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Alabama and herb gardens go together like Simon & Garfunkel. Take a cue from the singing duo’s classic “Scarborough Fair,” grouping parsley (Petroselinum crispum), sage (salvia officinalis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) in beds or containers. Let rosemary take center stage in the perennial main act; then spice things up with a host of annual performers that thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6b to 8b.
Tempting kids away from TV and computer screens is a challenge, and growing their own herbs for pizzas, bolognese sauce, salads and garnishes is something few children can resist. Windowsill gardening can take place on the wettest days and needs only a few simple items -- containers, potting compost and plants or seeds. Children can have fun recycling washed food containers, poking holes carefully with skewers for drainage, and decorating their pots.
Building a useable herb garden requires you to only plant herbs that you're actually going to need. Build a useable herb garden with help from the owner of Eden Condensed, a small space garden design in Los Angeles, California, in this free video clip.
A sun-loving plant that belongs to the mint family, basil (Ocimum basilicum) comes in numerous varieties including Thai basil. An annual plant with dark purple flowers, Thai basil has a sweet anise-like flavor. As with all varieties, Thai basil is susceptible to several different diseases. Thai basil plant diseases can result from problems with the growing conditions, soil or seed.
Herbs are a great addition to any home garden, whether it's indoor or out. Fresh herbs can transform your cooking from ordinary to exceptional by adding depth and complexity to your dishes. Easy to grow and use, herbs are a welcome addition to both your garden and your kitchen.
Herb gardens make useful and attractive additions to any garden landscape and should ideally be situated close to the kitchen door, for ease of use. When you start to plan your herb garden, consider using traditional herb garden designs that consist of segmented areas for individual herbs, such as geometric knots, spirals, wheels and circles, Having individual plots for separate herbs ensures that invasive plants are kept under control and allows plants to establish more easily. Modern gardeners often find it is just easy to grow herbs in pots on the patio or even to establish a small herb bed…
When protecting Bromeliads, you're always going to want to keep a few key tips and tricks in mind. Protect Bromeliads with help from an experienced professional gardener in this free video clip.
Planting a potted herb garden is a great project that is more than worthy of your time. Plant a potted herb garden with help from an experienced professional gardener in this free video clip.
Killing weeds in herb gardens is easy, so long as you're using the right tools in the right ways. Kill weeds in herb gardens with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
When designing a perennial herb garden, you're always going to want to keep a few tips in mind. Design a perennial herb garden with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
You can create a basic herb garden plant container out of many tools around your home that you probably already have access to. Create a basic herb garden plant container with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Pots and pavers make great tools to use when designing a herb garden of your very own. Design a herb garden with pots and pavers with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Planting a herb garden according to height is a great way to make sure that all of your plants remain organized. Plant a herb garden according to height with help from a classically-trained chef with experience in both World class restaurants and private dining companies in this free video clip.
Re-transplanting bromeliads is always a lot easier if you manage to keep a few key tips and tricks in mind. Re-transplant bromeliads with help from an experienced professional gardener in this free video clip.
When building a herb garden, you should always take care to have the most detailed plans and designs possible. Get tips on herb garden plans and designs with help from a certified clinical herbalist in this free video clip.
A spiral herb garden can make a wonderful addition to any yard. Build a spiral herb garden the right way with help from a certified clinical herbalist in this free video clip.
When designing and planning your herb garden, you're always going to want to keep a few key things in mind. Learn about herb garden plans and designs with help from a board-certified naturopathic doctor and a licensed acupuncture physician in this free video clip.
Planting basil plants always requires that you have an area where you can control the light. Find out how to plant basil plants with help from a small space garden designer in this free video clip.
Planting sweet basil isn't nearly as complicated as you probably think it is. Find out how to plant sweet basil with help from a small space garden designer in this free video clip.
Tulsi basil will make a wonderful addition to any herb garden. Find out how to grow tulsi basil with help from a small space garden designer in this free video clip.
Dill is a finicky transplanting variety of plant to deal with. Learn about dill herb container gardening with help from the owner of a biodynamic nursery in this free video clip.
Basil plants are herbs that like to grow in warm, sunny spaces. Care for a basil plant with help from a creative and committed designer in this free video clip.
Growing herbs in a shady garden with a family dog around can prove both a boon and a hazard. While the dog may keep other wildlife away from your plants, the pet may consume his share of the garden's contents. Selecting shade-tolerant herbs that aren't toxic to your dog protects your pet in case he ventures into the garden. Be forewarned that consuming even nontoxic herbs in large quantities can lead to an upset stomach for your dog.
