Garden Tips & Resources

Like any other plant, herbs come in annuals, biennials and perennials. There are many kinds of herb and each one has its unique properties. By researching the particular type of herb you are interested in, you will understand how to care for it and use it correctly. In this article we will look at the  different types of herbs and how they are used. Annuals like basil, cilantro, and summer savory will not survive a frost. Plant them from a seed or sapling every year. Perennials like sage and winter savory can survive colder temperatures and will return year after year. Click here for more: herb plants

Biennials are Herb plants that only survive two seasons. In the first they form leaves and in the second, befor they die, flowers and seed. Biennial herbs like parsley, angelica, or caraway should be sown in late spring directly into the garden. Get the soil ready for planting, work it into a fine texture soaking it slightly.  Shallow plant the seeds in rows before firming the soil on top of them. Fine seeds can be planted in a mixture of sand which will allow them to spread more evenly. It is an idea to cover the planted bed with paper or burlap to keep the soil damp prior to germination. You can categorize herbs by the groups for which they are used. Culinary herbs are probably the modt useful to herb gardeners. They have a huge range of different uses in cooking.

Herbs like thyme, basil, chives, savory, sage and marjoram have strong tasting flavors when added to food, so are used in small amounts. An very popular herb used mainly as a garnish is Parsley. Fragrant herbs have wonderful smelling foliage or flowers. Oils from aromatic herbs like loyage, mint, and rosemary can be used to make different types of perfumes, toilet water, or other various scents. Certain herb plants can be used in the home to fragrance linen or clothes. For more visit our blog: Herb Garden Blog

Drying them will allow them to retain their aroma for longer and be used in products such as potpourri.  Great herbs for this are lemon verbena and lavender. Many herbs are also used in medicine. Since ancient time herbs have been used to cure all sorts of ailments. Present medical knowledge recognizes that some herbs are beneficial to one’s health, others are overrated. Herbs used for medicinal purposes should be used carefully. Although many are harmless, many can be dangerous if eaten.

Many herbs are used for entirely different reasons other than their fragrance healing properties or flavor. They can be used for their shear splendor. Ornamental herbs have brightly colored flowers and foliage. Many have whitish or various light colored flowers like valerian which has crimson blossoms and borage and chicory which grow gorgeous blue flowers. While herbs can be categorized into these different categories of uses, many herbs have multiple purposes. For example, mint may be used for cooking, tea, and pest control. Whatever the reason you have an interest in herbs, by understanding herb garden plants you are able to pick the herbs that will be most useful to you. Click here for more: Herb Garden Facts

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