Herb Gardening- Growing Fresh Herbs in the Home Garden
Herb gardening can mean a devoted culinary herb garden or a hedge of lavender. Herbs are so much a part of every garden, it is hard to categorize them. But it is wonderful to grow and use herbs throughout the landscape.
Kitchen Herbs - Tips for Growing a Kitchen Herb Garden
Probably the most popular herbs to grow and use are the culinary herbs. Growing culinary herbs is very similar to growing vegetables. The two most important considerations are to harvest at full flavor and to never use any fertilizer or pesticide on them that isn’t labeled for use on edible plants. Here are some more tips for growing flavorful culinary herbs.
Probably the most popular herbs to grow and use are the culinary herbs. Growing culinary herbs is very similar to growing vegetables. The two most important considerations are to harvest at full flavor and to never use any fertilizer or pesticide on them that isn’t labeled for use on edible plants. Here are some more tips for growing flavorful culinary herbs.
Herbs for Dying
Because herb plants are natural dyes, the colors will be more variable than dyes produced from a chemical formula. But the richness and depth of color is unmatched and the surprise results are often part of the pleasure of using natural dyes. Many common dye herbs can be grown easily in the garden; plants like broom, dandelion, fennel, goldenrod,, hops and marigolds. Experiment with these tips here and see what works for you.
Because herb plants are natural dyes, the colors will be more variable than dyes produced from a chemical formula. But the richness and depth of color is unmatched and the surprise results are often part of the pleasure of using natural dyes. Many common dye herbs can be grown easily in the garden; plants like broom, dandelion, fennel, goldenrod,, hops and marigolds. Experiment with these tips here and see what works for you.
Fragrant Herbs - The Scented Herb Garden
Scented herbs brings to mind the pleasant fragrances of lavender, sage and lemon balm. Fragrant herbs plants can be used for potpourri, oils and lotions, cooking or just to enjoy a heady whiff as you work in the garden. Often the fragrance of herbs is in their foliage, so planting your herbs where you will brush by them is an easy way of enjoying a scented herb garden.
Scented herbs brings to mind the pleasant fragrances of lavender, sage and lemon balm. Fragrant herbs plants can be used for potpourri, oils and lotions, cooking or just to enjoy a heady whiff as you work in the garden. Often the fragrance of herbs is in their foliage, so planting your herbs where you will brush by them is an easy way of enjoying a scented herb garden.
Medicinal Herbs
About’s Guide to Herb Gardening fills us in on some herbs to grow for their health benefits.
About’s Guide to Herb Gardening fills us in on some herbs to grow for their health benefits.
Tea Herbs - Growing Herbs for Tea
Perhaps the easiest way to use and enjoy the herbs you grow is to make herbal tea. Herbal tea can be made from the leaves, flowers, seeds or even the roots of herbs, whether freshly picked or dried and stored for the off-season. The trick to growing your own herbal teas is to know which herbs make great teas and when to harvest the herbs at peak flavor.
Perhaps the easiest way to use and enjoy the herbs you grow is to make herbal tea. Herbal tea can be made from the leaves, flowers, seeds or even the roots of herbs, whether freshly picked or dried and stored for the off-season. The trick to growing your own herbal teas is to know which herbs make great teas and when to harvest the herbs at peak flavor.
Windowsill Herb Garden - Growing Herb Plants Inside
Many herb plants can be easily grown indoors, in a sunny windowsill or under lights. You can have a herb garden throughout the winter, with fresh herbs to cook with, in your kitchen. Herbs will grow in containers with minimal care.
Many herb plants can be easily grown indoors, in a sunny windowsill or under lights. You can have a herb garden throughout the winter, with fresh herbs to cook with, in your kitchen. Herbs will grow in containers with minimal care.
Basil - How to Grow Great Basil in Your Garden
Basil is an easy to grow tender annual. The hardest thing about growing basil is choosing which varieties to grow. Give basil some sun and good soil and you can pick leaves daily all summer long. And picking the leaves is what will keep your basil producing for the whole season. Here are some suggestions for great basil varieties and how to grow basil in your home garden.
Basil is an easy to grow tender annual. The hardest thing about growing basil is choosing which varieties to grow. Give basil some sun and good soil and you can pick leaves daily all summer long. And picking the leaves is what will keep your basil producing for the whole season. Here are some suggestions for great basil varieties and how to grow basil in your home garden.
