What if you live in a high-rise apartment? Does that does not mean you can’t have your own fresh herbs? Gardening herbs in containers is an easy way of creating a beautiful indoor landscape on a shining kitchen windowsill. It is a perfect place to grow some of your favourite herbs. Being creative with a window box or hanging basket can turn an otherwise unimpressive area into something that can in an wink be beautiful, useful and aromatic. In fact, growing herbs in containers is as easy as growing any other house plant. Each plant has it own set of requirements.

All plants need nutrition supplied through sun, soil and water.  There is no exclusion for herbs. The right combination of these elements is the key to growing every type of plant, including herbs, whether indoors or out.   A southern or western exposure will give the best quantity of sunlight.   Lavender has different sunlight requirements than basil or mint but every herb needs adequate sunlight for healthy growth .  Then there are “grow lamps” to supplement the need if natural light is inadequate.

As to the soil you use, it is primary that it drain well to prevent root rot.   This is easily achieved by mixing two parts of a peat rich potting soil with one part coarse sand or perlite for herbs with about an inch of gravel at the bottom of the pots to assure proper drainage.   A teaspoon of lime, per 5-inch pot, should be added to this mix make the soil sweet enough for herbs.

And now to the matter of watering your herbs – watering lightly 2 – 3 times a week should be sufficient.  Misting in between times will give them a nice somewhat humid condition.   A pot will hold water more than the soil in a garden, so it is necessary to be diligent to prevent the roots from get soaked or waterlogged. Never forget well draining soil!

The advantages of gardening herbs in a container are numerous, such as you can move them about as you please, it adds aroma to the room, herbs are a unique type of house plant, etc.   Annual herbs can stay indoors all year long but, perennial will do better if placed outside during the summer and brought indoors before the first frost.   This does not apply to mints, chives or tarragon as they will form firmer and fresher growth after being exposed to a light frost. The lovely flowers of chamomile or the aroma of rosemary provide more reason to grow them indoors.

Although all herbs can be grown in pots , some do better than others such as mint or oregano. Left alone in a garden, these two can take over a corner of any garden but are easily controlled in a pot while adding something different to your apartment.   As I said, gardening herbs in pots is easy and takes only some special knowledge while keeping your culinary herbs available anytime you need them.

Caring for your herbs will ensure a healthy plant. With these tips and your prudence, you will be able to continuously harvest your herbs which will keep them robust giving you more supply for your next recipe.  Pruning herbs just as with other plants encourages new growth.   Periodically feed them and yearly repot them to produce the healthiest herbs. And in the end use them in your recipes, harvest them and give them as gifts to your friends.

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• Secrets to Growing Herbs in Pots (hbb2obm.com)

If you’re not the type of person that would like to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, it’s possible you’ll consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. As the product might not seem as significant, you’ll still benefit from the constant option of fresh, delicious herbs to flavour your meals with.

First you’ll need to choose the herbs you will plant. You might have a difficult time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. Even so the easiest way to select will be to do what I did; just take a look at what you have in your own kitchen. By planting your own collection of herbs, it will save you money  buying them from your food store while having the added benefit of freshness. A few of the herbs you might begin with include rosemary,sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others.

When choosing an area to place your plants, you should never forget that the soil must have extremely good drainage. Should the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of growing a healthy plant. One of the best tips on how to fix the drainage problem would be to dig a foot deep into the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all of the soil. This would allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants.

When you’re ready to begin planting herbs, you could be tempted to shop for the more pricey plants from your store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can conserve a pile of money by staying with seed packets. Some herbs grow in a dangerously fast rate. For instance, should you plant a mint plant inside an open space then it will take over all of your garden in a matter of days.

An effective way to stop this concern may be to plant the more aggressive plants in pots with holes on the bottom allowing drainage, as expected).

When it comes time for you to harvest the herbs you’ve laboured so hard over, it may be fatal for your plant to remove too much. If the plant isn’t well established, it isn’t healthy to remove any leaves at all, even though it looks like its not using them. You’ll want to wait until your plant may be well established for at least  many months before taking off any leaves. This wait certainly will be of great benefit, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for quite a while.

Once you’ve harvested your delicious home grown herbs, you’ll desire to use them in cooking. Why else would you have raised them? Well first the process begins with drying them out. This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hours. After they’re sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you’ll be able to consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavor a dish.

If you would like to store your herbs for later usage, make sure you store them within a plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard won’t work, as it will absorb the flavour belonging to the herbs. Through the first couple of days of storage, you must regularly check the container and find out if any moisture has accumulated. If it has, you will need to remove every one of the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left originating from a first drying process, ıt is going to encourage mildew when you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew.

