About Medicinal Herb Plants
Medicinal herb plants are now very popular. For centuries, the ancient people have used various kinds of herbs for addressing certain illnesses. The herbs were really effective and medical researches have already proven it. Most herbs have medicinal properties and growing them will surely give a gardener a sense of interdependence or connection. Some of the herbs that you can grow are chamomile, peppermint, Echinacea and so forth. Start growing medicinal herb plants and enjoy the many benefits that usually come with it.
Conventional medicine these days are really costly and most of the medicines treat only the symptoms and not the root cause of the illness. Using medicinal herbs is an excellent and cost effective way of treating common ailments. It can be a rewarding hobby to plant different medicinal herbs at home, in your very own garden. Medicinal herb plants can be obtained as seeds or seedlings from local nurseries. Spending time in your garden can even provide you with peace of mind.
What are the things that you should prepare before you can plant medicinal herbs? You will need a garden shovel, knife, garden scissors, pots/containers (indoor gardening), and fertilizer. Check the soil in your garden to ensure that it is suitable for planting herbs. Most medicinal herb plants require well drained soil to prevent rotting of the herbs’ roots. You can create garden plots on a sunny area of your yard or you can place the soil inside containers or pots with holes underneath.
Now, you will need to pick the herbs that you want to plant. For example, chamomile leaves can be used to prepare chamomile tea and it’s great for insomnia. Other medicinal herb plants that you can plant are peppermint for better digestion, Echinacea to boost your immune system, and Saint John’s Wort for curing depression. Chamomile should be planted alone since it can get bushy. A full grown chamomile herb can reach 21 inches in height. Peppermint is great for the outdoors but you must monitor it because it can grow all over the garden. Echinacea can take about 2 to 3 years before you can harvest the roots.
Medicinal herb plants can grow in different sizes so you may need to gather relevant information before you start planting. The size of the matured plant matters a lot especially if you’re into container gardening. The local nursery may be able to help you with the planting requirements. You can also get instructional materials online to serve as a guide when growing medicinal herb plants.
With the right knowledge in your hands, you can now plant the seeds or seedlings. You can also add organic fertilizer. If there are pests, never use pesticides or insecticides since you will be using the plants for medicinal purposes. Take good care of the medicinal herbs and monitor its growth. Invest effort, time and money when growing the herbs. In due time, you will be able to reap the benefits. When you or a family member suffers from a common illness, just get the appropriate medicinal herb plants in your garden.
The Healthy Lovage Herb
Lovage herb is an old herb that is perfect for a healthy lifestyle of most people today. It has a unique flavor that tastes like celery and anise combined. It can be used as a substitute for salt and can give extra superb flavor to many vegetable stews and soups as well. Lovage could works well in tomato and potato dishes as well as anything in the category of starch. The best of this herb is that every part of it is edible.
The lovage herb can grow up to 6 feet tall after its first year so even one plant is already sufficient for one family. It can grow even in partial shade as long as the soil is not too dry and is fairly fertilized. The germination of the seeds of lovage takes about 10 – 12 days. You can plant up to 4 seeds per container or pot.
When you transplant the herb in your garden, make sure that you water it well for at least a couple of weeks and provide it with natural fertilizer. You can start harvesting it when it reaches 2 feet tall. Just cut the stems from its side and chop it finely to use in your recipes.
Even the seeds of the lovage herb can be eaten or mixed in your cooking. The lovage seeds have a much sweeter flavor than its leaves. They can be used just like the celery seeds. The large stalk of lovage seeds will form in the early summer. Just allow the seeds to ripen until they start to turn brown. Cut its stalk and then dry the seeds. However, if you are not going to use the seeds then just cut its stalk immediately because it will re-seed in your garden.
After a few seasons, during spring time, dig up your lovage herb and split its root. You can use the root or preserve it for future use. Just dry the cut pieces of roots using a screen and then store away from the light. Also, if you don’t need the roots, you can give them to your neighbor or fellow gardener. They will definitely love your gift and your own lovage plant will be much healthier and grow much better after the division. So, dried, preserve, use fresh, or gift your lovage plant to others.
