Learn About Herb Gardening

Tips for planting an outdoor herb garden, and hints to help you learn about herb gardening.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Learn How To Plant A Basic Herb Garden


As mentioned previously, the best place to start is with the herbs you will use most frequently. A lot of nurseries also recommend complimentary herbs that grow very well alongside each other. It is worthwhile remembering that herbs vary in size, and therefore may grow best in small containers, through to large gardens.

When you are starting to learn about herb gardening, it is recommended that you begin with something small – perhaps with a few simple herbs in a small pot, growing in full sun.

Two of the most important things to remember when growing herbs are:

- Herbs require lots of sunlight
- Herbs prefer well-drained soil

Most herbs require full or partial sun and generally flourish in these conditions. Likewise most herbs will not grow well in wet soil, or if they are over-watered. Resist the temptation to water your herbs too frequently. Every 2-3 days is usually sufficient; some herbs even prefer up to 7 days between watering. It is also recommended that a good quality potting mix is used for planting herbs.

Learn About Growing Fresh Herbs For Cooking


Sweet Basil

Sweet basil is primarily used as the main flavor ingredient in tomato dishes such as spaghetti sauces. Sweet basil is also great in salads. Depending on where you live, basil will either grow as an annual plant, or as a perennial plant – meaning basil will either grow once, and die, or return every year.

Sweet basil thrives in average soil and is equally happy in either full sun, or partial shade - this is something you will learn about herb gardening. Sweet basil generally starts best if it is grown inside for the first few weeks before being moved outside to its more permanent location. Sweet basil can also be grown from an off-cut in a glass of water in full sun until it grows roots. It can then be transferred to soil.

Once your basil is flourishing, you can encourage the plant’s bushiness by cutting the stems during summer. From every cut, several more shoots will grow. Again, this is a key point when you want to learn about herb gardening.

Garlic

Garlic promotes good health as it is full of great nutrients and minerals. Garlic is used in dishes ranging from steak to pasta to vegetables to seafood.

Growing garlic is basic. In spring, simply grab a bulb from the supermarket of fruit shop. Pull off one of the cloves and plant it, pointy side up, in some well drained soil, mixed with compost. Ensure you do this in a garden bed in full sun. Do not plant them too deep.

Once fall arrives, the garlic is ready to be taken from the soil and used for cooking.

Thank you for stopping by to learn about herb gardening.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Learn About Herb Gardening


Probably one of the most interesting things anyone will learn about herb gardening is the fact that growing herbs is relatively simple. After starting out with one or two different types of herbs, you will quickly want to expand your herb garden to include many different and varying herbs. Aside from using herbs for cooking, medicinal aids, and in teas and dressings, herbs also work well as decorative plants in the garden.

Like anything, starting to learn about herb gardening and picking some herbs to start with is usually the most difficult. A good starting point may very well be your cookbook. Choose the recipes you prefer and then go through the ingredients and pick out the herbs required to prepare these. You will be surprised how often fresh herbs can be used in a variety of your favorite recipes.

Learn About Which Herb To Grow


As the weather starts to warm up, it is the perfect time to start your outdoor herb garden. Herbs come in different colors, flora, scents, textures. Prior to beginning your herb garden, there are some things that you first of all need to consider.

Initially, you will need to work out how much space you have to plant. If you have just a small garden, then you are going to have to narrow your herb choices. Larger gardens allow for larger, and a greater number of herbs to be planted.

Depending on which herbs you choose, you can either plant a lot of one herbs close together or wide apart. The size of your garden will determine how many plants you can comfortably grow.

Also keep in mind that some herbs, such as mint, grow very rapidly given the right conditions. Choose the herb that best suits the conditions in which it will be grown.