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A Herb Garden Guide

Herbs have been around for a long time, as far back as the ancient Chinese and Egyptians. References can be found in medieval transcripts and the  Bible showing they were in widespread use during these times. Growing herbs is something that is very beneficial to gardeners for several different purposes.  They really are versatile, being used in tea, in medicine, in potpourri and in the management of garden pests.  Click here for more: Herb Gardens

You can specialize your herb garden to focus on any of these uses or grow a variety to broaden it’s appeal.  Other species of plants can be grow along side them either in pots indoors or in the garden. If growing herbs in the garden, then a small plot of 4×6ft should be enough to provide for the family. Although a popular use for herbs are for cooking known as culinary herbs, they are also grown for their aromatic leaves and some for the attractiveness 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. As with most plant species, herbs grow in different forms like shrubs, trees, annuals and perennials. It’s important to use a well drained soil when planting your herbs. If you find that your soil is heavy or dense, you can add organic matter to it. Fertilizers are not necessary either. You will find that while some herbs are happy in complete shade, most prefer a sunny position. That said, many like locations with afternoon shade. Amazingly, very few diseases or insects attack herbs. For more visit our blog: Herb Gardening Blog

Sometimes in dry, hot weather red spider mites can be found on low-growing plants and aphids may attack dill, caraway, anise, or fennel. Rust can also affect mint. You can grow herbs by planting saplings into your home garden or from seedlings. 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. The best way is to place them in a shallow container at the end of winter. Make sure you use a well drained, light soil when planting.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.  With this said some herbs do not transplant very well. Those like fennel, coriander, dill and anise fair better if they are planted directly into the gareden. 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. I hope this article has encouraged you to take action. And you can find all of the information you need right here!  Good Luck!

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Growing An Italian Herb Garden

Growing your own herbs in an Italian herb garden provides a huge amount of possibilities. Some of the most famous and tastiest herbs in the world come from Italy.  And herbs have an important role at least in a small way to contributing to popular Italian dishes.

Basil is a well know Italian herb and useful in many Italian recipes. Basil will not only add flavor to many Italian cuisines, it is useful in the garden to other plants. Did you know that planting them beside tomatoes and peppers will improve their flavor?. Plus, basil will also repel flies and mosquitoes. Click here for more: italian dried herbs

Parsley, while slightly harder to grow will find it’s way into many Italian recipes as well as other types of cuisine. Many generations ago before their were breath mints it was found that eating fresh, raw parsley after a meal eradicated the bad breath left over from enjoying a flavorful cuisine. So the custom of serving parsley with a dish arose.  The tradition lives today by using parsley as a garnish on a variety of meals.

Equally tasty and appealing is Oregano.  When it is fully mature it will sprout pretty little purple flowers.  Oregano should not be harvested until it has flowered because this is when the plant is most flavorful.

Next is Fennel. whose seeds enhance the zest of many a sauasage.  Fennel, unlike Oregano, looses its essence with age. It is a perennial plant that should be divided and replanted every few years to savor its flavor. For more visit our blog: Herb Gardening Blog

Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden.  It grows into a large shrub that spouts pretty little blue flowers. It also finds usefulness in attracting pollinating insects like bees. However, it is sensitive to sharp frosts even though it is a hardy evergreen perrenial.

Garlic is of course one of the most used herbs in Italian cusine. And no Italian herb garden would be complete without garlic.  They need little attention once planted and will thrive in most gardens. They can be easily stored in the freezer or refrigerator once harvested and used at will.

Another herb used in Italian dishes from salads and meats is Sage. New shoots of the plant contain the most flavor so it is recommended not to let sage plants to get to woody by keeping them trim. Therefore, new shoots will be encouraged to grow.  Sage can be harvested after it blooms.

Although there are so many more herbs that can be included in an Italian herb garden, you really should consider which herbs you will use. This means examining the growing conditions for each type of plant and whether or not it is easy for you to provide them. So while Italian herbs are essential for cooking they also provide much more than just flavor. They also make amazing additions to landscape designs. They can be displayed for color and their aroma.

By planting Italian herbs amongst other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy. It will be like taking a stroll on a Italian hill side. Click here for more: Herb Garden Guide

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A Kitchen Herb Garden Is Easy and Enjoyable

The flavor of fresh picked herbs simply can’t be beat. Biting into your meal and experiencing your taste buds coming alive with enjoyment is an experience to be savored. Certainly, dried herbs may be more appropriate sometimes, but they are short on the oils contained in fresh herbs that add unmatched flavor to anything you prepare. For the sake of your taste buds, why not grow a kitchen herb garden. Even if you have a notorious black thumb and don’t have a vegetable garden, herbs are easy to cultivate inside and all you require to get going are a few pots, soil, fertilizer and a little moisture, sunlight and care.

When making a kitchen herb garden, you should be aware that there are essentially two sorts of herbs - perennial and annual. Both annuals and perennials are ideal for interior herb gardening and a flavorful addition to any recipe.

Annual herbs such as cilantro, basil, chamomile, savory, chervil and dill have one growing season and then die, although cultivating them in the house will most likely extend that timetable somewhat. Perennials that are suitable for a kitchen herb garden comprise rosemary, sage, thyme, mint, lavender, chives and tarragon. These types of herbs create fresh growth each year and the more you cut off to use for cooking, the bigger and better these plants will get.

Given that annuals and perennials have separate growing patterns, it might be smart to use separate containers for each kind. That way, once an annual plant eventually dies off or must be replaced, you won’t be disrupting the well being and growth of a perennial that will thrive for quite a few more seasons.

For the beginner, it’s a smart idea to avail yourself of seedlings rather than starting your plants from seed. Many individuals find it somewhat difficult to start from seed and get discouraged. Yet when they become seedlings or young plants, they are exceptionally easy to look after. You can plant an assortment of herbs in just one large container or use smaller single containers and raise the herbs separately. It’s completely up to your own preferences, although you must bear in mind that annuals should grow with other annuals and perennials must be grown separately.

The sort of pot is of no importance providing there is a means of drainage at the bottom to keep the soil from becoming saturated. The setting of the pots, in contrast, does matter, and you need to have a windowsill or some alternate area to locate your kitchen herb garden where it can get plenty of daylight. If you can supply the light and a bit of care, you can quickly be enjoying the taste of fresh herbs and bringing your taste buds alive.

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