Herb Gardening For Everyone
Herbs, together, are among the most fascinating of all plants. If they were not in it, life would be less enjoyable. These hardworking plants are useful for seasoning food and beverages, imparting a pleasant aroma, deterring unwanted insects while luring in those that are beneficial, enhancing the look of a garden with textural contrast, vibrant color, and heady scents, and treating a variety of medical conditions. It’s not too difficult to grow your own herbs at home. They are adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, from confined spaces like containers to expansive settings like formal gardens.
Since the Mediterranean is the birthplace of many herbs, it stands to reason that these plants thrive in warm, sunny climates. In addition to this, they want wet soil that drains well. You may improve the drainage of your soil by adding compost if you find that it is not enough for growing herbs. For further information on how to make your own compost, please see our article that discusses the construction and upkeep of a compost pile. One further approach to ensure that herbs are grown in soil with good drainage is to place them on raised beds or containers instead of the ground.
When you have determined that the area and soil you have chosen for your herbs are suitable, the next step is to consider how you want to use them and how much room you have available for them in your garden. There are many different cultivation methods for herbs. Others, such as angelica, may grow pretty tall and can reach a height of up to eight feet. Some grow relatively low to the ground, such as the various types of thyme that are excellent for using as ground coverings; others grow quite high and can reach up to eight feet in height. Still some plants, such as mint, may rapidly reproduce and spread. If you are familiar with their growth patterns, you will be able to position them in your garden so that they get the most out of the space available to them, or you will know whether or not it is best to confine them in a container.
The function of your garden will play a role in deciding the kinds of plants you cultivate and the manner in which you do it. Common culinary herbs include chives, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, sage, and dill. Chives are also sometimes used. They perform well either in containers or in the ground in your garden. Insects in the garden: when a bug is not a pest and Why plant flowers and herbs in the vegetable garden are two articles that provide examples of how herbs can be used as companion plants. If you are interested in incorporating herbs into your garden to make it a healthier ecosystem or even to enhance its visual appeal, you can find examples of how herbs can be used as companion plants in these articles.
Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Annual, biennial, or perennial growth is possible for herbs. Annual herbs are plants that have a single growth season and may be grown from seed to harvest in that one season. They have to be transplanted each year to ensure their survival. Herbs that develop over two growing seasons are called biennials. Herbs that live through the winter and come back each year are known as perennials. Some perennial herbs are known as “tender perennials” because they are susceptible to the cold and may not make it through the winter. Other perennial herbs, on the other hand, need the winter in order to flourish each following spring. You may bring several of the perennial herbs inside before the first frost, and this will ensure that you have access to fresh herbs throughout the whole winter.
You are going to need to prune your herbs in order to keep them in good health and keep them looking lovely. This will also help them keep their form. Depending on the size of the herb plant, use either scissors, hand pruners, or a saw to cut off and dispose of any dead flowers, leaves, or branches (yes, some can get so big as to require a pruning saw). If you see that your herb plant is starting to appear sickly, you should prune it so that it may use its energy and resources into producing new, healthy growth rather than attempting to revive diseased areas.
Harvest Time
When it comes to most herbs, the optimal time to gather the leaves is just before the plant blooms. This is when the essential oil in the leaves is at its peak concentration. Instead of storing your harvest in plastic, put it in a basket or a paper bag. Plastic bags should only be used for storing fragile herbs if you have the ability to refrigerate them and still plan on using them within a short period of time. If not, they will be prone to the growth of mold and deterioration if they are placed in a plastic bag.
