Growing Herbs Indoors

Germinating Seeds Inside for an Indoor Herb Garden

2011-10-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

It's unimportant if the seeds you are beginning are going to make their way outside once sprouted or if they're going to be additions to your indoor herb garden starting seeds indoors is the right way to ensure successful growth. The tiny seeds and seedlings do not do well with harsh weather changes and a late frost or unwarranted rain can stop them from growing and even prevent an entire harvest cycle. There is also the issue of birds getting into the seeds as a food source.

There are lots of commercial assistants you should purchase to make germinating seeds a straightforward project. Peat pellets that include a small hot house need nothing more than adding water to the seed and peat and covering with the supplied lid. But some water, high-quality soil, daylight and time are all you will need.

Like plants, seeds like to be kept damp so a good drainage system in the pot is necessary so they don't get too much water. There's no solution to them getting too dry though, just do not forget to water them.

Don't count on all of the seeds growing even if you have purchased seeds from a reputable source some will be duds. For this reason, make sure you plant more of each seed than the desired number of plants you are looking for.

As the seeds start to sprout, keep them clammy and turn them continually to make even sun exposure. When the leaves begin to come out you can kick off the process of transplanting. Whether you are going to be growing the plants inside or outdoors it's the same procedure. Delicately take the new seedling with the roots and plant it in a new pot, if you are taking it outside you can plant it right into the ground.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden . Try the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden .

Hydroponics for your Indoor Herb Garden

2011-10-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

If you have heard of hydroponics or other techniques of growing plants without soil and wish to try it out at home, your are able to. Hydroponics are a fantastic strategy for developing an indoor herb garden. Hydroponic gardens are easy to care for and set-up at home. There are materials you should buy or some you could be capable of finding round the house.

The dust or soil that you use to grow plants in a conventional method is substituted for a growing medium (full of nutrients the plant wants to grow) in hydroponics gardening. The growing medium is fed directly to the roots by methodology of a drip-feeder. The system can be automated and the gardener can control how many drips the roots receive in a specified timeframe. The more of the growing medium the speedier the plants grow.

Since the system can be automated, the quantity of time and energy that is needed to maintain a hydroponics garden is less than with a normal garden. As long as enough water is present and growing medium the plants can be left deserted for a longer time period.

A home-based hydroponics garden can grow vegetables year round. The concern about pests and the composition of the soil are not an issue with this type of gardening. Another bonus with this sort of gardening is how quick you may have mature veggies indoors (by increasing the quantity of growing medium).

The types of plants that are best for hydroponics are ones with thin spider-like roots. Plants that have a bulb root system are still best grown in the conventional soil system inside a pot or outside. When you are prepared to begin, sprout the seeds for your plants like you usually would. When the seed has begun to sprout and has roughly 2-5 millimeters of expansion it is ready to transplant to the hydroponics container and begin growing.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden . Take a look at the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden .

Growing Garlic in an Indoor Herb Garden

2011-09-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

Garlic is an excellent spice to include in our indoor herb garden collection. To begin, growing garlic has small cost outside of our standard indoor herb growing set up - that might include a number of growing lights if you are without direct sun for a lot of the day. Other than that, growing garlic is as straightforward as taking a garlic blub, removing the individual cloves and planting those. A note of caution however - corner store garlic tends to be sprayed with chemicals to control the ability of the garlic to sprout, which is not what we'd like! It is recommended that you buy bulbs from a specialist. If you cannot find one, then I would recommend starting off with organic garlic.

There is one main thing to remember with garlic. This is a sub soil growing plant - even though it does have leaves above soil, the bulb grows beneath it. That implies the most important thing to keep in mind here is drainage. You do not want your garlic sitting in water, or it will simply rot. That is one of the explanations indoor growing is so well suited - it is easy to get a pot with glorious draining for the garlic to grow in.

Apropos the pot that you will use to grow your garlic, there are a few simple guiding principles to remember. You would like your small garlic cloves to be spaced about 3-4 inches apart when you plant them. The diameter of your pot will decide how many you can plant - however you do need your pot to be 10-12 inches deep. A good place to start could be a 12" diameter pot that's 12" deep. You would then plant your cloves - pointy side up - about 1.5" beneath the surface, and 3-4 inches separate from one another.

Most suggest planting garlic in October/Nov - this is really for those growing outside. You want to plant before it gets too cold but for about a month after planting, you would like to keep the pots in a cool place - about fifty degrees F. Make sure you keep the cloves well watered in this time. At this point its simply a matter of watering constantly - again you do not need the cloves sitting in water and so decaying, but you do not want the soil getting too dry either.

Follow these steps then approx 10 months later you should have full bulbs prepared to crop. A quick note on harvesting: It could be a little challenging to work out when to crop them. If you harvest the garlic bulbs too early, then they're going to be small. There are two ways that you can figure this out - if you dig up a bulb and check the layers, if there are 3 layers on the outside then it is prepared, if there are rather more then it is not. On digging up bulbs - don't pull them out by the plant, instead utilise a shovel and completely dig them up. An alternate way to tell they are prepared is to wait for the leaves to start browning. If you planted in October/November, this will be around Aug/September the following year.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson has always loved the convenience and freshness of having an indoor herb garden. On his website, you will find helpful articles on all you need to know about developing your own indoor herb garden.

Part-time Indoor Herb Garden

2011-09-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

Having a part-time indoor herb garden; this is for those people that are living in an area with cold winters "too cold for their outdoor plants to survive in. By transplanting or bringing the plants indoors, they can survive the less warm months and add greenery inside the home. There are some points to consider and preparations that should be made before you choose to become a part-time indoor gardener.

The most vital point to consider before bringing a plant inside is whether it will survive being an inside plant. If the plant has high or very high light wants and your home does not get plenty of light in winter time "it might not be a good solution. As a back-up you can invest in an artificial source of illumination to bolster the natural light the plant will get.

How can you get the plant indoors? If the plant is in a pot that will fit inside it is straightforward enough to move it inside. But if the plant is in the ground you need to find a pot sufficiently big to contain the root system and one that can not be too hard to move. Keeping in mind that when a large plant is transplanted (re-potted or put in a pot for the 1st time) it may go into shock. Although with careful attention, you can nurse your plant through this.

Most likely you have been looking after your plants outdoors and they do not have any pests or bugs on them. However it is smart to double-check.

By bringing an infested plant inside you are putting your other indoor plants in danger of becoming infected too. Either forego bringing the plant within or treat the pest problem before the cold weather arrives. You may enjoy having your plant inside all winter that you decide to keep it there come springtime.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help people grow their own indoor herb garden . Try the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden .

Pruning and Care Tips for Indoor Herb Garden Plants

2011-09-15T14:23:00.002-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

To keep your indoor herb garden plants healthy and flourishing they'll occasionally have to be pruned or re-potted. The process is similar to out of doors plants and equally as critical. Dead or sick branches could affect the overall health of the entire plant and should be cut off. And there is the esthetic side of pruning, it gives you plants a nice and tidy shape.

If you're pruning a branch off a plant that is sick (with fungus) it is highly important to clean your pruning shears after using them. If you do not, and continue to prune your healthy plants there is a chance the fungus will spread to your other plants. A solution of bleach and water will kill the unwanted organisms well.

When you glance at the plant if it would seem too full you can thin it out, this is important round the base trunk or stem. You would like good air movement around the plant and if the branches and leaves are too choked this may not happen.

Trim enough of the excess foliage away to let the plant "breathe". When you're trimming branches to keep a uniform appearance to your plant just trim what's required. Prune the new growth to keep it inline with the rest of the plant.

As plants grow so do their root systems. If your plant is not prospering or you notice that the roots are perceivable around the outside of the pot, your plant is most likely root bound. It is important to transplant the plant to a bigger pot. Once you have chosen one and have prepared it for the plant extremely gently loosen the roots on the exterior of the root ball. Then put the plant in the middle of the new pot surrounding it with new potting soil.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden . Check out the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden .

