Herb Garden Information - Know This Or Know Nothing

Herb Garden Information: How to grow

Popular herbs may either be bought, propagated or planted from seeds. Watching seeds germinate and grow does anyone's heart good and should be experienced by all gardeners. Almost like seeing a child grow in front of you, you are able to enjoy every step of the process.  And nearly all herbs can be grown from a seed.

Herb Garden Information: Usage

Growing herbs as an essential inclusion in any type of modern garden can have many benefits to a gardener and householder; practical uses include:

• Culinary
• Aromatic
• Medicinal
• Beverages
• Pest repellents
• Decoration
• Treats for pets (catnip)

Within these base categories are a host of uses, the scope limited more by imagination than practicality. Knowing more about the virtues of herbs will allow you to target certain types and avoid others as superfluous to your requirements.

Herb Garden Information: Types of gardens and growing

One of my friends practices growing herbs like bush basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary and chives on her kitchen windowsill. And yes - she is a great cook.

The eye-catching appearance and aromatic nature of many herbs has popularized their use in conventional gardens while plants such as lemon verbena are used either as a companion plant which is a natural insect repellent, for its aromatic properties or simply for the beauty of the plant itself. Herb gardens can be successfully grown in a section of your garden no larger than a double bed. Properly planned, such a garden should be sufficient to supply a household's normal daily usage. Unlike most other garden residents,  herbs can be processed for storage, extending their utility throughout the year.

Herbs can be grown either with other types of plants, in a separate garden of their own or indoor/outdoor containers. Many herbs are referred to, rather charmingly I think, as 'companion plants'. This denotes their perceived ability to assist, protect or even improve the growth pattern or taste of the plant they are paired with, whilst repelling insects and diseases. However, that is a whole chapter in herb garden information - much of it learned by observation.

In general, seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in late winter and moved to their garden location in spring. Use light, well-drained soil. Many herbs can be grown in seed trays but not all take kindly to relocation; some types do better planted directly into the chosen garden location.

Another snippet of herb garden information you are not likely to hear too often is the fact that eventually you will find that the seedlings talk to you. Not in an esoteric way, though; for instance, I transplant coriander (cilantro) very successfully, but I don't really have a specific timing plan: the time just seems right. Most - but not all - herb seedlings have a high immunity to insects and pests if transplant timing is good. So get the timing right as soon as you can. You may have a few false starts but it won't take long to get in sync.

Many popular herbs have a shallow root base, so make sure not to smother the seeds in soil or planting medium. There is a simple rule of thumb with planting seeds: the smaller the seed, the lighter the covering.

Herb Garden Information: Position and preferences

Herbs like to make their homes in light, well-drained soil. Add organic matter to clay-streaked or clotted fine soil to achieve this.  Fertilizers are less valuable than organic matter.  As a rough guide remember that herbs prefer a sunny location although a few do like medium to full shade. (But you will learn all this as you go along; I did say that you had to do some homework) Many herbs will grow well with afternoon shade.

Herb Garden Information: Historical

One of the things we have in common with the Neanderthals is probably the use of herbs. Passages from many medieval and ancient tomes refer to the growing and processing of herbs as an everyday household task. Evidence of growing herbs for both medicinal and culinary use go back to before antiquity. We're talking about the cradle of man here.

So-called 'hedge witches' of medieval times were probably just women with a wealth of herb lore growing herbs in their gardens and collecting their stock-in-trade from hedges and fields around Britain and Europe. On the premise that any advanced technique is regarded as magic, they were probably held in awe when their willowbark and feverfew remedies actually eased pain. Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) comes from willowbark. Those old biddies could have given us all a lesson in herb garden information and how to best utilize herbs for healing. What a pity our mindless ancestors persecuted so many and burned them in a religious frenzy.