So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you definitely should probably consider starting an organic herb garden. It may require some work initially to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you wish to develop. But following the initial hassle, it’s just to do with harvesting and drying all of your favourite herbs.

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• Tips For Growing Herbs In A Kitchen (backyardgardeningtips.com)

We grow herbs because they go so well with what we cook. Our home garden wouldn’t be complete without a section dedicated to herbs we love eating.

We even have a herb garden in our kitchen all winter long. Herbs just go with so much, from ordinary dishes to fanciful ones, culinary herbs really transform bland to delicious. For this reason, people have been growing kitchen herbs to spice up their daily cooking.

Herbs have really several varieties. Among all these, growing kitchen herbs that are most common will be most appropriate. There are those you can frequently add to your dishes. Take basil for instance, a staple herb in any garden. It is popular in pesto pasta, as the main garnish. It is also added to soups and salads, and has a sharp, distinct taste that just go well with any tomato dish. This herb is a tender annual, and is very susceptible to cold. It has to be indoors during winter. It definitely loves the sun and can be planted through its seeds.

Another sun-loving herb which loves rich soil is chive. Chive is a hardy perennial that can be planted in the fall or spring. When planting, keep each herb 9-12 inches apart. Add in mulch to ward off weeds. Chive has dark green leaves with a weak onion taste, which makes it a fine addition to baked potatoes and dips.

Dill has a slightly bitter and strong taste that is often garnished to fish, meat and poultry. Leaves and seeds of this plant can be used as seasoning, and they also compliment soups and salads. To plant this herb, choose a sunny spot with a sandy or loamy soil. Make sure the soil is well drained, and plant dill in early spring. Keep a distance of 9 inches for each plant, and sow the seeds in a 1/4 inch deep soil. Make the soil a little acidic, with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5.

Fennel is closely related to dill, and has a sweet flavor. It is also a good garnish to fish and meat, soups and salads. The seeds have sharper flavor though. Plant fennel in a rich and well drained soil during early spring with more space between each plant. Place them one and a half feet apart. Dig a small hole that is 1/4 inch deep and sow the seeds. This herb prefers full sunlight, and a little acidic soil. However, do not let the pH level go below 6.0. Do not interplant this herb with its relative, dill, as they may cross pollinate.

Parsley is yet another classic that has been used for generations. It is a popular seasoning in fancy dishes and also in home-made soups. It is also added to salads and omelets. This plant can thrive in partial shade to full sun, and prefers a richly fertilized soil. Parsley can be planted in mid spring or mid summer. You can sow seeds, or better yet, buy a young plant and transfer in your garden.

Growing kitchen herbs is a rewarding experience, especially if you get to harvest and cook what you personally tended.

Growing herbs in your kitchen is just one way of utilizing your home space efficiently. You can grow herbs in all parts of your home. Herb gardening is great for your home with many benefits including harvesting delicious aromatic herbs.

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• Getting a Jump on Your Herb Growing from Seeds Indoors (stepbysteptips.com)

It might be surprising to some, but most herbs grow better in an indoor herb garden. A large number of herbs are annuals. Annual herbs and plants have a year lifespan. They grow and bloom in one season then within a year, they die. You may think that this type of herbs is too expensive, but you actually extend the life of your annuals.

Here are some key points explained in establishing an indoor garden.

Knowing the easy-to-grow indoor herbs

Annuals are the best type for indoor gardens. Since their lifespan is limited, they cannot be exposed continuously to changing weathers. Their roots usually have small growth; which is why they cannot stand the outside environment. They can be easily uprooted and their leaves would easily wither.

Some varieties of basil like Thai, Holy Basil or Tulsi and lemon, chives, scented geranium, lavender, rosemary, sweet woodruff and lemon verbena are some of the annuals appropriate in indoor settings. These could be grown in small pots and they could survive without constant exposure to sunlight. However, some may need to be taken outdoors once in a while. These would be further explained in the succeeding parts.

On the other hand, some perennials could also survive in indoor environments. They just need to be exposed outdoor from seasonally.

Having the right locations

Window areas, door openings, atriums and any area inside your house with natural lighting or close proximity to outside ventilation are the most suitable places for indoor herbs. Place them near the windows in the kitchen which should always be left open or at least ajar. Just a few hours under ample sunlight could make your plants healthier.