Temperature Regulation for your Indoor Herb Garden Plants

2011-09-15T14:23:00.001-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

If you are growing an indoor herb garden, then one of the elements to keep control of (which you may not think about) is temperature. Dependent on the individual plant different temperature and humidity levels are recommended. But in general, plants don't love it too hot, too cold, or too dry (with certain exceptions naturally). Finding and keeping a balance is necessary to the survival of your plants. To make it easier on you, the gardener, select plants that thrive in similar conditions climatic conditions.

Consistency in temperature is important to plants. After you find the best temperature, try and maintain it daily. It is OK for the plants to be chillier in the night time; this is natural as the same occurs outside in nature when the sun goes down.

An average temperature range is 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18-23 degrees Celsius) during the daytime and a drop in temperature to 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 degrees Celsius) is sufficient. As this is within the temperature range most homes are kept at this shouldn't be tough to maintain.

You could be nearly convinced to place a plant beside a bright window to keep it nice and warm. Just remember that exposure to extreme temperature ranges is not good for a plant. It can get overheated throughout the day and then too cold at night. Give the plants natural daylight but doing so on a windowsill isn't advocated.

Within a house is a lot dryer than outside. Plenty of plants like at least some moisture in the air. Controlling the humidity in the house will help the plants and you if it tends to get dry inside. You can get a mister or humidifier for your home or another option is to get the plant's leaves wet. By taking a spray bottle, you can lightly spray the leaves or you can use a fabric or sponge. Take care of any special instructions your plant could have, some don't like to get their leaves wet.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden. Take a look at the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden.

Watering and Fertilizing your Indoor Herb Garden Plants

2011-09-15T14:22:00.001-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

Unless it's the middle of summer and there has not been enough rain, watering your outside plants is mostly not required (or not quite often). But indoor herb garden plants rely on you as a source of water and extra nutrients in the form of fertilizer. It is important to grasp the individual water and nutrient needs of each plant to keep them healthy.

As mentioned, individual plants will require different quantities of water to keep them growing optimally. But what all plants do like is moist soil. If you are concerned about over-watering your plant, make sure that the pot you select has a good drainage system. With holes in the base of the pot or gravel inside the pot the soil and plant will suck up the obligatory water and the excess will run out through the bottom.

If your houseplants are not prospering irrespective of what you do, there are two things take a look into. If you're using tap water to water your plants there might be too much chlorine or salt present. A solution to this is to utilise distilled or filtered water or you can leave a container outside to gather rainwater. Either option is satisfactory and may be the change you want to make to grow healthier plants.

Choosing to fertilize your plants is an alternative way to give them a boost. Manure contains nutriments and elements that plants need to grow. Indoors plants don't want as much fertilizer as their out of doors counterparts do. Due to a gentler rate of expansion, feed your plants minimal manure. In winter time you can probably skip this step altogether.

The spring or summer time is the best time to fertilize indoor plants. This is during their growing phase when they need the extra nutrient elements the most.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden. Take a look at the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden.

Why You Should Start an Indoor Herb Garden

2011-09-15T14:21:00.001-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

The esthetic appeal of having an indoor herb garden in your place is the reason explaining why the majority of folks opt to start gardening indoors. Whether you have researched and planned on them or not, there are further benefits that are derived when a green space is created inside you house.

The decor facet of inside greenery is a certainty, plants add to and beautify space "indoors and out of doors. The varied plants choices available include varied colours, sizes, shapes, ripening vs. Non-flowering and this is just the top of the plant life ice berg.

Just as trees and plants are vital to our air quality outside, plants can provide the same service for you within your home. By taking in carbon dioxide from our respiring, plants flourish. If you smoke within your home, plants can help clean the air of the excess carbon dioxide. Besides the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide, plants will purify the air from other unhealthy elements such as air-bound mold particles. This makes them a natural air filter for your house.

It is publicly known that gardening is a calming past-time. Having an indoor garden will give you the benefit of this relaxation year round when it is too cold outside to garden. If you live in a flat, an outdoor garden might not be achievable. Gardening inside is only restrained by the quantity of space you wish to dedicate to it in your home. Beautifying your living space and caring for living plants makes owning an indoor garden a tranquil enterprise.

Another advantage of indoor gardening is you can decide what sort of time you have or need to dedicate to caring for the plants. If you need a plant that needs to be watered less go for a cactus or if you'd like the problem of luring a ripening tree to blossom get a camellia.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden. Try the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden.

Growing Basil in your Indoor Herb Garden

2011-09-15T14:20:00.001-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

Basil is a fabulous herb which, while best grown out of doors, can easily be grown in an indoor herb garden. Basil will do best on a windowsill facing the equator - as it is with many herbs. When growing basil, it is generally recommended that you keep the plants away from terribly cold drafts and in strong daylight. A greenhouse is the most highly recommended in this situation, but they can simply be grown in a basement under growing lights.

Here are one or two key suggestions to keep under consideration when growing basil:

- You need the basil in a soil temperature that's constantly above 50 degrees F.
- It is recommended that you chose a larger pot - basil plants do not reply well to being replanted.
- Plant seeds no deeper than 1/8th of an inch under the surface, and cover them with a fine soil. Press the top soil down softly over the seeds and give them a gental spray with water.
- Make certain to keep the soil moist - germination should take 1 to 2 weeks.
- If you're using starter plants, place them 12-18 inches apart (keep this in mind when choosing your pot).
- Keep young seedlings out of direct hot son for the 1st week after growing.

Leaves can be cropped intermittently as the plants grow - and they should, picking leaves promotes expansion. Never crop all of the huge departs at once, nor all the tiny leaves. Instead when cropping, do half of the massive and half of the small leaves or less of each.

If you find the leaves have wilted from absence of water, simply water well and position in a sunny location - the plant will recover swiftly. Yellowed leaves at the base of the plant tend to indicate that it is stressed - the plant is either receiving too much water or there is a disequilibrium of fertilizer.

As a final note, keep an eye on stems which produce flowers. If a stem fully produces a flower, the plant will switch focus to reproducing rather than developing leaves - this ends in far less to no basil leaves! As you see flowers beginning to bud, simply pinch them off the stem. You will chose to keep a plant with flowers simply for growing new plants in the future - the plant will produce seed pods that contain small black seeds. These can be saved and planted again.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves growing basil for cooking. You can read more on the blog about growing basil in an indoor herb garden.

A Terrarium to grow an Indoor Herb Garden

2011-09-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

There is a solution for you if you would really love to have an indoor herb garden but don't have the wherewithal or a green thumb to take care of them - a terrarium (a self-contained plant habitat). Once you've set-up the terrarium and closed the lid (on the jar or other container you have chosen) the plants inside create their own ecology "all you have to do is enjoy it.

The options for terrarium containers are only constrained by your inventiveness. Historically a smaller aquarium is used with a lid but a glass jar or other container will work nicely too. Plastic will work also , just make absolutely certain that it is a clear plastic or you won't be able to approve of your handiwork once it is finished.

Whatever size or material you select for your terrarium the most significant factor is that it does not leak. You need the water and moisture to remain within for it to work and you do not need a mess inside your place.

The plants that you choose should all thrive in similar conditions and grow well in a humid environment. Popular plants to put into a terrarium are meat eating (Venus Fly Trap, sundew, or pitch plant) or forest plants (chamaedorea palms, small ferns or fittonia).

Terrariums are a low-maintenance indoor garden. They need indirect daylight (not so bright) and no water is required after the original water is added. The heat from inside the terrarium disperses the water and then it condenses on the lid falling back down to the plants. This process will continue keeping your plants alive. If there's too much water present, you may need to vent the terrarium (with a vented lid or opening the top a little amount) just be sure to keep an eye on the soil's moisture level (not too damp or dry).

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson loves growing his own indoor herb garden. Read more on the blog for tips and tricks to grow your own indoor herb garden.