The lovage herb is best used when fresh however, you can also have the stems and leaves frozen for future use. Just blanch the leaves very quickly in boiling water and then immediately throw them into a container of ice water. Let them rest there for a couple of minutes. Drain, then place in a plastic freezer bag to freeze. This frozen lovage can now be minced to be used in your cooked dishes for superbly excellent taste.
You can add your freshly minced lovage herb to your chicken soup (at the last 15-20 minutes of cooking). Or you can also add it to your chilled tomato soup. Also, you can mix your freshly minced lovage to your recipes of meatloaf. Your harvested lovage seeds can be used in cakes (whole or ground), meats, breads, biscuits, cheese, sauces, salad dressings, or even with pickles.
Beside from these mentioned above, you can find many delicious meals that have lovage today. You can definitely find the most suitable dishes for your herb. Lovage herb can definitely add extra flavor to your cooking.
Tips for Basic Herb Garden Design
With so many designs to choose from for an herb garden, it is much easier to pick the most suitable basic herb garden design that can meet your needs. If you are among the homeowners out there who also want to own a spectacular herb garden, this is your chance. You can use the internet to look for the designs or you can also check out herb garden design magazines. Either way, you will be able to gather relevant ideas and tips that can help you with your garden project.
Choosing the right spot in your garden is vital to ensure a flourishing herb garden. If you opt for outdoor gardening, pick the spot where you will make the plots and it should get a fair share of sunlight everyday. Ideally, herbs need 6 to 8 hours sunlight and the basic herb garden design should comply with this requirement. Otherwise, the herbs will become leggy. You can create various kinds of designs like sundials (e.g. circular herb plots).
Determine if the soil in your garden is right for growing herbs. You will need partially rich soil that is dark and well drained. Herbs do not like soil with too much clay because it retains water. The basic herb garden design needs to consider the type of soil used to ensure that the roots will not rot.
Among the most common designs used today are the geometric shape gardens. Formal gardens usually have boxwoods for the edging of plots. If you have an unused wagon (with complete wheels), you can also use it to create a country look garden design. Culinary and medicinal herbs are great for a basic herb garden design.
If you want to use the herbs for cooking, you may need to plant 3-5 for each of the herbs so that you will have a supply of the herbs year-round. Some herbs smell and look good so if you want to grow them, you can get 1-3 for each of the herbs. Arrange them in the garden according to usage so that the basic herb garden design will stand out. Always use odd numbered when grouping the herbs.
Check out the many designs of garden herbs online and you will notice that most of the gardens are not arranged in tidy rows. You need to learn the basics of planting by determining how small or large the herbs can grow. The tallest ones can be planted at the center of the garden. Most of the basic herb garden design nowadays follows this rule and the smaller ones will be planted around the tall herbs. Cascading herbs should also be grouped together so that they will not outgrow the smaller herbs.
For homeowners with limited garden space, you can opt for indoor gardening. You can put the containers and pots on the patio or on the windowsill where there is plenty of sunlight. This basic herb garden design is also ideal especially during winter so that you can you protect the herbs from the cold weather.
Oregano Plant in your Own Garden
Growing oregano plant at your own garden is really beneficial especially if you love to cook dishes with fresh or dried oregano on it. However, the difference between the fresh oregano and the dried oregano variety taste that can be bought at stores is just like the night and day. The fresh oregano can really increase the flavor of your dishes that can’t be beaten. Furthermore, the dish that you have produced is much healthier than the others.
Oregano plant is usually seasoned in most of the tomato based dishes. It is commonly used in Mediterranean and Italian cooking. Growing oregano indoors or outside in your garden is really easy. You can plant them from seeds or from small plants because they can easily grow. Planting the oregano can allow you to always have fresh oregano inside your home without the need of going to the produce section of your local store to buy them.
