Herb Garden

Herbs are commonly associated to plants with leaves, seeds or flowers used in cooking to add flavor to dishes, or in medicine, or as fragrances. In botany, the scientific study of plant life, the term “herb” is given to any plant that has a stem which dies every year. Do not worry most are perennials which grow back from its rootstock, while replanting annuals, the one that does not grow back, would be a yearly event and a time to seriously evaluate your garden.

Ancient civilizations had been known to use herbs in medicine. The connections between herbs and health have been established; hence encourage the use of herbs in cooking. Do not be fooled, sometimes claims may have some truths, but mostly it were superstitions, so have some care.

Easiest Herbs to Grow

Starting a kitchen garden with herbs in pots is easy as most herbs require little sunshine, just enough watering to keep alive and little or no fertilizer. In general most herbs like lean condition like well drained or sandy soil. Some people believe the flavor of these herbs is much better or more intense when they are a little bit distress. Beomg a novice gardener is already a source of distress to some plants and so there is no need to recreate it deliberately.

1. Mints and Lemongrass

Mint and lemongrass are two herbs that are easy to grow but depend on the climate zone. Mint may have adapt well in a tropical climate with small adjustment in watering, but lemongrass, a tropical plant, should be avoided in a dry inland zone, as it can be killed by temperature10 and below.

Lemongrass grown in a pot, place indoor and in a bright, south-facing window would adapt and thrive. It has as sweet citrusy hint great for simple teas, hearty soup, meat sauces and dishes.

Mints, whatever the zone, are always aggressively invasive like a weed, so plant them in their own pot to prevent killing other plants. Peppermint flavor is more intense than spearmint, and better planted from a seed than a cutting. While milder-flavored spearmint can be grown from cuttings. Both thrive in partial shade and incredible easy to grow.   

2. Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, and Thyme

Rosemary, sage, oregano and thyme are the most common culinary herbs. All are Mediterranean and perennials plants, most are tolerant to drought but cannot grow in full shade. They can resist strong prevailing wind like in a coastal area but a combination of cold weather would considerably weakens them, hence a sheltered spot from the wind but receive full sunlight is most ideal. These 4 herbs can be planted together in a large pot with a well-drained potting mix. Most culinary chef prefer a certain variety of this herbs like Tuscan Blue Rosemary; Greek and Italian Oregano; English, French and Lemon Thyme; and Common Sage or “Berggarten.”

3. Chives and Parsley

Chive is the cutest indoors herb to grow, not only it looks good in a small pot but also drought tolerant and thrives well in partial shade. If one is planning to have vegetable and/or flower rose garden in the near future, propagate chives as it is a great companion plant to garlic, onion, carrots, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, strawberries, cabbage, broccoli, mustard and roses. It is believed to repel a number of harmful insects like aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms, beetles and slugs. Another herbs that thrives well in partial shade is parsley, they are great companion plants.

Dill and French tarragon would be great to be planted with chives and parsley as they are all use for sauces, spread, garnish; but bit temperament would recommend it only once garden and gardening skills are better established.

The incentive of growing edibles is not only having healthy fresh source, great flavored dishes but also an effortless physical and mental exercise. The health truth about gardens could be on the activity and the fresh flavor and food is just a great plus. 

The next gardening article would be about vegetable garden as a continuance to kitchen garden. If you have comments, questions, reactions, suggestions and correction please feel free to post down below. And do not forget to follow. Thank you.

As always enjoy gardening!

References

1. Kinkead, E.B., Sehbai, D.S. & Tunney. C.J, (Eds.). (1972) Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia.(Vols10).  Austialia: McGraw-Hill far Eastern Publishers.

2. Tapsell, L. C., Hemphill, I., Cobiac, L., Sullivan, D. R., Fenech, M., Patch, C. S., Roodenrys, S., Keogh, J. B., Clifton, P. M., Williams, P. G., Fazio, V. A. & Inge, K. E. (2006). "Health benefits of herbs and spices: The past, the present, the future". Medical Journal of Australia. 185 (4): S1–S24.