Growing Garlic - Ideas for an Indoor Herb Garden

2011-07-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Robertson

Garlic is a brilliant spice to contribute to our indoor herb garden inventory. To start, growing garlic has little cost outside of our standard indoor herb growing set-up - which may include a little bit of growing lights if you don't have direct sun for much of the day. Apart from that, growing garlic is as simple as taking a garlic blub, removing the individual cloves and planting those. A note of caution however - grocery store garlic has a tendency to be sprayed with chemicals to limit the ability of the garlic to sprout, which is not what we need! It is generally recommended that you get bulbs from a consultant. If you can't find one, then I would like to suggest beginning with organic garlic.

There is one main thing to remember with garlic. This is a sub soil growing plant - even though it does have leaves above soil, the bulb grows beneath it. That implies the most important thing to keep in mind here is drainage. You do not want your garlic sitting in water, or it will simply rot. That is one of the explanations indoor growing is so well suited - it is easy to get a pot with glorious draining for the garlic to grow in.

Re the pot that you're going to use to grow your garlic, there are a few straightforward guidelines to bear in mind. You need your little garlic cloves to be spaced about 3-4 inches apart when you plant them. The diameter of your pot will determine how many you can plant - however you do desire your pot to be 10-12 inches deep. A handy place to start might be a 12" diameter pot that is 12" deep. You would then plant your cloves - pointy side up - about 1.5" under the surface, and 3-4 inches apart from each other.

Most recommend planting garlic in October/November - this is truly for those growing outside. You would like to plant before it starts to become too cold , but for roughly a month after planting, you need to keep the pots in a cool place - about 50 degrees F. Ensure you keep the cloves well watered during this time. At about that point its simply a matter of watering continually - again you don't want the cloves sitting in water and thus crumbling, but you don't want the soil getting too dry either.

Follow these steps then approx 10 months later you should have full bulbs prepared to crop. A quick note on harvesting: It could be a little challenging to work out when to crop them. If you harvest the garlic bulbs too early, then they're going to be small. There are two ways that you can figure this out - if you dig up a bulb and check the layers, if there are 3 layers on the outside then it is prepared, if there are rather more then it is not. On digging up bulbs - don't pull them out by the plant, instead utilise a shovel and completely dig them up. An alternate way to tell they are prepared is to wait for the leaves to start browning. If you planted in October/November, this will be around Aug/September the following year.

About the Author:

Joseph Robertson has always liked the convenience and freshness of having an indoor herb garden. On his site, you'll find handy articles on all that you need to understand about developing your own indoor herb garden.

An Indoor Herb Garden Is Beautiful And Helpful In All Senses

2011-01-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

By Mitch P. Gassett

An Indoor Herb Garden is either the beginning of a new hobby for you and a perfect gift for someone you care. Are you a tea person that likes infusions to feel relaxed or to get energized by citric herb flavors? What about if your children feel sick and you would not like to give them allopathic medicine and instead you can cure them using a more homeopathic treatment with medicinal ingredients you have at home? You feel in the mood of cooking a delicious dinner for your couple and you know it will have a special taste if you add to it some recently cut cooking herbs from your garden.

If you agree with one or all of the options described above that means that you want to get an Indoor Herb Garden right now! These type of gardens are getting more and more popular making the people to buy all the offered varieties. All the kits - " herbs, mushrooms, strawberries, salad or Mexican sauce - includes the exact amount and set of things to start growing your seeds. You will start the germination process on a special tray to make them big enough to transfer them to a wider planter.

If you do not have any room in your garden or in case you do not have one, do not worry. Do not think that we are offering you just a bunch of repulsive herbs, there is a long list of gardening ideas that your supplier will suggest you to acquire. An option is to have your plants in a stacker which is basically a practical set of planters. Like that you could hang your herbs from the ceiling or put them over a base on the floor.

Indoor Herb Gardens make you go back to a very organic and rustic way of living but it will also redecorate your home. It is a shame that we cannot make you smell the perfume of fresh herbs or flowers but everyone that gets into the room will be enchanted by their aroma. Remember that even when you are entertained by taking care of them it also feels good to smell and admire them. Whenever you decide to grow your garden or give it to someone you will receive a CD with all the instructions to grow your plants.

Home herb gardens are not expensive at all and they do not represent a lot of future expenses to your pocket. A big waste of money is to pay for dried, old or artificial flavored food products that you buy at the market. Isn't it worthy enough to invest for having a healthy life style? The kits may vary from their prices depending on the amount of seeds and other included tools in your purchase, If you pay online you will receive price reductions and shipping is usually free even if you decide to buy for a two delivery day service.

About the Author:

Start your vegetable garden with Indoor herb garden seeds and remember to check Omega juicer free shipping.

Natural, Balanced And Better Life Thanks To An Indoor Herb Garden

2011-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

By Mitch P. Gassett

Caring about you or your beloved ones could be a good reason to have an Indoor Herb Garden please think about the next scenarios. Are you a tea person that likes infusions to relax relaxed or to get energized by citric herb flavors? It is again late at night and your little boy has a stomach ache and you do not want to give him more medicine that could provoke him an allergy but you can cure him by using some medicinal herbs. You feel in the mood of cooking a delicious dinner for your family and you know it will have a special taste if you add to it some recently cut cooking herbs from your garden.

Those three situations are just a proof that you want to have an Indoor Herb Garden at home. These kind of gardens are getting more and more popular making the people to buy all the offered varieties. Just to mention a few of its varieties you can select from mushrooms to strawberries or from medicinal to cooking herbs or even from Mexican sauce to salad ingredients trays. The garden seeds you will receive will need to be germinated and then to get transferred to a bigger place.

This is an option that we suggest to people that like gardens but that due to space restrinctions because of new apartment dimensions do not have one. Do not think that we are offering you just a bunch of repulsive herbs, there is a long list of gardening ideas that your supplier will suggest you to acquire. You can have for example a Mini Garden Stacker where you can move all your plants. It will help you to keep growing your Indoor Herb Garden and put them inside your house wherever you decide it is more convenient for them, or you.

Indoor Herb Gardens will also make your house to look beautiful and people will notice that you are going back to basics, to an earthy and organic life. It will definitely make your entire house smell fresh and natural with a mixture of pleasant scents. In fact, it will soothe you to smell, see, drink or eat your own products. Whenever you decide to grow your garden or give it to someone you will receive a CD with all the steps to grow your plants.

Home herb gardens are not expensive at all and they do not represent a lot of future expenses to your economy. A big waste of money is to pay for dried, old or artificial flavored food products that you buy at the market. Don't you think it is worthy to change into an organic lifestyle? Herb garden seeds packages have different seizes and specifications-and will include a full version of all the necessary things to start planting. If you are an online buyer you will receive extra advantages as free shipping.

About the Author:

You should use vegetable Indoor herb garden seeds and try also check omega juicer.

Start Growing Your Indoor Herb Garden - It is very Simple As ABC

2009-05-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

Instead of planting a extensive outdoor herb garden consider planting a nice indoor herb garden instead. If you are looking for a smaller variety there are the dwarf collections of herbs and they do grow quite well in small pots that can be placed in a kitchen window sill. Now when you are cooking you do not have to run to your outside garden to pick a few herbs to add to your cooking. You can just simply turn around and grab a few leaves!

You will love how easy it really is to grow your very own indoor herb garden. You will not believe how easy it is to get started growing your own herb garden, there are several different kits you can purchase to get you started that will have everything you will need. Look for the chia herb garden which is a fun way to get the kids involved too. With an indoor herb garden you can enjoy the same benefits that you would outside but with a few distinct advantages.

Advantages Of An Indoor Herb Garden; With an indoor herb garden you can easily monitor your plants. When they need maintenance you will know right away that they need something. If they need a quick misting you can accomplish the task with little effort. If you are the type to grow the outdoor herb garden, be careful not to overlook the frequency and maintenance that an herb garden needs to flourish.

Indoor herb gardens have a better chance of growing organic you will not have the issue of bugs eating the leaves of your herbs. When growing an indoor her garden one of the benefits of growing plants inside is that you do not have to look for safe chemicals to use on the plants to keep bugs away. The time will come to harvest all of your fresh herbs when the time comes you can do it within the comfort of your own home. If you don't like mosquitoes that is another benefit to growing indoors, you do not have bugs or mosquitoes in the house because of the plants.

