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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Every cook wishes that his kitchen has a variety of herbs and spices. These are used to add that extra zest and flare in everyday dishes and make our food healthier for us. Extensive research is being done on herbs and spices’ therapeutic effects and thyme garden herb.

We don’t often think about the additional benefits of commonly used herbs and spices. Take cinnamon for example, the first things that pop up in our minds are breakfast buns and apple pies, but cinnamon has anti inflammatory properties and is used widely to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. One can soak cinnamon sticks in water to make a healthy tea and enhance its flavor by adding a bit of honey and lemon.

Adding More Flavor and Health

Another herb that has anti-inflammatory benefits is Rosemary; it also has high level of antioxidants that can possibly help in improving memory. Rosemary’s flavor is said to be close to lemons. It is usually used in stews and lamb dishes and makes an excellent addition to eggs.

In our list of herbs and spices, another cherished ingredient is garlic. It is thought to have anti-microbial properties and thus helps build immunity against numerous cancers. Garlic also helps in lowering blood pressure and in preventing cardiovascular diseases. It is also used in various everyday dishes including stews, soups, sauces, salad dressings and also in marinades.

Fennel is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties but is well known for its influence as an anti oxidant. Seeds of Fennel are used in Italian sausages and as a rub on pork and chicken. Its flavor is similar to that of Anise. Fennel stalk is eaten as a vegetable and thus doubted being part of or belonging to the family of herbs and spices. The stalk can be used as a side dish with meat or eaten either roasted or raw.

Peppermint brings in mind sweets and candy canes, but what we don’t know is that it has high level of anti-oxidants and is also believed to contain antiviral and anti-microbial substances. An upset stomach can be soothed by peppermint and it may also help in relieving pain. Fresh peppermint is used with vegetable dishes containing carrots or peas or with various fruits such as strawberries. It adds a refreshing taste to salads as well.

Herbs and spices not only enhance the flavor of plethora of foods and dishes but provide an added benefit with its therapeutic effects. This diversity of herbs and spices is a great factor.

Ms. Reynolds, shows you how to dazzle and protect your friends and family with ease. Get the facts about Herb Garden Plants inside this free 2,506 word special report.  Available for a limited time at www.herbgardenacademy.com.

You may be feeling the pinch from the recession we are living in so I thought I would share a few tips that will save you some money.

1. Make Your Own Compost

Save the environment and stop sending things to the landfill that don’t need to be going their. I am of course talking about kitchen waste and yard waste that could be composted and used in your garden or containers.

We started composting last year in 2009 and just loved it. Now we don’t spend money on buying compost and additives for the soil, plus we are sending hundreds of pounds less to the landfill so Mother Nature thanks us.

2. Start From Seed

I meant to go this route a couple of years ago but time just sorta slipped away and before we knew it planting time had arrived and all our seeds were still in their neat little packages.

We ended up spending hundreds of dollars on plants. DUH!!

This year I have set aside a room in the basement for my own little nursery and will start as many vegetables and flowers as I can in the space we have.

Think about starting from seed. You will pay less for one pack of sees and get perhaps dozens if not more plants from that pack. So if you paid a dollar for the pack of seeds and grow a dozen plants you saved more than ten dollars right there.

Then, when your plants go to seed you can collect and save those seeds for next year, which saves you even more money. Pretty cool.

3. Start Mulching NOW

We didn’t do any mulching for years in our flower beds and never really thought about, all the time weeding unnecessarily. Not any more…

Now we have started putting mulch around more every plant we have and guess what, it takes far less watering as the water doesn’t evaporate as fast with mulch down.

We also have almost no weeding at all.

Note: put the mulch thick enough that starter shoot from weeds can’t get any light of the mulch won’t work well. I am talking from first hand experience.

4. Start A Vegetable Garden

We did a lot of flower gardening before we finally bought a place big enough that we didn’t have to use containers for everything.

Vegetable gardening is a great way to grow things at home instead of going to the superstore and giving them your money.