3. Food Wishes (2015, June1). How to Plant a Culinary Herb Garden! DIY Kitchen Garden. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbYbI-uGEyg&gl=US

4. Entertaining With Beth. (2014, April 18). How to Start an Herb Garden. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzXHNlb1bos

5. Faulkner, Z. (n.d.).  The 9 EasiestHerbs to Grow Indoors.  [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.more.com/living/stylish-home/9-easiest-herbs-grow-indoors

Kitchen Garden in Pots

There are a variety of reasons why people are enthusiastic about gardening to discover if one truly enjoys gardening, growing plants, first step is to try something simple like a little kitchen garden in pots.

Start Simple with Pots

Ideally, to start a garden a list of things have been considered, this includes the location, the soil quality  and other basic for maintenance, and most especially what to plant and its layout or placement.  In choosing a site, it is important to consider the sun’s path, the soil quality, direction of prevailing winds, the availability of water source, the local climate and such conditions.

With a simple garden in containers the long list of requirements is ease down to the basics like local conditions. Using pots provide freedom of movement in which one could easily manage the plant placement concerning sun exposure, as most plants needs 6 hours of sun while some grow in shade.  The soil quality could to tweak according to the plant preference. Gardening with pots it is easy to create a microclimate. Protection from prevailing wind would be as easy as just reposition pots from outdoors to indoors. On the quantity, one could start with just one then gradually increase.

Here are some things to consider when gardening with pots:

Types of Pots

Wooden pots keep the soil moist and cool. As terracotta and clay pots are the most beautiful and more natural but are fragile, heavy and expensive. It support good drainage and help in air circulation. On the other hand, plastic pots are light but get hot quickly.

Sizes 

Large pots don’t dry quickly and deep provide optimum growing space. A large pot can hold more plants, less need for additional pots, hence less clutter. Smaller pots are easy to move around and could serve as an ornamental.

Shapes 

Wide-rectangular containers are more ideal in growing lettuce and other salad greens. While, deep pots are perfect for plants like tomatoes and peppers.

Drainage

Ensure pots have proper drainage to save plants from disease like root rot and fungus. Avoid overwatering, water only when the soil is dry.

Grow Edibles: Kitchen Garden

A great garden starter is growing edibles or a kitchen garden since we consume food everyday and it would remind that one has a growing food source that needs some tending. It would prevent neglect and foster a nurturing habit without so much coercion.

A kitchen garden, or potager in French and kailyaird in Scottish, is not only a vegetable plot but a combination of vegetables, herbs, fruits and edible and non-edible flowers in a structured design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

As a beginner, choose edible plants that are easy to grow like herbs, as most are hardy and tolerant. Also consider one’s taste and/or most commonly used herbs and vegetables so nothing will go waste. Another item to consider is what grows best in one’s area or native plants. Choosing unsuitable plants create more work and often dead plants.     

Companion Planting

Consider planting tomato, basil and marigold together, it is an example of companion planting. It helps to keep plants healthy, as marigold repels insects and nematodes that are attracted to tomatoes. The symbiotic relationship is not only limited to repelling pests but also enhances taste, like chives improve the fiery flavors of pepper. Moreover, it is quite attractive compare to the monotonous one-crop planting.

A kitchen garden would always provide fresh and safe source of herbs and vegetables, fruits and flowers.  Citing Lisa Hubbard (2010), gardening is one-third science, one-third art and one-third Peace Corps. It is not just pure brawn but also understanding the basic, as this article hope to impart and build confidence to dive deeper in the wonderful world of growing plants.  

The next gardening article would be about herb garden as a continuance to kitchen garden. If you have comments, questions, reactions, suggestions and correction please feel free to post down below. And do not forget to follow. Thank you.

As always enjoy growing and nurturing green things!

References

1. Kinkead, E.B., Sehbai, D.S. & Tunney. C.J, (Eds.). (1972) Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia.(Vols 9).  Austialia: McGraw-Hill far Eastern Publishers.

2. Bartley, J. (n.d.). Who says a kitchen garden can’t be beautiful? [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.finegardening.com/who-says-kitchen-garden-cant-be-beautiful

3. Brenner, D. (2010, June 29). Connecticut Kitchen Garden. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-tours/g840/connecticut-kitchen-garden-0809/?