If you are into aromatic herbs, you most definitely want them placed in various parts of the house. But do make sure that you take them outside for at least one to three hours daily. Too much sunlight will cause their roots to dry up and that would result to frequent wilting of the leaves.

Perennials could also stay indoors but as much as possible expose them to sunlight regularly. Put them in places where there is most sun exposure. If you have limited space near the open areas, you could use chains to hang them instead.

Taking care of the herbs – on watering, pruning and soil maintenance

Indoor plants need as much water as outdoor plants. You can have them watered every other two days. But never drown the soil as this will make it too soggy to absorb other nutrients from the soil.

You can also do occasional pruning. But do not take out the drying foliage immediately. Letting them fall on the pot would make them possible fertilizers. However, if there are too much falling leaves, you have to remove some of them. They may be too moist, thus killing the roots.

Your soil should have regular peat moss or compost supplements. At least every three months, dig up an inch from the surface and put in a new batch. This is also a basic in growing herbs in pots.

Before annuals die, start repotting so you would not have to start planting all over. Trim off a healthy part of the herb. Each cut piece should have some roots and foliage already this will make it easier for you to grow them.

Now these three easy key methods would ensure you of a flourishing indoor herb garden all year round.

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As the ole saying goes, a lot of water has passed under the bridge, since the days growing up on a farm. I was a boy that was full of energy and was always getting into something and then out came the old first aid kit.

My big sister took great pleasure in torturing me with anything and anything that would cause pain. My mom on the other hand had that magic touch and used herbs to soothe me. My sister knew what to do to ease the pain and help me heal, she just liked to see how much pain I could endure without screaming.

Herbs were used instead of all the crap drugs we use so readily these days. Perhaps you didn’t know that many of the medicines that you buy in the drug store have herb plants in them? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier and cheaper if you grew your own healing herbs? By using herb plants from my herb garden to fill my medicine cabinet, I have saved a lot of money.

I am already starting an indoor herb medicine cabinet and plan to increase the number of herbs we grow in our home garden as well. Stock up on some Mother Nature’s meds for the winter months.

Home Gardening Tips: Get Your First Aid Kit Growing

Do you have any of these issues? Try herb plants!

• Coriander, chervil and thyme all help awesome for aching joints. For a cheap antibacterial, use calendula, lavender, lovage, marjoram, oregano or peppermint.

• Do you have bad breath? Parsley, mint, anise and sweet cicely will help everyone breathe easier.

• Constipation is never any fun. Help get the kinks out with fennel or dandelion.

• It’s amazing how many herb plants will help with flatulence, such as peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.

• By the end of the day I can usually go for some chamomile tea for my frazzled nerves. Some other herb plants that could assist include dill, goldenrod, lavender and lemon balm.

• Not much can is better than thyme for helping with your Saturday morning hangover. It works better than the raw egg/tomato juice drink people might tell you to drink.

• Can’t cure your hiccups? Give dill a try It not only has a fabulous flavor; it also works like a charm.

• To take care of your insect stings, even mosquito bites, experiment with aloe, goldenrod, hens-and-chicks and summer savory.

• Unable to sleep? A lot of the same herbs that will calm your nerves can help here too, but chamomile and dill are most likely to help you with your insomnia.

• If you suffer from seasonal allergies or nasal congestion, sage, horseradish and violet are good choices. To clean out your sinus passages in no time at all, experiment with a little horseradish.

• Indigestion and stomachache respond well to dill, fennel, lovage and of course peppermint.

Please do not be alarmed with all these treatments—they isn’t snake oil! You don’t believe me? Experiment with it for yourself!

• Aloe Vera: I have two different aloe vera plants that are always suffering from me breaking off bits to treat burns (including sunburn) and mosquito bites. As a succulent, aloe vera does not need very much in the way of creature comforts and I have to be mindful not to over-water it myself. If you’ve planted your aloe vera in a pot, but sure it has well-drained soil and lots of light. You’ll also want to make sure that it stays firmly rooted by packing the dirt around the stem.
• Chamomile: As one of the more popular medicinal herbs, chamomile is good for both mental and physical ailments.. Chamomile comes in two types (German and true or Roman chamomile), both of these herbs will self-sow if you allow it, which can reduce the amount of time you’ll have to spend replanting these perennial herb plants.
• Horseradish: Just a whiff of this will clean you out, and quickly. As a member of the mustard family, horseradish has a peppery flavor that does not attract horses at all. Although the leaves can grow to 2 feet long, it is the root that is important for the herb gardener.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows and be sure to leave your own home gardening tip in a comment below.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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