If you are planning on planting the oregano plant by seeds, you can begin planting them indoors using small pots. Plant them a few weeks before the end frost of winter season. You just need to sprinkle the oregano seeds over the soil. Do not cover them and provide them enough water. Place them where they can get sufficient sunlight for about 5 – 7 days until they grow. They can easily grow when your container has enough drainage. Also, just like any other plants, you must take care of them properly as they are still growing and maturing. After the frost or during the spring, you can now transplant your oregano plant outdoor in your garden.
Plant your oregano where it can get full sunlight as well as well drained soil. Plant them for about 10 – 12 inches apart from each other. The herb does not mind the dry soil and can actually adjust to most of the conditions in planting as long as they can get lots of sunlight. You can just water them during those very dry times so that they will not die and withered and also, so that they can produce healthier leaves for you to use in your cooking.
Oregano plant does not need fertilizer, mulch, or compost because fertilizers can actually damage the flavor of oregano. As you notice the flower buds, pinch them off immediately. In this way, your oregano will grow bushier and will provide the best flavor that you can possibly have.
The oregano can definitely grow wide so just scale the stems and leaves back when needed. When they reach about 4 inches tall with a dozen of leaves, you can start harvesting the leaves to be use in your dishes. You can also cut back the whole oregano plant when it reaches 6 inches in height and use the leaves because it will just grow again and provide you with more leaves.
Pick out your needed oregano leaves just after the dews have dried on their leaves (morning). It is because, once the sunlight warms up those leaves, they start to lose those oils that provide the best aroma and taste. After you harvest the leaves, you can chop them finely for your cooking or just store them in a plastic bag and refrigerate them for future use. Also, the oregano leaves can be dried for a much longer storage.
Oregano plant is a perfect companion for broccoli and beans plants because it can deter the pests that are very common to these kinds of vegetables. So, what are you waiting for? Plant your own oregano in your herb garden and enjoy the freshness of taste and aroma that this herb can bring.
Best Container Herb Gardening
Container herb gardening can definitely be more than beautiful. It can also be functional. There are several containers and plant’s ranges height recommendations for your herb garden at home. Most of the culinary herbs are truly fast growing and they can be easily as well as economically grown from seeds, including chives, basil, oregano, dill, parsley, thyme, and sage. Lavender and rosemary are few of the slow growing herbs that are best acquired as mature plants or seedlings. Nonetheless, all of them are really good for home herb garden.
Even container herb gardening requires huge amount of sunlight so if you are planning on growing them indoors, you should have a good location where they can receive direct sunlight for most of the day. Herbs can also be grown outdoors. You can grow them even in a condition that freezes. The large herb pots can stay outside during the winter or be moved into a location where they can be sheltered such as in shed or garage.
In such cold climates, those perennial herbs will be able to take on the winter and then come back yearly. However, even in container herb gardening, the herbs that can’t tolerate the freezing weather or those that grow annuals and biennials should be replaced every season of spring.
In order to grow herbs successfully in your home, you must know the difference of your chosen herbs and when you will actually plant them. This task is not really a difficult one for serious herb garden makers today because there are numerous sources of data that can answer their questions about herb gardening.
So, what are the different container herb gardening? First is that you can plant your chosen herbs using separate individual pots because small pots or containers requires a lot of work as they need more watering. You can plant several of your herbs in a large pot or container. In this way, you can be able to create such an attractive display of your kitchen herbs which are very useful as well as very easy to maintain. Pots or containers with a good drainage are actually one of the best planting methods of herbs today.
Another container herb gardening is by planting them in your window box. You should plant the tallest herbs at the center of your window box and those small herbs can be placed at the ends. Thyme and oregano which are considered as trailing plants can be placed on the edges or ends of the window box. In this way, they can cascade attractively over your window box’s sides. You can provide them with a good temperature always especially if your house has adjustable temperature system.
Next container herb gardening is by planting several of your herbs in a really large square or round container. Just like planting in window box, plant your tallest herbs such as sage, dill, parsley, chives, and basil in the center of your large pot. If your container or pot is positioned against your wall, place the large herbs in the center side of the container that is located near your wall.