Whoever plants an indoor herb garden will get to enjoy the wonderful fragrance that fresh gardens give off. If you like the fresh basil or rosemary smell, you will like the delicious fragrance coming from your kitchen. Herb gardens that are grown indoors have a tendency to inspire you to try new things while you are surrounded by the fragrances of indoor herbs. Just think, when preparing any meals you do cook they will taste even better than they did before because you will be able to add the fresh herbs instead of the dried herbs that could have been sitting in a cabinet for who knows how long.

When planting a garden, you may want to plant herbs in your indoor garden as well, it has been known to protect other plants. Some species of herbs are known to be extremely invasive. Once they start growing they are hard to stop and before you know it your herb garden has taken over. You can control the spreading of herbs if you keep all the plants in small individual pots .

Indoor herb gardens have a lot of great benefits, they make a home a lot more cozy, they make your home smell really good and they keep your garden bug free which will keep your herbs chemical free. Why not add a few practical plants to your kitchen to achieve the same result. You can generate an inviting atmosphere while growing herbs to use in your cooking.

Creating An Indoor Herb Garden Is Fun And Easy

2009-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Indoor Herb Garden

Instead of planting a big outdoor herb garden consider planting a nice indoor herb garden instead. Many smaller assortments and dwarf assortments of herbs grow quite well in small pots that can be placed on a kitchen window sill. Now when you are cooking you do not have to run to your outside garden to pick a few herbs to add to your cooking. You can just simply turn around and grab a few leaves!

Growing your own indoor herb garden is easy. If you want to get started growing your own herb garden, there are a lot of different kits out there that will have everything to get you started. If you want to get the whole family involved in growing indoor herbs you can try the chia plants for the kids it makes growing herbs fun for the family. If you decide to grow an indoor her garden you will benefit and enjoy the same as you would an outside garden but with a few advantages that are distinctive.

Advantages Of An Indoor Herb Garden; With an indoor herb garden you can easily monitor your plants. When they need maintenance you will know right away that they need something. The least amount of effort you will find is misting you can accomplish that will very little effort. If you are the type to grow the outdoor herb garden, be careful not to overlook the frequency and maintenance that an herb garden needs to flourish.

Indoors you will not have issues with bugs eating the leaves of your herbs. One good thing about growing an indoor herb garden you will not have to keep up on the safe chemicals that are to be used to treat your herbs to keep bugs away. When it is time to harvest all of your fresh herbs you can do it within the comfort of your own home. If you don't like mosquitoes that is another benefit to growing indoors, you do not have bugs or mosquitoes in the house because of the plants.

Whoever plants an indoor herb garden will get to enjoy the wonderful fragrance that fresh gardens give off. If you like the fresh basil or rosemary smell, you will like the delicious fragrance coming from your kitchen. Being surrounded by the fragrances of an indoor herb garden might even inspire your cooking. if you choose to grow a fresh herb garden you will notice that any meal you do cook will taste even better and you will be able to add fresh herbs anytime you want instead of dried herbs that have been sitting on a cabinet for who knows how long.

Plant your indoor garden of flowers right along with your kitchen herbs, it has been known to protect your plants when planted right along with the herbs. Some species of herbs are known to be extremely invasive. When herb plants get too large they tend to take over the herb garden, keep plants trimmed because once they start growing they are hard to stop. In order to control the spreading of plants you should put them in small individual pots inside so you can control its spreading.l.

Herb plants can make your home smell good and can make those empty open spaces feel more useful when choosing your area to grow an indoor herb garden. If you want to achieve the same result why not ad a few practical plants to the kitchen area. You can generate an inviting atmosphere while growing herbs to use in your cooking.

Organic Herbal Gardening Without A Garden

2009-05-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Working on organic herbal gardening inside a building is a great way to provide your family with fresh produce and also with beautiful greenery. In fact the sweet-smelling herbs not only look and smell good; they are also great for adding flavor to your cooking.

Organic herbal gardening in the house has certain advantages over outdoors growing. You are much less season-dependent, and you can have a plot of plants that is just the size you need it to be within constant reach of your kitchen.

As for the plants that you can grow, most herbs that will grow in a garden will also do well indoors. Don’t worry about having to exclude your favorite flavors, but focus instead on the combination of herbs that you would prefer to grow.

For instance, for a fragrant note you can grow angelica, bergamot, catmint, chamomile, thyme, lavender, lemon balm, and mint. This organic herb garden is also a great organic air freshener, ideal for indoor gardens in small flats.

Another thing you should focus on quickly is the kind of containers that you want to use for your plants. Not all plants grow equally well in small pots, so you should have an awareness of the minimum pot size for your chosen organic herbs.

Make sure that you don’t get any tiny pots meant for growing from seed, unless that is your original intention! In fact, better to get slightly bigger pots if you have the space in your growing area.

Container size is important, so begin with those that are a bit larger than those in which the live nursery plants were purchased. This will give your plants room to start growing. Once your herbs are stabilized and growing well, transplant them into larger containers. This is important to ensure growth and so that nutrients make it from the soil into the plant.

Of course, organic herbal gardening indoors calls for using organic soil. Your soil should have a pH of about 7, as herbs prefer a more alkaline soil. If yours is too acid, you can add some calcified seaweed. Make sure that only organic fertilizers make it into your soil.

The next crucial step is to think about the lighting. You should put the plants next to a good source of natural light, possibly a southwards-facing window. Don’t automatically put the plants in full sunlight, as some grow better in a shadier spot. You may want to experiment with electric grow lights if there isn’t a lot of light where you live, but this isn’t usually necessary.

You will find that indoors organic herbal gardening is both useful and pleasant. Herbs are generally easy to grow, and require little safeguarding. Simply give them the right food, water, and sunlight, and you will have lots to cook with.

Easy Herbs for a Starter Herb Garden

2009-05-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

If you're a beginner when it comes to herb gardening, you might be worried about which types of herbs you should grow. There are many different herbs available, and some are more difficult to grow than others. However, there are a few varieties that are especially easy for beginners. These are generally more hardy plants that don't require a lot of fertilizer or special work.

Parsley - A hardy, easy to grow herb is parsley. You can grow curly leaf and flat leaf parsley easily, and they grow wonderfully without you having to give them a whole lot of care. They do well in either light shade or full sun, and they prefer moist soil that is nice and rich. However, it's important to note that parsley doesn't do overly well in the heat.

Cilantro - Cilantro is used in many Spanish dishes and has a distinct flavor. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You'll find that it is very easy to care for and it will grow pretty well in just about any type of climate.

Chives - Chives are herbs that will grow in just about any conditions and almost any type of soil. In fact, they barely need any tending to grow. They prefer to have full sun on them, and rich soils make them do better; however, they survive just about anywhere. They have a wonderful flavor that is a bit like onions and they are tasty on baked potatoes.

Oregano - Oregano is probably one of the most popular herbs to grow in an herb garden and it is tasty with a variety of foods. You can use it in many dishes, including pork, chicken, and pasta dishes. It is an herb that does great in just about any area. It should have soil that is well drained and also likes full sun, but it will even grow in soil that is rocky and poor.

Thyme - This is an herb that is perennial. It is very hardy and grows into a plant that is much like a shrub. It requires soil that is well drained but moist and prefers to be in the full sun. There is very little care to worry about when growing thyme.

Basil - This is another herb popular with Italian cooking and can easily be grown indoors. It does not take long for basil to grow and the leaves can even be eaten raw. It does well in many places, but for the best flavor, it needs to have conditions that are hot and dry. The soil should be very rich and a bit moist and it should be kept in full sun. Between waterings, the basil should have time to dry out.

Bay - Although it is a type of shrub, this is actually a very good herb for beginners to grow. It's hardy in zones 8-11, and is remarkably hardy in those zones. It needs full sun to light shade, and rich, well-drained soil. It will tolerate variations in conditions rather well. Just remember, bay leaves reach their full flavor when dry, so be sure to press them between layers of paper towels inside heavy books for a few weeks before you use them.