Borage - Growing and Using the Herb Borage
Borage is a freely seeding, easy growing annual plant with vivid blue flowers and leaves with the flavor of cucumbers. Borage is actually a somewhat gangly plant, but you barely notice it because the star-shaped flowers are so vibrant. They’re a true blue, hanging in downward facing clusters. Even the fussy white buds are attractive. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible, with a cucumber-like flavor. Here are some tips for growing borage.
Borage is a freely seeding, easy growing annual plant with vivid blue flowers and leaves with the flavor of cucumbers. Borage is actually a somewhat gangly plant, but you barely notice it because the star-shaped flowers are so vibrant. They’re a true blue, hanging in downward facing clusters. Even the fussy white buds are attractive. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible, with a cucumber-like flavor. Here are some tips for growing borage.
Herb & Spice Gallery
Not exactly sure what some of the herbs you see for sale are? About's Guide to Herbs and Spice has put together this useful gallery with suggestions on how to use them.
Not exactly sure what some of the herbs you see for sale are? About's Guide to Herbs and Spice has put together this useful gallery with suggestions on how to use them.
Calendula - Growing and Using the Flowering Herb Calendula or Pot Marigold
Calendula, or "Pot Marigolds", are known for their cheery bright flowers and profuse blooming. They are most commonly thought of as yellow and orange, but there are more subtle pink and cream varieties of Calendula. Calendula is often used in cooking and herbal medicine, although the bright petals of pot marigold add more color than flavor. Here's how to grow you own Calendula.
Calendula, or "Pot Marigolds", are known for their cheery bright flowers and profuse blooming. They are most commonly thought of as yellow and orange, but there are more subtle pink and cream varieties of Calendula. Calendula is often used in cooking and herbal medicine, although the bright petals of pot marigold add more color than flavor. Here's how to grow you own Calendula.
Catmints (Nepeta) are Easy Growing, Drought Hardy Garden Performers
Catmint (Nepeta) is extremely hardy, drought tolerant and virtually maintenance free. All this and nepeta repeat blooms sporadically throughout the summer. Such a wonderful garden plant should be more widely appreciated and used by gardeners. Take another look here, at the pleasure of growing nepeta and its usefulness in any garden design.
Catmint (Nepeta) is extremely hardy, drought tolerant and virtually maintenance free. All this and nepeta repeat blooms sporadically throughout the summer. Such a wonderful garden plant should be more widely appreciated and used by gardeners. Take another look here, at the pleasure of growing nepeta and its usefulness in any garden design.
Chamomile - A Delicate but Tough Herb for the Garden and the Kitchen
German chamomile is a delicate looking plant that is surprisingly tough. The ferny foliage tends to flop over and the tiny flowers look like miniature daisies. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is often used as a groundcover or creeping plant used to soften the edges of a stone wall or walkway. Roman chamomile is a perennial. The German chamomile used for making tea. Both are easy to grow and great additions to the garden.
German chamomile is a delicate looking plant that is surprisingly tough. The ferny foliage tends to flop over and the tiny flowers look like miniature daisies. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is often used as a groundcover or creeping plant used to soften the edges of a stone wall or walkway. Roman chamomile is a perennial. The German chamomile used for making tea. Both are easy to grow and great additions to the garden.
Edible Flowers - Growing Flowers that are Beautiful, As Well As Delici
It's hard to find edible flowers to purchase, but quite easy to grow most of them in your garden. Since flowers are best when eaten soon after harvest, growing your own edible flowers makes even more sense. Here are some tips.
It's hard to find edible flowers to purchase, but quite easy to grow most of them in your garden. Since flowers are best when eaten soon after harvest, growing your own edible flowers makes even more sense. Here are some tips.
Garlic - Easy to Grow Garlic
Garlic is very easy to grow in the home garden. There are hundreds of garlic varieties and the only way you are gong to get to taste them is if you grow them yourself. Read on to learn what types of garlic to grow and how to grow and store your garlic.
Garlic is very easy to grow in the home garden. There are hundreds of garlic varieties and the only way you are gong to get to taste them is if you grow them yourself. Read on to learn what types of garlic to grow and how to grow and store your garlic.
Lavender - Growing and Enjoying Lavender
You can be successful growing lavender if you choose the right variety and keep it happy, even if you don't live in the Mediterranean region or have a hot, sandy garden.
You can be successful growing lavender if you choose the right variety and keep it happy, even if you don't live in the Mediterranean region or have a hot, sandy garden.
