Gardening Information – Growing Your Own Herbs

If you want to branch out into a fulfilling gardening adventure why not consider growing your own herbs? Though it requires less space than your regular garden plot, the benefits of production and the joy of gardening are both present. Herbs add that special touch of flavor to so many meals and growing your own is always more fun than buying.

When deciding what to plant just go in your own kitchen cabinet and see what you have there. Plant your own collection and save when it comes time to restock. Some easy herbs to grow are rosemary, sage, basil,dill, mint, chives, and parsley.

An herb garden needs to have very good drainage, you can prepare and area by digging down a foot deep and placing a 4 inch layer of crushed rock in the bottom then filling the area with top soil. If you don’t want to dig just create a boarder out of wood or brick and place the rock in the bottom then the top soil.
Your drainage should allow water to get away from the plants. Of course the easy easy way is container gardening you put your rock in the bottom then add the topsoil.

Herbs are fairly easy to grow from seed so you don’t need to go and buy a bunch of plants. Also herbs grow fast and are tough plants, they will grow in harsher environments than some other garden plants. Herbs tend to be aggressive, in other words they will dominate and area. If you are going to plant mint for instance, it would be good to have an area away from your garden so it can take over and fill the area without giving you headaches as to keeping it in check. Here is another instance where containers provide perfect solution.

Let the plant become well established before harvesting, take too much to soon and you may have to start over. A strong herb will produce for years to come so patience is rewarded.

As you harvest the herbs you will want to dry them for storage. Place the plants on a cookie sheet and and bake them at 170 until dry. Then store them in air tight bags or jars. After 24 hours check the newly stored herbs for dampness in the container, if any exist you need to re-dry the product otherwise mold or in rot will require you discard them.

As with any gardening adventure the fun is in the process. The reward in this case is in the taste of meals prepared with fresh herbs in season and free herbs out of season that you grew, dried and prepared yourself.

May life yield and abundant harvest of joy for you today.

Find great gardening resources and a link to an online gardening store at these websites: http://www.squidoo.com/flowersplants
Unique gardening tips and ideas: http://www.squidoo.com/containerplants

Growing Your Own Herbs for Teas

If you love herbal teas, as I do, you know they are just a little bit pricey. However, growing your own herbs is easy and so much fun!

Here are just a few of the herbs you might want to consider for a tea garden:

• Chamomile: Remember the favorite tea of Peter Rabbit? Only the flowers of this fragrant herb are used when making tea. Chamomile tea can be enjoyed by itself or you might enjoy adding mint or lemon verbena.

• Lemon Balm: This herb is lemony with a touch of mint and makes a soothing cup ot tea. It’s easy to grow (almost too easy) so remember to keep it clipped back.

• Lemon Verbena: An excellent herb to grow in a sunny spot, it makes a delicious tea. You might try combining it with orange mint or spearmint.

• Mints: There are many mints available. Generally, they are aromatic plants and they are aggressive. It may be a good idea to plant mint in a pot and then put the pot in the ground so it doesn’t take over your herb garden. Spearmint, peppermint, orange mint all make wonderful teas, alone or along with chamomile or any of the lemon herbs.

Herb teas can be made with fresh or dried herbs and can be enjoyed either hot or cold.  For one cup of hot tea, use one teaspoon of dry herbs or up to 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs. Bruising the leaves of fresh herbs will help release the flavor. Pour boiling water over the herbs in a glass or china pot. Metal pots can sometimes leave a metallic taste. Let steep for 5 or so minutes. Strain and enjoy with a little honey to sweeten.
Sun tea can be made simply by filling a jar with water, throw in a handful of crushed fresh herbs, and set in the sun for 3 or 4 hours. Stir in a little honey to sweeten, pour over ice and enjoy.

Trying different combinations of herbs is fun. Remember you can also add spices you have on hand, such as cinnamon, cloves, etc. There are many benefits to growing and making your own herbal teas. Gardening itself is very relaxing and rewarding. With herbs from your garden you can soothe away your troubles with a cup of chamomile tea or make yourself a refreshing cup of peppermint tea after a hard day at work.

Look in the perfumes of flowers and nature for peace of mind and joy of life.
–Wang Wei

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Cyndi Roberts is the editor of “1 Frugal Friend 2 Another” bi-weekly newsletter, bringing you creative, practical tips to help you with budgeting, cooking, shopping, parenting and much more as you strive to “live the Good Life… on a budget”. To subscribe visit the “1 Frugal Friend 2 Another” website at www.cynroberts.com