Herb Gardening

Gardening is not only a popular hobby but also a proven exercise. Sometimes, it becomes expensive due to self-indulgence. Most of us like flowering or vegetable plants and herbs, as both are beneficial. However, few with the knowledge of medicine like to plant medicinal herbs. Herb gardening is gaining momentum with the rising popularity of continental and gourmet cooking.

Herbs can be grown for their nutritional value, for their beauty, for their smell, and for several other reasons. Basil, Angelica, Bay Laurel, Chives, Dill, Catnip, Fennel, Mints, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, Verbena or lemon are some popular herbs.

Precautions To Be Taken

Herbs should be kept away from harmful sunrays, UV or X-rays, pollution, and sometimes too much of open air. They need heat, light and air, but only mildly. Most of the herbs grow wild wherever their seeds fall. However, certain herbs have to be taken care of to protect them from external harm. It is not necessary that herb gardening should only be done in an outdoor garden, it can be done in containers inside the house too.

Different Types Of Herbs

Herbs can make great showpieces for decorating your house. Herbs can be grown from seeds, or stem or bulblets. Different methods of herb gardening are followed in tune with the different weather conditions. Most of the households in India grow both green and dark opal Basil, as they consider it worth worshipping. The seeds can be sown in mid-May in the garden directly. It has a medicinal value, which cures cold, cough, and related illnesses. Moreover, you can use the leaves for flavoring tomato puree or tomato juices and even add it to the drinking water as a germicide.

For herb gardening, mint is another commonly found resilient perennial, which grows up to 2 feet. Its root stolons help it spread well. The seeds should be sown with at least 12 inch space in rich soil to get high quality mint. Mint finds its usage in fruit juices as an added flavoring and can be used to make varieties of rice. Another herb with pink flowers and whitish leaves is sesame that grows around 2 -3 feet with the space of 9 -10 inches. This needs warm air and soil to germinate and grow well, and therefore, is sown in mid-summer.

Borage is a herb for adding flavor that should be planted in mid-summer (similar to sesame), directly in the garden with a 10 inch space between each seed. Normally, herbs can be transplanted from the place the seed is sown. However, borage would survive if it were transplanted when it is quite small. The lasting perennial, Sage decorates not only the garden but also the interiors with its foliage and spikes of bluish flowers. Its seeds take time to germinate when sown outdoors in mid-summer. Even this is an edible herb, which can be used as dressings on chicken, port, and for flavoring sausages.

Herb gardening can be an interesting hobby even for inexperienced gardeners. However, one should know the name of the herb they are planting, and also their basic uses for maximum benefit.

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