Fresh Herb Gardening
There are many benefits to be had with fresh herb gardening. For one thing, you can enjoy fresh herbs straight off the plants that, arguably, provide for more flavor than the packed herbs at supermarkets. You can save on costs for herbs, too, since you need not buy them anymore. For another thing, you have a small sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of your hectic daily life. Plus, you can get your exercise, too, if your fresh herb garden is large enough.
Container Gardening
However, you can grow herbs from containers, too. This way, you need not deprive yourself of the beauty of being closer to nature by being a gardener even if you live in a high-rise, cramped apartment.
There are many container types available in stores and sites today, from plastic and wood to ceramic and terracotta, that there is bound to be one container that answers your needs in terms of size, shape and style. Just remember that when choosing from among these container types, good drainage is one of the keys to successful herb gardening, the other two being sunlight and moisture.
You can place your herb garden just about anywhere with plenty of sunlight. Think windowsills, patios, decks and even in your small backyard and front yard. You can just take them in when inclement weather and winter comes around.
Mixed Herbs
Another good thing about herb gardening is that you can plant many types of herbs in one space. Thus, you can get many colors, aromas, textures and uses out of single patch of land or a single pot. In essence, you can mix and match! (Just remember to never ever plant mint with other herbs as it is likely to overrun everything else)
If you want the best mixes, however, you can plant herbs according to their uses, of which there are many options. The most notable are the following, which you can purchase as starter kits from local nurseries:
• Italian cuisine - Sweet basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme and Italian parsley
• French cuisine - Chives, parsley, tarragon, chervil and sage
• Perfume pot – Lemon balm, lemon thyme, lavender and pineapple sage
• Salad bowl - Parsley, celery, salad burnet, rocket and garlic chives
Just choose which one suits your purposes best. Or better yet, have one of each to enjoy their unique benefits.
Tips for Success
If you are a beginner gardener, the following tips come in handy-dandy in your first forays into the world of herb gardening. First, make sure to prune the herbs of excess foliage to enable them to grow better. Second, transfer them into bigger containers or lessen the number of plants in the container when you see them start to look sickly and overcrowded.
Also, try to extend their lives by feeding with liquid plant food albeit at half the strength for regular plants. Fourth, never over water the herbs since it can result in soggy roots. Instead, regularly check to make sure that the topmost soil is just damp, neither soggy nor bone dry. Fifth, just cut down the herbs when you see evidence of aphids and red spiders.
With these tips in mind, you should be enjoying your salads and other foods with fresher flavor to them, thanks to your fresh herb garden.
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