The smaller herbs should be placed around the large herbs and the cascading herbs like thyme and oregano can be positioned near the container’s edge so that they can spill over the sidings of your large container.
These mentioned container herb gardening methods are really functional as well as beautiful. You can decorate your kitchen or your garden with your favorite herbs and just pick the herb you will use for your cooking. There is nothing more benefitting than having a beautiful herb garden that you can easily use for all times.
Growing Basil Indoors – The Basics
Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow and so growing basil indoors is possible with the right knowledge and skills. Still, like other herb varieties, you should monitor its growth especially when the basil is too young. Replanting basil is not easy so you must get it the first time. Some say that growing basil is a tedious task but if you love basil on your dishes, growing basil indoors is the way to go.
Basil can grow steadily if you can provide the right kind of soil. Just like other herbs, basil will thrive in a well drained soil. Check the garden soil if it’s well drained before putting it inside the container or pot. If the soil breaks apart when you clump them, it is ideal for growing basil but if it clumps, growing basil indoors will require commercial soil. Commercial soil contains fertilizer and other nutrients needed by plants and you can get them at a local garden center.
Strawberry pots will do well if you want to plant basil. With several openings, it will be easier to monitor the growth of the basil. Growing herbs indoors is similar to outdoor gardening but the only difference is that growing basil indoors will require a pot or container. Other elements should still be present in order for the basil to grow like water and sunlight. Make sure that you put holes at the bottom of the container so allow proper drainage of water.
Basil prefers moist soil and if water remains in the soil, the roots will surely rot. Water the basil when needed especially when the soil on top is dry. Growing basil indoors will also require you to cut off single leaves but never the paired ones. If you think that the basil is not getting enough nutrients, you can use organic fertilizer especially if you want to use it in your favorite dishes. You can use general fertilizer is you’re not going to use it for culinary purposes.
Every month, you must check the plant’s pH level. When growing basil indoors, you can make use of pH testers to ensure that the pH is maintained at 6.5 to 7.5. Basil needs at least six hours of sunlight so try to determine the sunny areas in your home. You can also use artificial lighting like grow-lights for ten hours each day. The artificial lights are best used during winter but during other seasons, sunlight coming from the window or patio is enough when growing basil indoors.
As you can see, growing basil can be a bit tedious but it can also be rewarding once you can already harvest the leaves of the basil. Try to plant a number of basil so that you can have a year’s supply of this amazing herb. You can grow a number of basil in a single container provided that it’s big enough. Follow the soil, sunlight, and water requirements and you can have a flourishing herb garden. Start growing basil indoors now.
Indoor Herb Gardening Tips
Indoor herb gardening is very much different from outdoor gardening since some of the most important elements are missing like sunlight. As the gardener, you must be able to provide all the elements needed by the herbs. If you’re a newbie, you will need all the help you can get and so you can make use of the tips found in this article. If you prefer indoor herb gardening, you should be willing to exert effort and time in caring for the herbs.
The local nursery and garden center can provide you with the needed supplies for gardening. The people there can also provide useful info about the different herb varieties. You will also need supplies like garden tools, gloves, pots or containers, and fertilizer. If you want, you can opt for the gardening kits so you can start with indoor herb gardening right away. The kits usually include garden soil, seeds, fertilizer, and instructions. Check the garden shed for available tools so that you won’t buy them anymore.
In an indoor gardening, your success will be highly dependent on the soil you use. Potting soil should be chosen carefully and in most cases, the soil already contains organic fertilizer. Mints, bee balm, and oregano when planted in indoor herb gardening should be planted alone. These herbs can grow large. You can plant smaller herb varieties together in a big container but always check their growth requirements.
Most herbs need a lot of sunlight. Since you will be growing the herbs indoors, you will need to provide artificial light especially during winter. You can also place containers on the windowsill or patio where sunlight shines through everyday. Indoor herb gardening can take a lot of your time so you must be willing to exert effort.