Lemon Scented Herbs
Not every gardener can grow a lemon tree, but everyone can have lemon scent and flavor in their garden by planting some lemon scented herbs. It’s amazing how much these plants mimic the essence of lemons. They are all relatively easy to grow and care for and the leaves, the most flavorful part of these plants, can be harvested and used in just about any culinary dish you prepare in your kitchen. Here are the top 5 lemon scented and flavored herbs.
Not every gardener can grow a lemon tree, but everyone can have lemon scent and flavor in their garden by planting some lemon scented herbs. It’s amazing how much these plants mimic the essence of lemons. They are all relatively easy to grow and care for and the leaves, the most flavorful part of these plants, can be harvested and used in just about any culinary dish you prepare in your kitchen. Here are the top 5 lemon scented and flavored herbs.
Mint - Growing and Using the Fragrant Herb Mint
Plants in the mint family are very hardy perennials with vigorous growth habits. Mint, left to its own devices, will spread quickly and become a nuisance. However, it is very popular as a flavorful herb and the plants can be grown easily. Just try to chose a spot where you won’t mind the rampant growth or grow it in a confined space.
Plants in the mint family are very hardy perennials with vigorous growth habits. Mint, left to its own devices, will spread quickly and become a nuisance. However, it is very popular as a flavorful herb and the plants can be grown easily. Just try to chose a spot where you won’t mind the rampant growth or grow it in a confined space.
Oregano - About Growing & Using Oregano
Growing, harvesting and using oregano is easy, but sometimes confusing. Plants in the genus Origanum can be perennial ground covers, tender perennials or even small subshrubs. There's some confusion over what type of oregano to use in cooking, but there is no disputing the flavor when you taste it. This Plant Profile of 'Oregano' will help you make sense of which oregano to grow for your needs.
Growing, harvesting and using oregano is easy, but sometimes confusing. Plants in the genus Origanum can be perennial ground covers, tender perennials or even small subshrubs. There's some confusion over what type of oregano to use in cooking, but there is no disputing the flavor when you taste it. This Plant Profile of 'Oregano' will help you make sense of which oregano to grow for your needs.
Parsley - An Easy Growing, Under Appreciated Herb
For years, all we knew about parsley was that curly, bitter sprig at the side of our food in restaurants. Parsley is a leafy herb that adds more freshness than flavor to dishes. It’s extremely easy to grow and keep on hand and an attractive plant in the garden.
For years, all we knew about parsley was that curly, bitter sprig at the side of our food in restaurants. Parsley is a leafy herb that adds more freshness than flavor to dishes. It’s extremely easy to grow and keep on hand and an attractive plant in the garden.
Rosemary - You Can Grow the Herb Rosemary
It's not hard to grow rosemary. Rosemary is a heat loving herb, associated with the Mediterranean, but you can successfully grow rosemary plants just about anywhere, as long as you give it plenty of sun and bring it inside for the winter.
It's not hard to grow rosemary. Rosemary is a heat loving herb, associated with the Mediterranean, but you can successfully grow rosemary plants just about anywhere, as long as you give it plenty of sun and bring it inside for the winter.
Sage - Growing, Harvesting and Using Culinary Sage
Sage is one of those wonderful Mediterranean herbs that only asks for sun and warmth and then takes care of itself. Being an evergreen, even northern gardeners are able to harvest fresh sage leaves at Thanksgiving. And it's beautiful enough not to have on display in the herb garden or the perennial bed. Here are some tips for growing great sage.
Sage is one of those wonderful Mediterranean herbs that only asks for sun and warmth and then takes care of itself. Being an evergreen, even northern gardeners are able to harvest fresh sage leaves at Thanksgiving. And it's beautiful enough not to have on display in the herb garden or the perennial bed. Here are some tips for growing great sage.
Thyme - How to Grow Fragrant, Flavorful Thyme Plants
Thyme is an extremely easy growing Mediterranean herb that prefers dry, lean growing conditions. In fact, thyme almost grows itself. You can grow thyme in herb gardens, on rock walls, between pavers or even indoors. Here are some tips on growing and using great thyme.
Thyme is an extremely easy growing Mediterranean herb that prefers dry, lean growing conditions. In fact, thyme almost grows itself. You can grow thyme in herb gardens, on rock walls, between pavers or even indoors. Here are some tips on growing and using great thyme.