If you are the type of person who likes their flavors and scents all-natural, then you are on the right track for wanting to grow your herbs. And as far as the kitchen is concerned, herbs help to bring out the best in virtually every meal as they add pizzazz and zest to salads, entrees, and soups.
Depending on the benefits being sought after, some herbs can also be used in one of a wide range of ways, including topically, nasally, and even smoking! And besides bringing these benefits closer, many people prefer to grow their own herb gardens because it’s fun and it saves money.
It can also guarantee you fresh produce that is free from synthetic additives, inorganic fertilizers, and other environmentally-unfriendly substances. But what exactly do you need to get started as a beginner in herb gardening?
Getting Started with Herb Gardening
Whether you want to start a family kitchen garden, a few pots on your patio, or you want to go commercial, one thing to note is that some herbs are delicate and require special attention and care while some are easy to grow. To help you out, here is a beginner guide for herb gardening and all that you need.
Herbs You Can Start With
Herbs can be categorized into three major classes. These include annual herbs, perennial herbs, and biennial herbs. Before you start growing herbs for healing, nutritional, or recreational benefits, it pays to conduct some research on the type of herbs you intend to grow and determine the weather conditions, soil type, water, lighting, and maintenance levels that they need to do best.
In other words, what you need most is information. On this note, some herbs you might be interested in when getting started in this beginner guide for herb gardening include:
1. Dill
This is a great flavoring herb and for ages, it has also been used to reduce swelling and inflammation, fight bad breath, and aid in digestion.
If you have flowering plants in your garden, dill, which was crowned the title “Herb of the Year, 2010” can be a great addition. This is because it attracts the right insects to help in pollination.
It’s an easy-to-grow herb with little requirements and minimal attention. Nonetheless, it does best in slightly acidic, organically-rich, well-draining soil.
2. Rosemary
There’s no mention of herbs without including rosemary in the list. Rosemary has been known to be a flavorful herb that has for ages added delightful scents and great tastes to achieve sumptuous meals and drinks.
When it comes to the requirements needed to ensure the healthy growth of rosemary plants, ensure that the soil is a bit dry.
These herbs tend to perform well in loamy soil that’s well-drained and slightly acidic. In addition, be gentle when harvesting the plant as overharvesting could ruin the entire stock.
3. Chamomile
If you are an herbal tea enthusiast, then you’ve at some point come across chamomile products. For eons, chamomile has been used as a medicinal herb to help reduce inflammation, and relax intestinal nerves, and in body relaxation.
Chamomile requires light soil and is best planted in the spring. Chamomile plants can do well in flower pots, kitchen gardens, and greenhouses when planted for commercial use.
4. Mint
Mint is a popular herb for its flavoring, medicinal, and aroma properties. However, it is also a good indicator of how well your soil is balanced in general.
Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow, but care must be taken to not let it invade your vegetable garden. It can be considered an invasive species, and will easily choke out other delicate plants that are intended to grow in a certain space.
Growing mint indoors, separate from your other plants, is a great idea. In fact, you can use weed lights to grow and flower mint.
Tools You Need For Healthy Herbs
To successfully plant and harvest your herbs, there are various tools you’ll need to help make your work easier. These tools will be useful when preparing the ground, transplanting herb seedlings, weeding, and harvesting. Such tools might include:
• Hand trowel
• Secateurs
• Hoe
• Shovel
• Rake
• Wheelbarrow
• Knapsack sprayer
The above are but the basics when it comes to owning a herb garden. It’s an essential requirement that every farmer take good care of their garden, however small if they are to harvest in abundance.