Herbs are not difficult to grow, and they can be a great addition to your vegetable garden. Start with one or two easy herbs and gradually build up your herb garden. Make sure you pay attention to the climate they prefer. While they may be hardy and grow in a variety of places, they'll do the best when you keep them in a suitable climate. Once you have tried fresh herbs in your food, you will wonder how you ever got along without them.

Free herb seeds for UK readers

2009-02-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

I've just heard that Unwins are offering a free packet of herb seeds with every seed order. Now is a great time to stock up on seeds as it's just coming into planting season, particularly if you have a greenhouse. You can also start them off indoors on a windowsill.

Unwins have a great selection of seeds to choose from. Hurry over and grab your free herbs!

Organic Herb Gardening Indoors

2008-11-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

Organic herbs are the perfect recipe for your indoor garden. Most herbs are small and will grow very well in pots or window boxes that you can place in a sunny spot in your kitchen, living room or bedroom.

Others, like bay, need a larger pot but will happily grow indoors and provide a beautiful leafy corner in your home. With the wider spreading large herbs like rosemary and lavender, you may be able to find dwarf varieties that will grow in pots on the window sill.

Even if you have a big garden outside, there are advantages to growing your herbs indoors. First, you do not have far to go when you want to add a taste of your favorite herb to a dish that you are cooking. You do not have to brave the cold or wet weather, either. Just pluck a few leaves and throw them in the pot.

Second, some herbs such as mint can be invasive and take over your whole garden if you are not careful, popping up all over the lawn and overwhelming their smaller defenseless neighbors. You have to grow them in a pot if you want to be able to control them at all, so you may as well have them in the house where you know they cannot cause any trouble.

Growing herbs in the house will also bring their fresh natural fragrances into your home. It is like having your home permanently scented with essential oils. You can put plants that smell good together into the same room. Almost every herb can find a place in your house.

Lavender is traditionally used around clothes and in the bedroom. Stronger smelling herbs that you often use in your own cooking will be best in the kitchen, both for convenience and to give the room the scent of your own cooking. Some plants will prefer the damper atmosphere of the bathroom, some will like to be where it is warm, others prefer cooler spots and part shade.
It is fun, too. You will naturally take good care of the plants because you will see them every day.

If you have kids, you can involve them in the process and have them look after some of the plants or help you water or pick them. You may find that your cooking becomes more adventurous as you are tempted to use more of the new and different herbs that you are growing.

And since you are growing them in the house, why not go organic? This is the best solution for all of your food and it is easy enough to do. Most of the pests and airborne diseases that can plague your garden plants will not be found in the house. So all you have to do is buy organic herb seeds and potting soil, avoid using chemical fertilizers, and you have your indoor organic herbs.

Growing An Indoor Herb Garden Is Easy

2008-09-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Jeff Glasser

Article: Instead of planting a big outdoor herb garden consider planting one indoors. Many smaller varieties and dwarf varieties of herbs grow quite well in small pots that can be placed on a kitchen window sill. Now when you are cooking you do not have to run to your outside garden to pick a few herbs to add to your cooking. You can just simply turnaround and grab a few leaves!

It's easy to grow your own indoor herb garden. Many kits are available that have everything that you need to get started. Look for the chia herb garden which is a fun way to get the kids involved too. You can enjoy the same benefits that you would outside, but with a few distinct advantages with an indoor herb garden.

Advantages Of An Indoor Herb Garden

With an indoor herb garden you can easily monitor your plants. You will notice quickly if they need any maintenance. If they need a quick misting you can accomplish the task with little effort. Outdoor gardens are more frequently overlooked. Indoors you will not have issues with bugs eating the leaves of your herbs. You will not have to contend with trying to find a safe chemical that can be used to treat your herbs to keep bugs away.

You can do it within the comfort of your own home when it is time to harvest all of your fresh herbs. You will not have to deal with mosquitoes or other bugs while you are trying to garden.

When you plant an indoor herb garden you can bring in the wonderful fragrance that they provide. Now your kitchen will smell delicious like fresh basil or rosemary. Being surrounded by the fragrances of an indoor herb garden might even inspire your cooking. Instead of using dried herbs that have been sitting in a cabinet, any meals you do cook will now taste even better as you will be able to add fresh herbs.

Having an indoor herb garden will also protect any other plants that might be in your garden. Known to be extremely invasive are some species of herbs. Once they start growing they are hard to stop and before you know it your herb garden has taken over. By planting your herbs in small individual pots inside you can control its spreading.

Plants can make indoor spaces feel warm and cozy. Why not add a few practical plants to your kitchen to achieve the same result. You can generate an inviting atmosphere while growing herbs to use in your cooking.

Growing your own indoor herb garden is simple. Several kits are available that have everything that you need to get started. Now when you are cooking you do not have to run to your outside garden to choose a few herbs to add to your cooking.

Kitchen Herb Gardens a Match Made for Cooking

2008-08-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

By: Kent Higgins

While apartment or condo living may have its advantages, and is all but a necessity in packed major cities and congested areas, one of the major drawbacks for someone used to living in a house or similar structure, aside from the lack of space, is the lack of an outdoor patch of green to call their own. Gardeners especially, who would be more than content with just a tiny patch of soil to churn and care for will feel out of sorts cooped up in an apartment. Short of offering your gardening services to the landlord, what is one to do?

Your burning gardening desire can be sated somewhat by working on an indoor garden. Sure it's not quite the same as sitting on the soft earth with the hot sun beating down on your brow, but it beats the alternative, that being artificial plants or none at all.

There's nothing wrong with having one or more plants in every room, so you could certainly have a good deal of work and future gardening upkeep ahead of you if you wish. Plants will add a charming touch to every room, improve the air quality, and can even provide a different fragrance for each room, one suited to that particular room and its atmosphere.

Choosing which rooms to place specific plants in will always depend on the room's humidity, average temperature and amount of either direct or indirect sunlight. Be sure you in advance the kind of environment each plant on your radar will thrive in and place it in an appropriate environment. Apartments and condos will have rooms with largely similar environments, though full bathrooms will always be far more humid perfect for indoor houseplant care.

Beyond just plants, you can also get creative and add touches like dried plants or flowers to a room. Dried lavender for example provides a pleasant aroma that can last for weeks, and adds a unique look when tied in bunches and displayed.

Another unique touch is by adding a small herb garden to your kitchen. It may not quite make up for the lack of a vegetable garden, but it will add that perfect touch to your dishes and some will provide a nice aroma to your kitchen as well.

You have a lot of options when it comes to indoor gardening. It may slightly lack that connection with nature you get when gardening outdoors, but the process can be just as enjoyable and rewarding indoors.

For more details on the topic of indoor plant care. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com.

Herbs to grow indoors

2008-08-24T05:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the herbs which will grow well indoors. Choose as many of these as you can find room for. They will bring fragrance to your home, exciting taste to your foods, and a little fillip to your imagination.

ANISE
Hung over your bed, anise may not make you as fair and youthful as our ancestors believed, but surely the new interest which it brings to foods will keep your appetite young. Although anise is generally grown for its sweet seed, the fresh leaves are appetizing in fruit salads, soups, stews and herb teas.

Start anise from seed or bring in a young plant from the garden and let it have plenty of sunlight.
BASIL
This herb grows particularly well in the kitchen, for it doesn't mind the heat. Keep the plants trim by using the leaves generously in salads, stews, ground meats, poultry stuffings and fruit cups. It is a necessity in any dish containing tomato, or with fresh tomatoes. If you have enough basil, sprays are beautiful in bouquets.

Start basil from seeds or bring in healthy small plants from the garden. You can put three or four light green, smooth-leaved basil plants in the same container. In the spring I set the basil plants back in the garden. These plants can be counted on to produce seed. This is not always true of those raised the first year from seed, because our growing season is too short for seeds to ripen thoroughly.