During winter, you will need to take the pots inside. Don’t place them near glass panes because the plants can freeze due to the cold. Herbs need just the right amount of water. Don’t water it too often or the roots can rot but you shouldn’t allow it to dry out either. With indoor herb gardening, you can benefit greatly if you invest on a water meter. Room temperature is best for growing the herbs.
The internet is rich in helpful info about the different herb varieties that you can plant indoors. If your family always suffers from common illnesses, it would help a lot if you plant medicinal herbs. The herbs can come in handy too if you love cooking. Indoor herb gardening is easy as long as you follow the right tips. This type of activity doesn’t require too much money and since there are also affordable gardening kits available today, newbies will surely get started right away without encountering many problems.
Prepare the soil, pots or containers, seedlings, seeds, and gardening tools. You can also use gloves so that your hands will not get very dirty. Don’t plant the seeds too deep and follow the planting instructions for indoor herb gardening carefully. Monitor growth and in no time at all, you can already harvest herbs.
How to Grow a Potted Herb Garden
Are you planning to grow a potted herb garden? This is a very rewarding hobby since it can provide you with the needed herbs for cooking certain dishes as well as medicinal herbs. A lot of people are now realizing the importance of herbs for medicinal and culinary uses and it’s no wonder that a lot of people want to invest in it. If you want to grow a potted herb garden, there are some things that you should bear in mind.
First and foremost, you will need to decide the exact spot for the potted herbs. Potted herbs are versatile and you can place the pots on windowsills, kitchen counter, and your patio. Personal choices vary and you’re free to put the potted herbs anywhere. You can also change the location while you grow a potted herb garden depending on your needs. This can be an advantage especially during winter season since herbs can’t withstand the cold weather outside.
What are the herbs that you plan to grow? Herbs vary – some herbs can grow so wide or tall while others grow like bushes. The choice of herbs will definitely depend on the available space you have at home and the size of the pots. To grow a potted herb garden, you should pick the herb varieties wisely so that your needs can be met once harvest time comes.
You will need different sizes of pots and you can purchase them from garden centers together with commercial soil. Choosing the soil is very important and if the soil in your yard is not well drained, it would be best buy commercial soil so that you can grow a potted herb garden instantly. Check if the pots have drainage holes and corresponding dishes. You see, if the roots of the herbs are always wet, they tend to rot. Before putting the soil, line the bottom of the pots with rocks.
Commercial soil is already rich in plant food and fertilizer. You can also opt for organic soil especially if you’re planting culinary herbs. As you grow a potted herb garden, you will learn to invest time, effort, and money in order to grow your preferred herbs. This is truly rewarding and you can find peace while gardening. The little joys of life will surely be appreciated once you see the fruits of your labor.
The germination time usually vary so make sure that you inquire at the local nursery about it. You can also opt for seedlings when you grow a potted herb garden so that you will no longer have to wait for the seeds to germinate. The seedlings are widely available and you can check out what the local nursery has to offer. Most of the seeds or seedlings are reasonably priced and if you get the gardening kits, it already includes some seeds.
Adequate preparation is needed if you want to grow a potted herb garden. Determine your budget now so that you can get the needed supplies as soon as possible.
Garden Herb Makers Tips
Fresh herbs are really amazing so garden herb makers ensure that they can grow herbs in their garden. Many people love putting some basil leaves on their tuna sandwich or in their salads. For makers of garden herb as well as culinary lovers, herbs are somehow something that they must have fresh.
In preparation of foods, different herbs serve as a common source for food seasoning. They have many usages such as for scents, for cosmetics, and even for medicinal purposes. Furthermore, there are herbs that are believed to possessed charms and magic to heal. Also, spices and herbs have actually been the major trading sources between countries and kingdoms since then. As a result garden herb makers today help many homeowners to plant their own herb garden at home.