We started small with a 4 x 16 foot gardening and had great fun. It didn’t turn into a disaster at all, thanks to veggie gardening tips I have found around the net. Next year we plan to double or triple the garden size.

We plan to grow enough produce this year that we can preserve some for the winter months and save even more money. Our home is an older home and still has a cold room in the basement. Bonus.

5. Buy A Rain Barrel, Cut Down On The Water Bill

It’s a great idea to collect rain water so that you don’t have to use tap water as it takes away from our water table.

Keep a fine mess over the barrel to keep out breeding insects like misquitoes. We just use the same mess/screen that we put on our windows. It’s cheap and does the job perfectly.

Never leave standing water uncovered.

BONUS TIP: Grow herbs both indoors and outdoor so you have fresh herbs all year long. Keep your herbs in containers so that you can have them close to your kitchen if your garden isn’t.

In making your herb garden, you’ll discover that there is hardly any home or company untouched by the beauty of flowers and decorative plants. Indoor herb gardening isn’t considered necessarily as art, because it takes time and effort. But others have pushed the concept of indoor gardening much further, as they grow vegetables inside. Such projects depend on artificial lighting systems, which does not allow weeds to proliferate as much as sunlight. Plus, the gardener directly influences the soil, in the absence of the weather influence .

Indoor herb gardening depends on containers or pots made either from plastic or from ceramic materials. Plastic has the inconvenience of getting hot, which is why most gardeners prefer ceramic materials with some form of drainage at the bottom to let water flow away. The preparation of the soil poses most challenges for indoor gardening. Different or equal proportions of ingredients need to be added, such as sharp coarse sand, peat moss and native soil.

Indoor gardening could also use a combination of sand, silica, forest mulch and perlite. The conditions change if your vegetables grow in hanging containers because you have to keep them lightweight normally relying on some premixed soils. From this perspective, indoor gardening costs more because the soil mixture influences costs. But, once again, what matters is the extent to which you do the indoor gardening.

Besides soil, another issue worth considering is that of containers. They should have proper drainage and aeration. It is important to leave some two inches of space between the margin of the contain and the soil so as to be able to water without problems. As for the gardening cycles, most people will stick to the same routine as with outdoor gardening. But, since there are no changes in the weather, you can grow plants directly from seeds.

Cherry tomatoes and herbs are among the favorite to grow by indoor gardening. They look nice, they are very attractive and the fragrance is great. Mint, rosemary and chives will delight your senses while you are working on your little indoors garden. Additionally in making and planting your herb garden,the arrangement of shelves, tables and plant stands can further enhance the beauty of the garden.

Although sage is most commonly associated as THE herb used in the bread stuffing we all squish inside of the Thanksgiving turkey, this herb plant grows in several different varieties that each impart their own unique flavor.

Hopefully reading this article will expand your use of the sage herb into areas never considered possible….and….will take you on an enjoyable culinary journey of the herb.

Common Sage (salvia officinalis) grows as a perennial evergreen bush. The plant should be pruned to encourage new growth with stronger flavored leaves. Pruning will keep the plant in a uniform bush shape without the woody stems associated with the sage plant. The leave should be harvested before the plant flowers and either dried, frozen or preserved in vinegar. Common sage is best used to flavor fatty meats such as pork, goose, lamb or duck and oily fishes. Sage is used in sauces and stuffing and is many times sautéed in olive oil until crisp and added to pasta sauces.

Tricolor Sage (salvia officinalis tricolor) sports three colored leaves, hence the name of tricolor. The leaves are beautifully streaked with variations of the colors green, pink and white, lending this plant a beautiful appearance that is guaranteed to add color and texture to the herb garden. The tricolor sage plant is not as hardy as other sage varieties and will need mulch cover to survive a harsh winter – or consider bringing it indoors for the winter to enjoy fresh. Tricolor sage has a milder flavor that lends well to use in poultry dishes, soups and eggs.