BORAGE
Although borage is more attractive in the garden than in the house, a pot containing three or four plants will furnish young cucumber-flavored leaves for salads and cool drinks.

If it blooms, the blue flowers are worth the space given this somewhat coarse, hairy-leafed plant. Borage loses its flavor when dried, so use its young, tender leaves. Start the borage from seed or bring in young plants from the garden.

BURNET
Burnet trails its feathery leaves when grown indoors. It is one of the prettiest plants, and the dainty, cucumber-flavored leaves are delicious in salads. A sprig is attractive in cool drinks.
Because of their trailing stems, burnet, santolina (French lavender), and sweet marjoram are good choices for hanging pots or those placed on shelves at cupboard ends or alongside windows.
Bring burnet in from the garden or buy a plant.

CHERVIL
This fine-leaved herb resembles parsley in looks but not in taste. It is too lovely to look at and too good to eat to be left out of the kitchen herb garden. Bring in a plant and use the fresh anise-flavored leaves for garnishing and to season sauces, soups and salads. The white blossoms are small and fragile. It will germinate rapidly and may be grown from seed.

CHIVES
A clump of chives may be bought at almost any grocery store. If you have both an outdoor and indoor garden, divide a large plant and bring part of it to the kitchen window. The spikey leaves are excellent wherever a delicate onion taste is desired.

DILL
The Orientals used dill in brewing up charms. We “charm” our guests by using its seeds in pickles, fish sauces and salads, but Europeans use the leaves, too, in cooking. Why not try them?

PARSLEY
This herb, one of the oldest known to man, is as popular today as always. When grown in a sunny window in a glazed or metal pot so that the roots will not dry out, it will thrive for a long time. Use rather small plants, for the taproots of mature plants are long. Parsley does better in a cool temperature. Do not use fertilizer. Although parsley will do well inside, it will not be as strong and full as when it grows outdoors. The curly-leafed variety is the prettiest, the flat-leafed type the tastiest.

If you do not have a plant to bring in from the garden, it should be easy to get one from a nursery.

ROSE GERANIUM
Best-known and easiest to find of the fragrant-leaved geraniums is the rose geranium. The leaves are useful in potpourris, sachets and in bouquets, and they are soothing in the tub. A bit of leaf in a cup of tea gives an indescribable fragrance. If you don't know how to use it in apple jelly and cakes.

Start new plants with cuttings from an established plant. Since they are sensitive to cold, you must bring rose geraniums indoors in the winter.

ROSEMARY
Rosemary, the herb of poetry and legend, is not easy to grow, but it is worth the trouble. Grown in a pot as a house plant, it may be less than a foot tall and its lower branches will fall gracefully over the sides of the pot. The leaves resemble long, oval pine needles, particularly when dried. The leaves of rosemary are more fragrant than the flowers, and when gently crushed, they will give off the warm odor of pine.

Rosemary is a tropical plant, and it must be cut back, potted and brought indoors before frost. Your first plant should be purchased from a nursery as it is hard to start rosemary from seed.

SAGE
If you can find a small sage bush, it may be brought indoors. Its furry grey-green leaves are attractive and its fragrance pleasant. Although you will probably use sage which you dried during the summer, a growing plant gives a nice variation in hue to your indoor garden.

TARRAGON
Tarragon must be brought in for the winter in most climates, and may be set back in the garden in the spring. Early in the summer, start new plants from cuttings, for tarragon does not set seed which will germinate. Plunge the new plants in the earth, pots and all, and let them grow during the summer. When the first heavy frost causes the leaves to fall, you can trim back the stems and transfer the plants to larger pots for wintering indoors. Its young leaves are delicious in eggs, fish, meat and poultry dishes and salads. Plants must be purchased at a nursery.

THYME
Thyme will thrive in your window. Use it sparingly, in poultry stuffings, stuffed peppers, onions, zucchini squash, in meat and fish dishes. Start thyme from seed, and make sure that it has a sunny spot in which to grow.

Your Indoor Herb Garden

2008-08-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

By now you no longer think of herbs only as bits of dry seasoning, bottled and hidden on the kitchen shelves. There isn't a room in any house or apartment that won't be more attractive with fragrant herbs growing there.

If you are an apartment dweller, surrounded by concrete out of doors, you can have an indoor herb garden. In fact, you can grow almost as many varieties of herbs indoors as you could in an average-sized outdoor garden. On the other hand, if you have an herb garden outdoors, you will enjoy being surrounded by herbs inside too. For example, why not have a sweet scented geranium in your living room? These lovely plants were often found in Victorian parlors. Dittany of Crete (Origanum dictamus), immortalized by Virgil, was also popular. Both will fit into your home.

There are several ways to begin your indoor herb garden. You may bring plants in from your outdoor garden, if you have one; start plants from seeds, from cuttings or you may acquire the plants themselves from a friend, a florist or nursery, and then pot them. If you are starting new annuals to bring indoors, plant them late in the season outdoors and transplant before the first frost.

You may plant seeds of sweet marjoram, parsley, basil, dill, anise and coriander directly in your indoor containers. However, I have never had any trouble bringing plants of parsley and basil in from the garden. I choose small plants of basil, since they are apt to grow quite tall, and small parsley plants, since otherwise the taproot would be too deep to transplant.

If you want to grow chives and do not wish to divide your outdoor clump, buy another clump and set it in a bulb pan or low pot filled with light, sweet soil. Cut back the foliage and let new growth start. There is no need to waste the trimmings; chop them and freeze them.

Put the chives in a sunny window where they will not get too warm—55° to 60° Fahrenheit is best—and keep them on the dry side. One reason that so many people have trouble keeping chives growing through the winter is the heat of the kitchen.

In your outdoor garden you may have had some perennials such as rose geranium, rosemary and lavender which need the protection of the house during the winter. These plants are not easy to start from seed, nor are the plants themselves readily available. So, once started, you will not want to take the chance of letting them winter-kill. Bring them inside.

If your house space is limited, try this idea. Keep one rose geranium indoors and let it grow as large as it wishes, so that you can cut slips from it. I keep mine in one of the big round planters now so popular. Let the geranium be the focal point of the planter instead of the more usual cut-leaf philodendron, which almost every house plant owner has climbing up a center pole of spagnum moss. Why not be different ? Fasten the leggy branches of your rose geranium to the pole, and put your smaller herbs around it. If you want more vividness, tuck in a few artificial flowers. Give the planter a place on the floor or on a low table by a sunny window.

More gardening ideas.

How to grow your own herbs

2008-07-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

If you’re not the type of person that wants to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, you might consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. While the product might not seem as significant, you’ll still enjoy the constant availability of fresh, delicious herbs to flavor your meals with.

First you’ll want to choose the herbs that you’ll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. But the best way to choose is to do what I did; just look at what you have in your kitchen. By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with include rosemary,sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others.

When choosing an area to put your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant. One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all the soil. This will allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants.

When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets. Some herbs grow at a dangerously fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space then it will take over your entire garden in a matter of days.The best way to prevent this problem is to plant the more aggressive plants in pots (with holes in the bottom to allow drainage, of course).

When it comes time to harvest the herbs you have labored so hard over, it can be fatal to your plant to take off too much. If your plant isn’t well established, it isn’t healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks like its not using them. You should wait until your plant has been well established for at least several months before taking off any leaves. This wait will definitely be worth it, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for years to come.
Once you’ve harvested your delicious home grown herbs, you’ll want to use them in cooking. Why else would you have grown them? Well first the process begins with drying them out. This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4hours. After they’re sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you can consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavor a dish.

If you want to store your herbs for later usage, you should keep them in a plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard will not work, because it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the first few days of storage, you should regularly check the container and see if any moisture has accumulated. If it has, you must remove all the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left from the first drying process, it will encourage mildew while you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew.

So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, it’s just a matter of harvesting and drying all your favorite herbs.