Garden herbs are almost a very important feature of most homes today because most people now recognized the benefit of herbs in their body. Sunny corners of many houses that are readily accessible to many homeowners are planted with varieties of seasoning herbs. Even wild herbs can now be grown in the garden or yard at your homes so you can minimize the buying of these herbs.
Also through it, you are able to save money, time and effort in buying at your local garden stores. Garden herb makers are taking so much pleasure in growing and producing their very own planted herbs. There are culinary herbs that are most popular to herb gardeners such as aromatic herbs, ornamental herbs, and medicinal herbs.
Under culinary herbs, there are parsley, chives, sage, thyme, marjoram, basil, and mint. They are used for flavoring and garnishing of foods. Aromatic herbs consist of lovage, rosemary, marjoram, mint, and lavender. They are sweet smelling and have been used mostly for perfume productions nowadays beside of being a good plant in your house. Garden herb makers categorized them when planting so that they can easily recognize which is for what and which is for whom.
The ornamental herbs are those with bright flowers and foliages such as chives, variegated thyme, lavender, and valerian with a crimson blossom. The medicinal herbs have proven to have healing powers but they must be taken carefully because they can result to more damage instead of healing.
Garden herb makers classified herbs by its blooming nature as well as life span. They are the annuals, biennials, and perennials. The annuals are those blooming in one season only and then die such as basil, anise, chervil, dill, coriander, summer savory, and more. The biennials are those that can live for two seasons such as parsley, caraway, etc. And the perennials are those that bloom every season such as fennel, chives, marjoram, lovage, tarragon, winter savory, thyme, etc.
According to garden herb makers if you will grow herbs in your garden, do not grow them in wet soil. There must be a good drainage for your herb garden. Furthermore, you must also increase the fertility of the soil and lighten its texture by mixing the soil with good compost.
Avoid using fertilizers because a highly fertile compost soil can produce extra foliage with such a poor flavor. Division as well as cutting is also a useful way of propagating specific herbs. In times of harvesting, you must wait until they have sufficient foliage to be able to maintain the growth of your herb. You should harvest the leaves before the opening of the flower buds.
If you are really serious on having your own herb garden at home, you can get help from professional garden herb makers to ensure that your garden herb will grow healthy and have your favorite herbs all season.
Growing a Indoor Herb Garden – Things to Consider
If you want an efficient and rewarding way to grow herbs, you can opt for growing a indoor herb garden. Just imagine how easy it is going to be if the herbs can be found at your windowsill. For best results, you will need to control key areas. If you can manage this, you can have a thriving indoor garden of various herbs. Start growing a indoor herb garden now.
During winter, there is inadequate sunlight and to prevent the herbs from dying outdoors, you can bring them indoors. When your herbs are leggy (long stems with very little leaves) and most of its leaves are falling off without evident reason, the herbs lack sunlight. To encourage the growth of herbs, you can use grow-lights. Such lights are different from the regular bulbs and you’ll need them when growing a indoor herb garden. This is the best way to provide plants with full spectrum light.
You can purchase complete set ups that already include overhead lighting and pots but you can also get them separately. Just follow the directions for the setup. The grow-lights are a bit pricey as compared to regular lights and it’s up to you to use fluorescent lights in growing a indoor herb garden. If you use fluorescent lights, the light should be placed at least four inches from the herbs.
Indoor gardening has advantages but there are also drawbacks. You will need to pay attention to moisture and temperature. Since the air indoors is too dry, you may need to place the pots in a tray with water and pebbles. When water evaporates, it can add to the humidity needed in growing a indoor herb garden. Check the tray regularly and refill it when needed.
Another problem with indoor gardening is pests. Winter can kill the eggs of insects but since the herbs are found indoors, it’s normal to find sucking insects. Once you see insects, prepare deep bowl, tepid, and soapy water. Hold the pot and swish the herbs several times into the soapy water. When growing a indoor herb garden, you will need to get rid of the insects because the herbs may die. You can also spray soapy water to the herbs if the pot is too heavy for you to flip over
Most herbs can be grown indoors especially if you know how to properly care for them. Make sure that you exert effort and time in caring for the herbs. Herbs can be used in many ways and if you are growing a indoor herb garden, you will have a steady source of precious herbs any time. Some herbs can be used as medicines while others are great for cooking.
