Gardening and Home Improvement

Archive for the ‘Herb Garden’ Category

Patio gardens provide a healthy atmosphere to grow a variety of herbs. Flowerpots and other containers come in many sizes, making it convenient to grow an herb garden on your patio.

Types
1. Patio herb gardens can range from a few small pots of herbs on a windowsill to an entire patio space filled with herb containers. Containers provide a portable method of growing herbs, allowing you to move them as needed.

Containers used for patio herb gardening must have drainage holes in the bottom or side, which allow for proper drainage of excess water.

Considerations
2. If you’re planting multiple herbs in one pot, consider their moisture preferences. Parsley, basil, cilantro and tarragon require moisture-rich soil, according to the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society. However, herbs such as oregano, rosemary, bay and thyme can tolerate drier soil.

Prevention/Solution
3. Patio herb gardens require at least six hours of sunlight each day. Sweet cicely, angelica and woodruff tolerate partial shade.

Theories/Speculation
4. Fennel and dill require a 10-inch soil depth. However, most herbs require a soil depth of 6 to 8 inches. This allows plenty of room for the roots to develop. Water thoroughly after planting, and don’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings.

Herbs are essential components of any cook’s kitchen. An overwhelming variety of herbs is available to choose from when planning a garden, but a successful herb garden can easily be started with just a few of the basics.

Basil
1. Basil is an annual that’s widely grown for use in many dishes, such as tomato-based soups and sauces, or on meat, poultry, and fish.

Chives
2. Chives are similar in looks and taste to onions. Add them to egg and cheese dishes, potatoes or sauces for a subtle flavor.

Dill

3. The leaves and seeds of dill are used to flavor many foods, including pickles, beets and sauerkraut. They can also be used on fish, eggs and poultry. Read the rest of this entry »

A home herb garden gives you access to the freshest herbs for use in your kitchen. Herbs are either annual or perennial, with the annual varieties requiring replanting each year and the perennials returning each spring with new growth.

Master the essentials of growing herbs to ensure your plants remain productive and healthy regardless of the type of herbs you choose to grow.

Site and Soil
1. Most herbs grow best in soils that drain well and aren’t prone to standing water. Mediterranean and desert herbs, such as sage, often tolerate poor, sandy soils as they require minimal water and soil nutrition.

Sunlight requirements vary by variety, though most do well with morning sunlight and some afternoon shade. A few herbs, such as fennel, require more sunlight — usually six hours or more a day is sufficient.

Water
2. Herbs are either drought-tolerant or they are not. Desert and Mediterranean herbs usually tolerate drought and rarely require watering unless they are grown in pots.

Most other herbs grow best in soils that are kept moist but not allowed to become soggy.

Water herb gardens when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry. Once-weekly watering is sufficient in most cases unless the weather is extremely hot or dry. Provide enough water at each irrigation to thoroughly moisten the top 6 inches of soil in the herb garden. Read the rest of this entry »

Planning an herb garden is the first step to successfully growing your own herbs. Herb gardens can be large or small, from a plot in the garden to a window box, mixed with other plants outside or in a few pots on a windowsill.

In addition to deciding where your herb garden will be, you must also consider what types of herbs to grow. After you’ve spent the time to plan your herb garden, growing the plants is easy and you will soon be able to enjoy fresh or dried herbs all year long.

1. Decide where you will have your garden. If you have a yard, the best place for an herb garden is near the kitchen door so you will have easy access to fresh herbs as you cook.

If you have a patio or balcony, you can start an herb garden in a few large pots or hanging baskets. For a window box garden, choose the side of the house that gets the most sun. An indoor herb garden should be set up near the sunniest window possible. Read the rest of this entry »