Herbs can be traced back into the times of the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Chinese. There are also references in the Bible and medieval documents that show herbs were used by most households. Growing herbs is something that is very beneficial to gardeners for several different purposes. Herbs may be used to flavor food, for potpourri, for tea, for medical purposes or to even control pests in the garden. Herb gardens can be specialized towards one of these specific areas or a mixture of a few different purposes. They can also be grown in a garden with other species of plants or in containers indoors.
Herb gardens can be grown in different ways such as an indoor herb garden in the kitchen or a small plot in the garden. A small plot of four feet by six feet is a large enough area to support a small family. Although a popular use for herbs are for cooking known as culinary herbs, they are also grown for their aromatic foliage and some for the beauty of their flowers. They can be used fresh or dried. Some herbs are used as garnish for plates or salads while other types of herbs can be used to perk up the flavor of a dish.
Like all other plants herbs grow as annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. When planting herbs, you should use well-drained soil. If you find that your soil is heavy or compacted, you can add organic matter to it. Fertilizers are not necessary either. Most herbs prefer a sunny location although a few prefer full shade. Many herbs will grow well with afternoon shade. Amazingly, very few diseases or insects attack herbs. Sometimes in dry, hot weather red spider mites can be found on low-growing plants and aphids may attach dill, caraway, anise, or fennel. Rust can also affect mint.
Herbs can be bought and planted into a home garden or they can be grown from seeds. It is an honor and a joy to be able to see a plant be grown from a single seed. You are able to enjoy every step of the process from birth to death in a respect. When growing a plant like an herb from a seed the experience is all the more rewarding because herbs are so useful. Almost all herbs can be grown from a seed. Seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in the late winter. Use a light, well-drained soil to grown your seeds in. Since herbs do not have a deep root base, make sure not to cover the seeds too much with the soil. They should be planted shallow. Follow the rule: the finer the seed, the shallower it should be sown. You can transplant the seedlings to the outdoors in the spring. Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, some herbs do not transplant well. Herbs like dill, fennel, anise, and coriander should be planted directly into the garden.
Although growing herbs in a home garden is extremely easy and worthwhile, there is a lot of information you need to know and understand about herbs. This article has given you a lift and now it is time to complete the journey with more information. And you can find all of the information you need right here! Good Luck!
Hawaiian Joe is an herb expert. For more great information on Herb Gardens visit our website at: http://www.theherbsgarden.com/
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Hawaiian Joe
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