To sum it up, you will need to provide the needed light, water, humidity, and get rid of the insect infestation. Taking good care of the herbs is vital if you want to produce healthy herbs. Growing a indoor herb garden is not an expensive investment and with its many uses, you can grow as many herbs as you like.
Interesting Facts about Oregano Herb
The common oregano herb is known botanically as Origanum Vulgare. This is a Greek word meaning “joy of the mountains”. Oregano plant can grow up to 2 feet tall with tiny leaves that give off a pungent aroma and a strong flavor for many savory types of foods as well as for medicinal purposes.
When they bloom, purple or pink flowers sprouted from them and these flowers are also edible and can be combined to many other meals to have flavorful dishes that no one can beat. The leaves of oregano herb are used dried or fresh. It is one of the not so many herbs that maintain its strength when they are dried than when they are fresh. Oregano is most commonly used in perfumes beside from cooking.
The oregano is commonly called pizza herb. It is one of the most commonly used herbs around the world and almost everyone has tried this kind of herb. So, it is really not a miracle if you have seen and tastes one in your life. However, oregano herb was just used in America at the time when World War II soldiers returned and increased dramatically the popularity of pizzas.
As a matter of fact, the oregano sales have increased by about 52% between the 1948 and 1956 due to the pizza-mania. This is why they are most commonly known as pizza herb. Also even though they are used just lately used and known, different dishes that are loved today used them to flavor their own cooking thus increase the popularity of this herb.
Oregano herb can be easily grown in the yard or planters at home so, many homeowners just grow them in their herb garden at home. Also, there are many stores that carry and sell fresh oregano (beside the dried ones) in their produce department so that people who don’t have time to grow them can also use them fresh. Oregano ware not easily spoil so produce sections of department stores can stock them up to a week when properly frozen.
If you are going to purchase fresh branches of oregano herb, look for a branch that is rich green and not a bit limp. You can store it in a plastic bag and refrigerate for up to three days. However, if you want to extend the oregano’s life of up to 1 week, you can place a paper towel that is slightly damp and allow some air in the plastic bag. Also, you can store the whole stems with leaves of oregano in a glass of water. Just as the same when you want your flowers to stay fresh for days.
The fresh oregano herb can also be frozen. You just wash and then dry the oregano sprigs. Strip the whole leaves from the stems and then place in a plastic bag without crushing them and without air. Freeze the bag of your oregano and place it in your refrigerator where it will not get crushed. You don’t need to thaw before you use them.
When drying fresh oregano, you just tie the sprigs into a bunch and then hang them in a cool and dark place with such good ventilation. Once you have dried them, seal them tightly, and store them away from the sunlight.
As you can see at grocery stores, the dried oregano herb is actually the mixture of different oregano varieties combined with thyme and marjoram. Just like the other dried herbs, the dried oregano must be kept tightly sealed in a container in a cool and dark place and must be used within six months for its freshest flavor. It will not really spoil but its flavor will deteriorate as time passed by.
Planting Basic Herb Garden – The Steps to Do It
Planting basic herb garden is not as hard as you think. In fact, even with small garden space, you can already create your very own herb garden. If you’re the type of person who loves to cook and at the same time uses herbs to prepare various kinds of dishes, you may benefit greatly from growing your preferred herbs. Wouldn’t it be enticing to pick herbs from your own garden?
Whether you have enough yard space or you live in an apartment, it’s possible to grow herbs. You will need to consider some things when planting basic herb garden. Firstly, you will need to answer this question – what type of garden do you want to create? You should choose between a backyard garden and container gardening. Your decision will be greatly influenced by the size of your property or perhaps the location.