Planting some herbs in your garden or in a container in your home can help the blandest of meal spring to life. But where to start? Find some inspiration in Simon & Garfunkel’s 1966 hit song "Scarborough Fair/Canticle." Sing along while you plant parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme ... and then maybe add lavender, basil, tarragon and bay laurel (for bay leaves) to the refrain.
Certain types of herbs are great for helping natural hair growth. Learn about treatment with herbs to grow hair with help from a Doctor of Naturopathy and Naturopathic Ministry in this free video clip.
Genovese is a type of basil grown for its pleasant flavor, particularly for use in pesto. It is available fresh at larger grocery stores and natural food stores, though sometimes it is simply labeled as "sweet basil." Genovese basil is a hardy plant that can thrive year-round indoors and throughout summer outdoors. While you can plant it in the ground, growing Genovese basil in pots ensures you have fresh leaves no matter what the season. With rich, well-drained soil and periodic maintenance, you can grow Genovese basil in pots with little chance of failure.
Indian sage (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is an herb that grows wild in boggy areas across most parts of the United States and Canada. The plant, which is characterized by its hairy stem, wrinkled leaves and bitter taste, was commonly used by early settlers and Native Americans to treat a variety of ailments. Indian sage is known by alternative names, including boneset, feverwort, teasel, wild sage sweating plant and ague weed.
Oregano and parsley are cooking herbs prized for their easy growth and variety of uses. Oregano is a perennial that can grow up to 2 feet tall with small white flowers. Parsley is a biennial that is often treated as an annual. Its divided, curly leaves give off a distinct flavor and smell. Growing oregano and parsley requires slightly different care. For example, although both are easy to care for, oregano can tolerate poor soil conditions and requires little water, while parsley requires frequent feeding and moisture.
Damiana is a perennial shrub that grows wild in Central and South America as well as Mexico. The Damiana shrub reaches heights of up to 6 feet and features sweet-smelling leaves, yellow flowers and a fig-tasting fruit. This fragrant plant has a wide array of medical uses including for stomachache, headache, bronchitis and asthma. The small shrub is resistant to drought and can be grown indoors or out for personal use.
Fresh herbs are wonderful when used in cooking, and they are easy to grow in pots or small containers. There are many advantages of creating and planting a usable herb garden, whether it grows indoors or out. Not only will you enjoy the abundance of fresh herbs at your fingertips, but the plants are simple to maintain. With usable herbs growing in containers, you can control the plants' soil composition and exposure to weather conditions. Since a usable herb garden is easy to build, plant and grow, you'll soon be adding fresh herbs to your favorite dishes.
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a culinary herb grown in many gardens. It is very distinctive, with green umbels and fern-like foliage. Dill self-seeds readily, which can make it problematic when grown without containment. Like when growing mint, you must take great care to choose an area to grow dill where it cannot escape confinement. When dill does escape, there are many options for killing it, depending on where the dill is growing and what is planted nearby.
Of the more than 40 varieties of basil, sweet basil is one of the most widely planted. The fragrant herb is easy to grow and rich in vitamin E, folate and antioxidants. Whether you're growing basil in an outdoor garden or an indoor container, proper fertilization can make the difference between a bushy, green and flavorful plant and a leggy, unhealthy one.
Water mint is is a hardy, fragrant member of the mint family that will grow fully immersed in water. Native to American coastal and mid-Atlantic regions, water mint is often found growing wild near creek banks and in swamps and boggy wetlands. Its pungent leaves can be steeped for tea and used in mint sauces or on salads. Propagate the mint by a root cutting or collect the mint seeds after they ripen in September or October for planting out in cold frames in early spring.
Basil, or Ocimum basilicum, is an herb that's prized for its aromatic, peppery flavor. It is used extensively in Italian cuisine and as an ingredient in many different dishes, from soups and stews to pizzas and salads. Growing your own basil allows you to have these pungent leaves on hand in the kitchen. While ideally, basil is an outdoor plant, it can be grown successfully indoors with the right conditions and care.
With more than 200 species to choose from, hawthorn can be found growing in many parts of the world. Hawthorn trees, or bushes, are not only pleasant to look at, but also have long been regarded as a source of beneficial medicine. Hawthorn berries have been reputed to aid in digestion, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. Hawthorn is very hardly and be grown in a wide variety of climates; however, it grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4a through 7b. Growing hawthorn can be accomplished rather simply either from seed or from stem cuttings.
Growing mint in a home garden allows you to harvest this culinary herb fresh. The easy-to-grow herb does not have any special care or growing requirements, making it a suitable choice for novice and experienced gardeners alike. Because of its invasive characteristics, mint is best grown in containers or small spaces where its roots are confined. However, you can grow a row of the hardy perennials in your backyard and check them regularly to keep them from taking over. The row of plants adds dense color to the garden and provides an abundant crop.
