Herb gardens actually trace back to medieval times when monasteries and nunneries would use them to grow needed medicinal herbs and as time went on they were also used for culinary and decorative purposes.
Now herb gardens are making a comeback and many people are beginning to try their hand at growing these simple gardens.
Why Have a Herb Garden?
There are a variety of great reasons to have an herb garden including medicinal uses, culinary uses and decoration. For years, herbs have been used to improve health and there are various herbs that have been found to improve the health of the body as well as the health of the mind.
Growing herbs is much cheaper than purchasing them at your local supplement or nature store, so you can save money by having an herb garden.
Herbs are used for culinary purposes as well and, once again, it is much cheaper to grow your own herbs than it is to purchase fresh herbs at your local supermarket. Herbs make great additions to a variety of foods and enhance the taste without adding unneeded salt.
Another reason you may want to have an herb garden is for its decorative qualities. Herb gardens have long been used as decorative gardens and if you are just getting started at gardening, an herb garden can be a simple place to start.
Where to Plant an Herb Garden
If you want to plant an herb garden, you can either plant it in pots or planters or you can make a garden plot in your yard. If you have limited space in your yard or do not have one at all, the pots and planters will be a great place to start an indoor herb garden.
Whether you decide to grow in pots indoors or you have a plot outside, there are a few things to remember.
You need to be sure that your herbs are in a place where they get plenty of sunlight each day. If you keep them inside, make sure they are near a window with plenty of sunlight and if you have an outside garden, be sure to pick a plot that gets sun for at least 6-7 hours each day.
Also make sure that the soil is good and if not, you can add organic materials to make the soil more productive. Water is also essential to your herb garden, whether it gets rain outside or you are watering it inside.
Choosing Herbs to Grow
Making a choice on what herbs to grow in your herb garden will undoubtedly be somewhat based on your purpose for growing an herb garden. If you are growing the garden for medicinal purposes and special remedies, herbs to consider are aloe vera, ginger, chamomile, calendula and thyme.
If you are growing herbs for culinary use, you should consider growing herbs like basil, oregano, sage, marjoram, bay leaves, chives, parsley, mint and dill. If you want a decorative herb garden, you will want to pick the more attractive herbs like lavender, sage, rosemary, evening primrose, chamomile, hollyhock and lemon balm.
Herbs are both beautiful and very useful and having an herb garden will be a joy. You can have the pleasure of eating your herbs or just enjoying their simplistic beauty while you watch them grow. Whatever your reason is for starting an herb garden, you will undoubtedly find hours of pleasure and enjoyment in your herb garden.
Herb garden beginners may worry about which types of herbs they should grow. There are many different herbs available, and some are more difficult to grow than others. There are a few types of herbs that are especially easy to grow for beginners. These are generally more hardy plants that don't require a lot of fertilizer or special work.
Parsley - Parsley is a relatively hardy annual in zones 2-11. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties are easy to care for and grow very well without a lot of extra care. It can do well in full sun to light shade, and needs rich soil that is well-drained but moist. It doesn't do particularly well in heat.
Cilantro - Also known as coriander - this annual herb doesn't need exceptionally rich soil, and isn't extremely particular about sun and shade. It can do well in full sun or light shade. It is relatively easy to care for, and does well in almost all zones.
Chives - Chives are a perennial herb.Chives can grow well in almost any soil, and almost any conditions. Chives have been known to be seen growing in old gardens that haven't been tended in many years! It's hardy in zones 3-9, and prefers full sun. It does do better in rich soils, but doesn't need it to survive. Chives have a rich, oniony flavor, and they taste great on baked potatoes.
Oregano - This herb is an extremely popular herb, and it goes well with many different types of foods. It is commonly used in tomato-based pasta dishes, chicken dishes, and pork dishes. Hard in zones 5-9, oregano does well in raised beds, rock gardens, alongside roads or pathways, or just about anywhere! It needs full sun and well-drained soil, but it actually does better in poor, rocky soil!
Thyme - Thyme is a perennial herb. It is hardy in zones 4-6. It's a small, shrub-like herb that requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is quite hardy in its standard zones, and doesn't require much care at all.
Basil - Basil in a warm-weather annual herb. It is hardy in most zones, but it requires hot, dry conditions to reach peak flavor. It needs full sun, and very rich, moist soil. The only major issues with growing basil are slugs and cool conditions. As long as basil has enough light and heat, and its soil is allowed to dry out between waterings, it usually requires little additional care.
Bay - Although it is a type of shrub, this is actually a very good herb for beginners to grow. It's hardy in zones 8-11, and is remarkably hardy in those zones. It needs full sun to light shade, and rich, well-drained soil. It will tolerate variations in conditions rather well. Just remember, bay leaves reach their full flavor when dry, so be sure to press them between layers of paper towels inside heavy books for a few weeks before you use them.
Remember to be careful about the zones. Although many of these herbs are hardy, they do much better when kept to their hardiness zones. As long as you grow them in the zones in which they do best, most of these herbs will be very easy to care for, and shouldn't need a whole lot of extra work to take care of them.
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