When Herb gardening, first and foremost you should have a plan before beginning your endeavor. This is the first deadly sin herb gardeners commit consistently. It is possible to grow an herb garden for cooking, or medication or beauty.
Choosing right!
Choose which one is going to fulfill your requirements, or have containers or beds for all three. If you’re a beginner it’s ideal to start off with only one so that you’re not overwhelmed. You need this to be creative and fun, not a job that you grow to hate.
The best way to think of a plan is to focus on a theme. Then narrow it down to a sub-theme. Most men and women grow culinary herbs so let us start there. If you love French cooking plant the herbs you will use in your meals. French blossoms are savory, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and peppermint. Add some parsley and bay leaf and you’ve got the ideal bouquet garni to grow your soups or stews.
Italian herbs
If you would like classic Italian cuisine you should plant Italian parsley, marjoram, thyme, oregano and sweet basil. You can cook some terrific pasta dishes using these herbs.
After you’ve settled in your topic do a little research about what herbs are readily available. You should think of a list that has the absolutely essential herb, the herbs which would be fun to have and those that are really not required. Then check with your local nursery or online for accessibility. Again, if you’re just starting out you should keep the list to between five and state ten herbs.
On to the next deadly sin which herb gardeners commit. You must have the ideal place for your herbs to flourish. Consider the herbs needs-they must have four to six hours of sun daily. The soil should drain well and your garden should be where it is possible to harvest your crop easily. If you have pets keep this in mind when picking your place. You should mix in a great deal of organic material to enhance the soil whether it’s in the ground or in containers.
The third deadly sin is to use the incorrect planting procedure. You must work the soil with compost and bone meal before you even look at any planting. Carefully work through the root ball to encourage new growth. Make sure you water the roots well before planting to give them a fantastic start. Herbs like basil ought to be pinched off to help them reach a bushy plant.
Taking care
You have to be aware of the requirements of your herbs. Bad maintenance of the plants is the fourth deadly sin. On a regular basis you have to water, prune and feed your herbs. Speak with the people at your nursery centre to find advice on fertilizing your own herbs. Never spray them with poisonous chemicals if you find snails, aphids or beetles on the herbs. Here again, your nursery centre can give you a hand. Here’s a homemade recipe that will keep the pests out:
In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of the mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more frequently if desired ) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other insects.
The most deadly sin is to fall madly in love with your plants. You will need to lower your herbs. Harvest them in regular intervals. If you have an abundance of those herbs freeze them or dry them. A terrific way to use them is to create vinegars or oils, even soaps and bath preparations.
Don’t get too large tech or overanalyze the situation. The entire purpose here is to connect with the ground. This is the sixth deadly sin of herb gardeners. Work the way nature does. Use natural products, work the soil, and keep it simple.
Conclusion
And, drum roll please, the seventh deadly sin is to not know as much as possible about each herb you’ve planted. Take the opportunity to do the study. With only a little effort you will get very knowledgeable and face it, it’s the only way to approach plant gardening. Don’t beat yourselves up in the event you make a couple mistakes, just learn from them. The entire purpose is to have fun with your herb gardening and also to make some terrific meals.