Fresh herbs add flavor and nutritional value to recipes and meals. Though fresh herbs are available in many grocery stores, it's often less expensive and increases the herbs' nutritional value to grow them in your own garden. These gardens may be planted indoors or outdoors, in large spaces or small. One option is to grow the herbs right in your kitchen in small peat pots placed on a windowsill. These pots are made of natural, biodegradable peat moss and can be planted directly into larger containers as the plants grow.
Basil and peppermint are culinary herbs that are part of the mint family. Both have a similar square, hairy stems, green to blue-green leaves that are somewhat crinkled, and purple or white flowers that grow in whorls on spikes above the foliage. Basil leaves are usually bright green, large and shiny, while peppermint leaves have a reddish cast. Both herbs are easily grown in the home garden as they have similar needs and do not interfere with the growth of the other.
Garlic (Allium sativum L.), a member of the allium family, has been cultivated for thousands of years. Leeks, onions and shallots are also in the allium family and grow well when planted with garlic. Garlic is valued for its culinary and medicinal properties. You can readily plant garlic with cilantro, an annual herb with large white umbrella flower heads and is also known as coriander or Chinese parsley. Cilantro refers to the fresh feathery leaves of the plant, coriander refers to the seeds. All varieties of garlic and cilantro grow best in a full sun location with nutrient rich, well…
Growing your own parsley and basil is great way to have fresh herbs for cooking. You can easily grow parsley and basil in your home in pots if you give both plants enough love and care. Make sure that you plant the seeds on a warm day, above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or inside.
Curly parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) and is commonly used to garnish savory dishes. This type of parsley bears toothed leaves and attractive, tightly curled foliage. Mature curly parsley plants range from 12 to 18 inches in height. You may easily grow curly parsley in your home garden.
Growing mint from sprigs, or cuttings, is the easiest way to get all the free mint plants that you want. These plants root readily in water because the stems are so succulent. This virtually guarantees success for even the first plant propagation efforts of any green beginner. Your rooted mint sprigs will quickly grow into undemanding plants that aren’t fussy about growing conditions.
Sage plants make excellent selections for growing in a low-water landscape or a xeriscape. This common type of herb comes in a variety of cultivars that exhibit individual characteristics, although most need only slight amounts of water. Providing too much moisture can harm your sage plants and affect the harvest of this fragrant culinary herb.
Broadleaf sage, a treasured culinary herb, lends a distinctive flavor and aroma to poultry, sausage, traditional Thanksgiving stuffing and various other recipes. Throughout time, sage has been used for health benefits in the home as a moth deterrent and an odor remover. This perennial favorite, sporting oblong, velvety leaves in shades of grayish-green, tolerates a variety of soil conditions and reaches 2 to 4 feet in height, with a penchant for sprawling if left unattended during the growing season.
Basil is an edible herb native to India and Central Asia, but grown worldwide as a flavoring to culinary dishes. Brown spots on the stem of basil plants are a symptom of several diseases that can reduce the vitality and cause plant death. Preventative measures such as avoiding overcrowding and overhead irrigation an help prevent them, while removing infected tissue and sterilizing plant equipment can help reduce the severity.
Variegated sage, also known as golden sage, features yellow or gold highlights on sage-colored leaves. Because this sage grows slower than standard sage, its leaves tend to be more tender with a less intense flavor. Often grown for its colorful foliage, variegated sage serves as both a decorative plant in garden beds and as a culinary herb. Growing this type of sage is similar to other sage cultivars.
Basil is a commonly grown herb that is native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. As with other herbs, basil needs full sun. However, basil also grows well in humid climates and needs adequate moisture for the soil around its roots. This means basil will grow indoors in a plant terrarium as long as it gets enough supplemental lighting. Growing basil indoors means you can have fresh basil all year long, no matter what the season.
There are over 20 species of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum), all with a refreshing aroma. Those without hairs repel insects and can be toxic if eaten, while those with hairy leaves and stem can be steeped into fresh mint teas or eaten. A native wildflower, mountain mint is unfussy in its requirements and unappetizing to deer, making it a very useful garden plant.
Although not a true member of the oregano family, Mexican oregano imparts the same flavor as its European and Mediterranean counterparts, albeit with more gusto and sweetness. Once only available in specialty markets and at online spice distributors, Mexican oregano is now sold both fresh and dried in many mainstream markets.
Speed up the growing cycle of basil by creating a environment where the plant thrives. Basil, an herb from the mint family, is a plant that you can grow inside or outside depending on the weather conditions of your area. While the plant thrives indoors in a sunny window, you can also start the seeds inside in late winter and move the plant outdoors once the weather warms in late spring. The plant will continue to grow fast when provided with adequate light, water and fertilizer.