Organic Herbs - Grow Herbs Organically In 3 Easy Steps

2008-04-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

If you are a cook or a chef, or just simply enjoy tasty food that is seasoned with herbs, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family is to begin to grow your own herbs. At the local supermarket, purchasing herbs on a regular basis, especially if you use them frequently, can be very expensive. However, with a simple plan of action, and a few solid tips, you can begin to grow your own organically grown herbs in the comfort of your home or outside if you have the space to do so. Here are three easy steps that you can take in order to begin growing organic herbs without all of the hassle and price when buying them at your local store.

First of all, you will need a few things in order to begin. You can purchase most of these things and use them for years without needing to invest again or at least for some time. Other things must be purchased on a regular basis and they are low cost, especially when compared against the yields that you will have from your organic herbs that will be grown in a natural and healthy way.

You will of course need some organic fertilizer. This can be purchased at your local nursery or if you are an avid gardener already, or someone that does worm composting on the side, you can use some of your freshly produced organic fertilizer for this process. In fact, it would be better if you make the fertilizer yourself as homegrown compost seems to work much better for most people.

If you do not have your own compost pile in your backyard, but you do not want to buy non organic fertilizer, you should probably begin this process well before the planting season begins. The process that I am talking about is creating a compost pile or buying a compost bin so that you can begin to utilize the natural chemical processes that will occur via the composting process or you can procure some red worms and place them in a bin specifically designed for vermicomposting in order for the worms to begin creating compost for you.

Another possibility is that you can use what are called fish emulsions as an alternative to the composting process or purchasing compost outright. Fish emulsions are also a product that you can purchase from almost any horticulture resource or online store and have it sent to your home in no time at all.

You will also need some planting containers, a couple of watering cans that you can use to water your herbal crops, a soil scoop or gardeners hand fork, some mulch and of course the herb seed you are going to use in order to grow the organic herbs of your choice.

Before planting, also realize that some herbs are in dire need of sunlight on an almost full time basis whereas others prefer partial shade. Also, some herbs are suitable for growing in small pots that you can sit in your windowsill whereas others prefer to be planted in larger containers. Your other alternative is to plant them in the natural environment outside but that of course depends upon where you live and the climate that is best suited for each plant. So whether you are growing basil, chives, or parsley, make sure that the place that you will be growing them is best suited for their optimal growth.

The next thing you must do is mix your soil. By taking soil from the ground perhaps from an old garden area and placing it in the pots, you will now need to mix in your fertilizer in the form of compost from either your compost pile or the worm bin, or if you decided to purchase something else such as fish emulsion, simply mix that according to directions into water in order to get the proper mix for your herbal plants to grow. Most herbs prefer to be slightly undernourished than overfertilized.

Once done, plant each of your seeds and make sure that you label what each one is. Make sure that you place each pot or container in the appropriate area so that each herb receives the proper amounts of sunlight once it begins to grow as well as the correct seed germinating temperature. This process to prepare your herb garden should take just a few hours depending upon how many herbs you are deciding to grow and how long it takes you to mix your soil for each potting container. You should also check on the pH of the soil in order to determine if it has the proper balance. There are many pH testing tools that you can purchase on the cheap that will ensure that the acidic and base levels are at the proper level. Most herbs prefer a slightly acidic ph to grow in.

Finally, it is time to write your daily schedule in order to take care of your plants in the seedling stage. By creating a check list of the things you need to do such as checking pH levels, watering, making sure that they are in the proper areas and at the proper temperatures, this will ensure that your herbal crops will grow to completion in record time and you can begin enjoying the organic herbs that you love to eat in no time at all. Also, remember that herbs love to be pruned while they are growing. This will create bushier plants and more herbs to harvest in the long run.

Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and organic herbs. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go to http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com

A place to buy your herb gardening gear

2008-03-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

Whilst surfing the net recently, I found Gasper.net the site of Gasper Landscape Design & Construction, based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Gasper run a Garden Center Nursery Bucks County together with landscape design, patio and masonry work, decks and structures, swimming pools and executive garden care services.

Gasper's online store has, at present, some nice discounts on garden furniture, garden ornaments and plants as well as up to $800 off their design services.

In addition to the online store, Gasper also run a garden center where they sell a selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and hanging baskets as well as herbs. There's a nice online tour of the center on the site together with a good image library showing the products that are available.

If you are interested in their landscaping services, they provide a free DVD of previous work, which can be requested online, for prospective new clients. There's also a nice library of images showing previous landscaping work too.

The site itself is nicely designed and easy to navigate, although it took me a while to find the full selection of images.

If you are looking for a Garden Center Bucks County then Gasper are worth checking out. If you are not based in the area, it's well worth visiting the site for some ideas and inspiration.

Showing off your herbs

2008-02-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I like to show off my herbs in nice teracotta pots, particularly when I'm growing them indoors. They make a nice feature in the kitchen or conservatory and are a talking point when friends and family drop by.

I like to label them as I can't always remember each variety, particularly if I am growing several similar types. Plastic labels look OK, but I prefer to use metal ones - they look much nicer and are more robust.

Metalgardenmarkers.com supply garden markers, plant stakes, and plant labels in a range of differing styles, shapes and sizes. They are a simple, attractive, and inexpensive way to keep your herbs organized. They also sell accessories such as marker pens and provide information on how to best use the labels.

The mini version is perfect for using for your herb pots. They are just 6″ tall, so will fit neatly, even in the smallest of pots.

The markers are available in packs of 25 or 100. In the slightly larger sizes, I like the copper version which is 10″ tall. Metal Garden Markers also offer a free brochure and you can sign up for a monthly newsletter on the site as well.

Metal Garden Markers really are a great way to label your herbs.

Storing your herbs

2008-02-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

When you are storing the herbs you have collected there are many methods to investigate. Some will work better than others. It is all a matter of preference. You can read through and decide what will work for you.

The first method which many people find very simple is freezing. There are two ways to freeze herbs. You can collect the fresh leaves and put them on a cookie sheet in the freezer. When the leaves have been frozen completely, just place them in a storage bag, label the bag with the date and contents, and stick it back in the freezer. Just do not expect the herbs to act or look like fresh when you thaw them. They will still be good for cooking.

Another way to freeze the fresh herbs is one of my favorites. Fill an ice cube tray with the chopped leaves from the herb plant you desire. Fill the tray with water and freeze. When the ice cubes have completely frozen, separate them and put them into freezer bags which you have labeled. You can then take them out of the freezer one cube at a time to add to stews, soups, and other dishes.

I will say that you can store dried herbs in the freezer as well. This can keep them from becoming rancid from being stored too long. This is a good precautionary method in case you did not let the herbs dry long enough. There are times when you think the herbs are dry but you find later they are mildewing in the jars. This means moisture still existed in the leaves. When you freeze the dried herbs, if there is any moisture, it will not affect the herbs.

Many times you will find it is easy to store dried herbs in containers. The best container is one which does not let in light. You can find many apothecary jars with tight fitting lids or even rubber seals. These are the perfect storage containers. With a dark colored jar or bottle the light cannot get to the herbs. Making sure the lid seals properly assures no air can get into the herbs, as well.

Storing herbs in oil is also a good way to preserve the flavor. As long as the oil stays fresh you can keep the herbs. Make sure the leaves are dry and insert into an oil filled jar. This will preserve the flavor. If the oil goes bad, which usually happens in six months or so, the herbs must be disposed of. One of the benefits of preserving the herbs in the oil is you will wind up with an herbal oil which is excellent in cooking.

Boiling water can be a challenge to the beginning cook. Add some herbs to that pot of water and you have the basis for a great soup. Any dish can be enhanced with the use of herbs. Their natural fragrance and flavor just add that perfect blend to make a meal complete.

Herbs like oregano and basil are the base of many Italian dishes. Cilantro and Cumin are what make Mexican dishes taste so authentic. More exotic spices like allspice and ginger can add beauty to the kitchen as well as tasteful treats to the mouth.

There is a difference between using fresh and dried herbs in cooking. The fresh herbs add a delicate flavor. The essential oil is not as concentrated as it is in the dried herbs. The general rule of thumb when using dried herbs is 1 teaspoon dried to 1 tablespoon fresh herbs.

