It’s less common for people to grow saffron, but anybody with a sense of adventure should try it. Its tangy, honey-like flavor is a delightful departure from the more “traditional” herbs. Turkish people add saffron to rice pudding, but it can also be used in chicken or fish dishes.

No matter what your tastes are, chances are you will love adding herbs to your recipes. Which is why growing culinary herbs is a wonderful way to get the best of gardening and cooking. Try them once and you will use them again and again to transform every day dishes into culinary art.

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.