With grouping the pots in batches having one large plant in each group can create a focal point for the container garden that will make it look more focused. Bold leaves and striking colors can also be used to create focal points.

You can use a touch of garden art on your container garden design flora pots. A mix of perennials, houseplants, herbs trees and shrubs can be used for your pot garden and you can try and experiment as many number of times you want with your different ideas before selecting one.

An indoor herb garden is fun and easy to create and maintain. They take up little space and once the planting is done, it requires minimal time and effort to keep them growing and producing.  Creating and maintaining an indoor herb garden can also be a relaxing activity which helps calm stress.

But did you know that an indoor herb garden can also help you control your weight? Believe it or not, fresh herbs are a powerful component of a healthy diet and they can help you manage weight challenges. They affect digestion and metabolism in a positive way that can help individuals lose weight and keep it off.  The easy access to fresh herbs with an indoor herbal garden can aid in your healthy weigh goals.

The use of any medications or herbs should be carefully considered and reviewed with a doctor if there is a plan to use them in their natural form or in large quantities. Supplements and herbal combinations can be harmful in some cases and herbs often interact with certain drugs negatively.  But we’re not talking about herbal supplements, pills, and herbal “wonders” that claim to make the weight melt away.

The type of weight control we are talking about is safe and healthy. It simply requires the use of a herb garden to wake up foods and make them delicious – even if the food is green like broccoli or brussel sprouts! Herbs can be used to spice up the flavors of healthy, natural foods in a way that makes them more appealing and inviting. When foods taste better, people are more likely to enjoy and even crave them.

Using a herb garden to create delicious, nutritious, and flavorful dishes is one way to help control weight.  Fresh herbs make a lot of difference too.

Consider the possibilities of using herbs from your indoor herb garden to enhance a dietary plan.

1. Cayenne pepper is an herb that is often used in cooking. It is a very spicy, hot addition to dishes and it wakes up flavors. It can stimulate digestion and increase metabolism. Once the body begins to metabolize foods faster, the body becomes a fat burning machine.

2. Have a cup of green tea with breakfast, lunch and dinner to aid in weight control. Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that fight cancer and it is a good way to help control weight.

3. Add a sprinkling of basil to tomatoes, pasta sauce, squash, and zucchini for a flavorful burst of taste. Using herbs to add more vegetables to your diet increases your intake of antioxidants and high fiber foods.

4. Crush mint leaves and sprinkle them over fruit, tea, or fresh vegetables. Use herbs to up your intake of fruits and veggies.
5. Nothing wakes up peppers, onions, tomatoes, and pasta sauce like fresh oregano. A light coating of homemade pasta sauce covering whole-wheat noodles is a dieter’s delight.

6. Bake chicken with a generous dusting of crushed rosemary to make it delicious and nutritious. Just remove the skin, spray lightly with cooking spray, sprinkle with crushed black pepper and a generous serving of fresh, crushed rosemary and bake at 400° for about 50 minutes. Healthy and nutritious!

7. Add a healthy sprinkling of tarragon over fish before cooking to make it tasty and healthy. Eating 2-3 portions of fish weekly will help with your weight loss efforts.

8. Thyme is often overlooked but it is one of the most versatile herbs to wake up foods and taste buds. Try some on potatoes, pork, tomatoes, pasta, eggless quiche, and other dishes. The flavor is worth it.

Indoor herb gardens are a great way to have fragrant herbs on hand any time. They are easy to grow and maintain and the rewards are tastier, healthier foods prepared at home. Wake up the flavor of foods by creating your own indoor herb garden. You’ll find the time you spend creating your herb garden is well worth it and you’ll enjoy the stress-free activity.

Ralph J Miller is the author of this article and the creator of the Ebook “My Sectets to a Successful Herb Garden”. For more information and tips on herb gardening and growing herbs indoors, please visit our website at http://www.MyHerbGardeningSecrets.com and while your there you can register to recieve your Free Herb Gardening Secrets Mini-Course.

