Herb gardening is a simple and satisfying way to get the most from a little area of garden or yard. If you do this organically, you also have the satisfaction of knowing that the herbs a person grow and consume are the healthiest they could be, as well as the finest.
Most herbs are simple to grow. They mainly like sunlight so you will want to position these questions sunny part of the garden.
It is best if your herb beds are close to the house where you can easily reach them. You will need to be able to run out as well as pick a few leaves whenever you are cooking. If the plants are too far from the door, you may not usually bother, and that would be a pity.
It is also a good idea if you can see them from the kitchen windowpane. That will remind you that they are there are prompt you to keep them well watered in hot weather.
Some herbs tend to be perennials, meaning that the vegetation will remain from year upon year. Perennial herbs consist of rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. These are usually best grown outdoors in your plant gardening beds. The best is spearmint, which can take over the whole garden otherwise contained. We suggest growing spearmint in an outside container.
Other herbal treatments are annuals which will need to be raised through seed each year. This includes parsley, dill and basil. You might prefer to grow these in pots or containers.
The difference in between organic and non-organic plant gardening is simply that if you are doing your plant gardening the natural way, you will not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers. For most herbal treatments, this is not a problem. They are generally hardy plants which are resistant to pests.
With regards to fertilizer, you will need to use something to add nutrients to the soil but there are plenty of organic options. Natural compost out of your own garden is a. Other options include bone fragments meal and seaweed draw out. You can buy these from garden supply shops. Just check that your decision is organic to be able to maintain standards in your herb garden.
Some herbs like rosemary may be used straight from the garden all year round. Others will have a particular harvest time when you will want to pick, dry and store them. In most cases, they are greatest harvested a day or two before the flowers would blossom. This ensures that you get the maximum amount of the plant's essential oil.
It is best to harvest the majority of herbs around the core morning, when the dew has dried but the sun is not yet shining at full strength. The growing ideas and young simply leaves are best.
Most people doing organic herb gardening do not wash their herbs before drying them. If you do, they will need to be dried quickly, perhaps in the stove, to avoid fungal development.
Herbs that have not been washed could be dried on cable netting, covered with document or a light cloth. Remove stems and try to keep only a single layer of leaves on the wire. Location these racks inside a well ventilated area within the shade.
Herbs are dry enough to store when they are crisp, so that they break and topple easily. Many people prefer to crush them so that they take up less storage space; others like to keep larger pieces, especially if they are to be used for teas. If they are genuinely dry you will not end up being likely to keep whole leaves. These last products of your plant gardening can then be stored in airtight containers or jars.
Mikel Ranksin is a published author who writes on numerous subjects and topics that affect health and illness avoidance. You can read more of Mikels writings about Organic Herbs and Gardening.