You can blend herbs together to make many different fragrances and flavors. Some of the most popular seem to almost compliment each other as well as the food we put them in.

For some of us, natural is the way to go. With an endless supply of fresh herbs, which you can dry, there is no end to the mixes you can make for dips and salsas, or spreads and appetizers. I have included some of my favorites to give you an idea of what you can do with the herbs you grow.

There are many dishes you can make yourself instead of buying the boxed version. Fresher is better every time. When you taste the recipe which you have made with your own natural herbs, you may never want to use the boxed stuff again.

Choosing your Herbs

2008-02-04T06:05:00.000-08:00

Herb gardens have strong roots in American gardening, and with increased interest in natural foods and alternative medicines, are growing in popularity. Cultivating your own herbs can save you lots of money, and store-bought herbs can't compare with the taste and aroma of freshly harvested herbs. Extracts and dried herbs can be dried and used long after the growing season is over for cooking, health, fragrance and decorative items such as wreaths.

Easy to grow, herbs are seldom attacked by insects and diseases. While most herbs are small, non-woody plants, some herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, may grow to small shrub-like plants.

Historically, people have used herbs to flavor food, heal, and create magical charms. Many of the charms can be connected to what we now know to be medicinal properties. Early settlers brought to the new land the herbs they used for health, flavoring, storing linens, fabric dyes and home fragrance. Immigrants from European, Asian and other lands contributed their herbs to the ongoing exchange of slips, seeds, and plants. Of course, American Indians had already been using many of these herbs, in their cooking, healing and leather dying.

With so many herbs today, it can be difficult to choose which ones to grow.

Just as with any plant, you should select herbs that will grow well in your location zone (unless growing indoors of course). The USDA hardiness zones serve as a rough guide, and your local university extension can also help. Remember, microclimates can exist within these zones, and plus shady spots provide cooler temperatures and sunny spots provide warmer temperatures.

Other things to consider:

How do you want to use the herbs?
If using for culinary purposes, which flavors do you like?
What type of visual impact do you want? (herb garden design will be discussed
in Part 2)
Which herbs have the fragrances that you will enjoy when visiting your garden
or using in the home?

For example, a few of the herbs commonly used by chefs include rosemary, oregano, dill and mint. Herbs with medicinal properties include oregano (respiratory), comfrey (arthritic or rheumatoid dogs), rosemary (headaches), and many more. Herbs treasured for this fragrance include lemon balm, mint, sage and well, just about any herb! Some herbs, such as the mints, are quite invasive, but there are solutions for this we'll discuss in Part 3.

Don't worry about making all of your selections right away. Space can be left in your garden for not only propagating the herbs you enjoy but for adding herbs
as your interest and needs increase.

Finally, here are a few examples of commonly used herbs:

Annuals (bloom one season and die): anise, basil, chervil, coriander, dill and summer savory.

Biennials (live two seasons, blooming second season only): caraway and parsley.

Perennials: (overwinter; bloom each season once established): chives, fennel, lovage, marjoram, mint, tarragon, thyme and winter savory.

To learn about the qualities and growing habits of individual herbs, consult a good, garden catalog, your library, and/or your local nursery.

Indoor Herb Garden - 8 Wonderful Tips For A Wonderful Indoor Herb Garden!

2008-01-19T02:32:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine any meal being cooked without spices or rather, herbs? You would probably comment, “It tastes like sawdust!” At the same time, it feels rather tiresome to keep making umpteen trips to the market just because you have run out of some herb or the other! Therefore, the best thing to do is to cultivate your own indoor herb garden.
The advantage to having herbs within your reach is that all your meals get that added spice and color. And if you collect some tips on how to take care of them, you could grow them in containers or pots the whole year round. So they are always within your reach!
Here are some suggestions on getting started with your indoor herb garden:
(1) Ensure that the soil is of very good quality. Since it is to be kept in a pot or container, the soil should have the capacity to retain water. In fact, if the purchased soil has organic matter added to it, so much the better; the herbs will grow faster. If you feel that soil quality does not matter, then you should not worry about the quality of your herbs either!
(2) Your indoor herb garden does not require all that much water - if they are watered once or twice every week without fail, it should do. This keeps the moisture at the correct level - the soil is always damp, but no water is left standing at the bottom. Too much of water will cause the roots to begin rotting.
(3) Indoors or outdoors, no plant can live without sunlight. Most of the herbs need to be under direct sunlight; so placing them near windows is best. Herbs such as chives, rosemary, basil, thyme and oregano require more than six hours of direct sunlight each day. In case it is not possible to provide direct sunlight, grow lamps or specialized natural light bulbs are available.
(4) Though the indoor herb garden requires direct sunlight, it would be wise to keep the plants a few inches away from the window and not in direct contact with the window glass or window sill. The sills become very hot in the summer months and affect the plants. During winter months, the temperature near the window is much cooler than the temperature a little inside the room.
(5) To ensure faster growth, dried or dead leaves should be removed. So also dead blossoms from plants that produce flowers
(6) The biggest leaves are found at the ends of branches or shoots. Pluck them first for the growth stays in control.
(7) The plants in your indoor herb garden need trimming from time to time. Otherwise, they may become too big for the containers or pots. Trimming should be done with a pair of sharp scissors, never with a knife. A knife can damage the plants because a pulling motion is used.
(8) For additional information, you could become a member of a gardening club or organization. Otherwise, turn to the Internet for advice. Experience is of course the best teacher to guide you regarding your indoor herb garden!
Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www. Gardening-Master.com and download his FREE Gardening Report “Indoor Gardening Secrets” and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades! But hurry, only limited Free copies available!. http://www. Gardening-Master.com
Check out indoor herb gardening

Growing Herbs Indoors

2007-11-24T12:50:00.001-08:00

Growing herbs indoors is a wonderful way to garden year-round. Indoor herb gardens are also terrific for people who love to garden but don't have space outside because they live in an apartment or condominium.

Fortunately growing herbs indoors is easy, and they're generally low-maintenance. Here are some quick tips to get you started.

1. First of all you need to know which herbs are the best to grow indoors. Some favorites include: basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, dill, chives, fennel and parsley. Choose the ones you like best and buy the seeds or plants to start your indoor herb garden today! Just be sure to purchase your herb seeds or plants from reliable sources.

2. Some items you'll need are, of course, your herbs, and also some high-quality compost and containers. Small terra cotta pots that are approximately six inches in diameter at the top and are six to twelve inches deep are perfect for growing herbs. You can also use long, narrow containers, which allow you to plant several different types of herbs in one container. This type of container also has the advantage of fitting windowsills nicely.

3. To plant your herbs, you want to put a layer of two to three inches in the bottom of the pot or container. Position the herb seeds or plants and then finish filling them up with the compost. You want to leave about one inch at the top of the pot or container to make watering simple.

4. Now, find a sunny spot. Herbs do need quite a bit of sunlight, around five hours a day, but you want to be careful not to place your herb garden containers where the plants will experience extreme temperature shifts, such as close to a stove or radiator. If you don't have a place where your indoor herb garden can get plenty of sunshine, you may want to purchase an indoor plant light. These are generally inexpensive and well worth the price when growing delicious herbs indoors.

5. Keep the plants in your indoor herb garden moist. You don't want to get carried away and over water because herbs don't like to sit in soggy soil, but the dirt should always be damp when you touch it. To keep it that way, especially if the air in your home or apartment is extremely dry, you should mist your indoor herb garden plants daily.

6. Get your children involved! An indoor herb garden is a terrific way to introduce children to gardening in a way that isn't overwhelming or too difficult. They'll be thrilled to watch seeds grow into plants that they can actually eat!

Once your indoor herb garden is thriving you do want to use them, and the great thing is that the more often you cut the herbs, the more they'll grow. So go ahead! Perk up your homemade pesto or spaghetti sauce with that oh, so fresh basil. Season your chicken with some straight-from-the-indoor-herb-garden rosemary. Herb gardening is a satisfying way to garden and improve your cooking at the same time!