Herb plants from your own herb garden are an easy and inexpensive way to make recipes even tastier than you ever imagined. Herbs can also be used for garnishes or as adornment for your dinner table. Knowing the secrets and tips to harvesting herbs will make them even more flavorful and enticing.

Taking advantage of the spicy, sweet, or pungent flavors of foliage removed from herb plants requires more than simply plucking them from the garden and tossing them in a recipe. When you know how to properly harvest, prepare, and preserve the fruits from your herb plants, you will get more from your Herb Gardening efforts. A Culinary Herb Garden is a treasure once you learn the secrets to harvesting herbs.

The herb harvesting process is not difficult nor does it take a lot of expensive equipment or processing. The most important secret to remember about harvesting from herb plants is to retain as much of the natural essential oils as possible. Essential oils are one of the most vital and important parts of the herb plants and most all herbs store valuable, flavorful oil within the leaves.

Learning about herb harvesting without losing the natural oils in the leaves will result in the most aromatic, flavorful, and savory herb plants possible. Whether you are using herbs fresh from the garden, or drying them for later use, preserving oil from the herb plants is the most important thing to remember during harvesting.

Culinary Herb Garden Harvesting

The following tips will help you harvest the most luscious and delicious herbs possible:

1. Always consider the timing of the harvesting process. Mornings are the best time of the day.
2. Since the wind can disperse and dilute the essential oils of the herbs, you should harvest them on a calm, dry morning during mid-summer.
3. Keep in mind that fewer oils are produced by the herb plants on extremely wet days so the herbs will not be as fragrant and pungent if harvested during rainy or wet days.
4. Dew settling on herbs can affect the oils and flavor so be patient and wait until the dew has dried from the leaves right before the flowers open.
5. Harvesting should be done before the sun becomes too hot or the heat will cause the herbs to have less oil.

Culinary Herb Gardening Secrets for Continual Growth

Not only is it important to harvest at the right time, it is also important to understand how to harvest from the herb plants. Pulling large clumps of herbs and flowers from the plant can cause damage. Knowing the secrets about how to harvest delicacies from the herb plants will make them more precious.

Consider these essential tips for herb harvesting:

1. Do not remove the entire plant or you will lose the opportunity to have a continual harvest of freshness from the herb plants.
2. Herb gardening takes time and effort and you should only take a small amount of growth and foliage from herb plants for each use. It is recommended not to take more than 1/3 of the plant’s foliage at any one time.
3. The herb plants require a fair amount of foliage to continue reproducing and growing well so take care during the harvest and afterwards. Do not handle herb plants in a way that causes unnecessary loss of foliage.
4. Herbs can be picked for immediate use or they can be dried, prepared, and saved for later use. Never harvest more than you believe you can use in a reasonable time because the fresher the herbs, the tastier and more fragrant.
5. Before, during, and after harvesting, always check the herb plants for insects or damaged leaves. Take necessary precautions to remove or avoid insects in the future.
6. Using a good pair of sharp shears or knife is advised. Pulling with the fingers may damage the plants and the root system causing poor herb production later.

Culinary Herb Gardening Rewards

A Culinary Herb Garden brings great pleasure to those who engage in the process. Once you learn the important basics about herb harvesting, you will find that herb gardening is rewarding and uncomplicated. A few tips can make a significant difference in how your herb plants reproduce and grow in the future. Taking the time to properly prepare will make the Herb Gardening experience more effective with every herb plant you choose.

Knowing when to harvest from herb plants and how to take care of the plants for continual beauty and production of healthy, fragrant foliage is a treat for the senses. Start your Culinary Herb Gardening today and watch your herb plants flourish for a long time to come.

Ralph J Miller is the author of this article and the creator of the Ebook “My Sectets to a Successful Herb Garden”. For more information and tips on herb gardening and growing herbs indoors, please visit our website at http://www.MyHerbGardeningSecrets.com and while your there you can register to recieve your Free Herb Gardening Secrets Mini-Course.

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