Herbal Gardening 101
Posted on 05/10/2015
What You Have To Do In Order To Get Started On Herb Growing At Home
You may think that herbs are not essential to cooking, but the truth is there is nothing quite adding a touch of fresh herbs to your dish. The taste of almost every dish can be made better and well cherished by anyone who tastes it. Herbs are not only good at transforming every dish into a delicious and memorable masterpiece, but they are also quite easy to grow and contribute to a great activity that is gardening.
If you think you need a lot of skill and special conditions to grow herbs, you are mistaken - you can grow them in your kitchen if you want to! You don’t have to be an expert gardener to grow herbs in your home. What you need is to follow few simple rules and basic plant care guidelines. Here are few suggestions on what you need and what you have to do in order to get started on herb growing at home:
- Choose your herb type - follow this simple rule: if you like a certain type of herb in your cooking, then you should try to grow it. Focus your attempts on growing what you enjoy on your dishes so that you won’t have to resort to dried substitutes that you can find in every supermarket. Next, you should consider whether you want annual or perennial herbs. Dill, basil and coriander grow very fast and should be planted during the spring and summer. That way your gardening efforts will be rewarded with a fresh supply of herbs over a long period. Perennials that grow slower are mint, rosemary and sage require a more permanent home and some extra care.
- Make sure you have adequate growing conditions - herbs are not that hard to grow in your home, but they do require certain conditions - sunny location, well drained soil and shelter. Incorporate coarse grit in your soil in order to improve the drainage of your soil. Adding organic matter is one thing you should also consider - compost and recycled green waste make perfect addition.
- You can grow herbs outside - having a dedicated place outside for your gardening efforts is best. What you can do is fill a vegetable plot with herbs or have a raised bed for them. Herbs can be sown among flowers and vegetables, if you have limited space to work with. Edging the beds is one thing you should definitely consider, and so is sowing in rows.
- Herbs can also be grown in pots and containers - in case you have limited space, you might have to grow herbs in pots and containers. Place those on your patio area and you will still benefit from growing your own herbs. Choose deep pots as they make an excellent choice for all shrubby herbs like Bay trees and rosemary. You may have to add fertiliser to your potted herbs from time to time in order to ensure their growth. Just be sure you don’t overdose, as that way they will lose their flavour. If you want to employ reliable gardening methods, make sure you protect your herbs from cold weather with bubble wrap or other material.
- Grow your herbs indoors - in case you have no garden space, growing indoors might be your only option. There is a clear benefit to this and it comes from the fact that harvesting season will be extended this way. You will be able to enjoy fresh herbs all year round and benefit from their great taste during all seasons.
Little is required in terms of garden care for herbs. One thing is for certain and that is the fact growing herbs at home is easy and quite rewarding. Some basic knowledge and effort is all it takes.