Whether you opt for an outdoor garden or a container garden, you will now decide if you want to grow the herbs from seeds or seedlings. The local nursery sells these things or you can also check out garden centers near your place. Some herbs are best grown from seeds while others are slow growing. When planting basic herb garden, securing the herbs is a matter of personal choice. If you don’t like the idea of transplanting, you might want to settle with the seeds but always consider the herb variety that you want to grow.
Another factor to consider is the supplies. Some of the most common supplies you will need are spade, containers, seeds or seedlings, fertilizer, and soil. These supplies are usually sold at garden centers and if you purchase in bulk, you might be given discount prices. You will need the containers if you choose to container herb gardening. When planting basic herb garden, you will start with the soil preparation.
Most herbs prefer well drained soil. Commercial soils are also great because you no longer have to adjust the pH level because these soils are already ready for planting. If you want to use the existing soil in your garden, you need to check if it’s well drained. You can do this by getting a handful of soil and then open your hands. If the soil stays clump, this is not a good indication but if it breaks apart easily, you have the right kind of soil.
Start planting basic herb garden once you’ve prepared the soil. For containers, you may need to place rocks or gravel at the bottom before putting the soil. Put some fertilizer on the soil just before planting to ensure that the herbs will get proper nourishment. After that, you can already plant the seeds or the seedlings. Herbs have different planting instructions so make sure that you follow them carefully. Otherwise, the herb will not grow healthy.
You must be aware that some herbs prefer the shade like mint while the sweet woodruff likes woodland or moist settings. Oregano and lavender love the sunshine as well as dill, coriander, chervil and basil. Planting basic herb garden should be done properly and make sure that you water them when needed so that they can thrive in your garden.
Most of the herbs can thrive in an area where there is plenty of sunshine, good drainage, and periodic trimming. You can keep the herbs full if you harvest often when they are fully grown. To intensify the flavors of the herbs, you will need a combination of partially lean soil and sun because if you use the wrong soil, you will get lanky herbs. When planting basic herb garden, try to avoid using very rich soils because this can diminish the taste and scent of herbs but if you want to get the flowers of the herbs, it’s fine to use rich soil.
When the roots of herbs are always damp, it tends to rot. With a well drained soil, this is nothing to worry about. When you see that the soil is dry, water the plant. You will also need to prune and trim the herbs frequently. By doing so, you can maintain the size of the herb as well as its health. Planting basic herb garden is really easy as long as you know the right steps.
The Different Plants Used for Medicine
There are many plants used for medicine. The popularity of herbal medicine cannot be ignored and in fact, around 75% to 80% of the total world population is now using herbal medicine. Pharmaceutical drugs are quite expensive and so they are preferred to use plant medicines because of the smaller amount of side effects and the low cost. Many cultures have used plant medicines including American Indians, Egyptians, Chinese, and Europeans. Through centuries, people have used plant medicines and such info was handed down from generation to generation.
In the US, many Americans opt for plants used for medicine and the market is open for nutritional supplements like plant medicines. It is therefore very important that you choose the medicine plants that you use. Having enough knowledge about these plant medicines can help you in addressing various kinds of illnesses the natural way. When using nutritional supplements, it would be best to choose the ones approved by FDA to ensure efficacy.
Here are some great examples of plant medicines – garlic, ginkgo biloba, feverfew, cranberry juice or extract, saw palmetto, valerian, Hawthorne, lemon balm, mammosa, and many others. Garlic is very effective in reducing cholesterol by 12%. Plants used for medicine like garlic is also great for reducing platelet adhesiveness but be reminded that fresh garlic can also cause heartburn. It is important that you prepare the plant medicines properly. Ginkgo biloba is usually used to reduce transit of blood cells from the inflamed capillaries and at the same time, reduce fragility of capillaries. Ginkgo is also great as an anti-oxidant.
Feverfew serves as serotonin antagonist and is great relief for migraines. Using the fresh leaves can provide immediate relief although this may also be the root cause of mouth ulcers. If you want, you can also use the powder form. Plants used for medicine is well loved by Indians and one is the purple coneflower which is used for viral illnesses. It also stimulates phagocytosis and it aids in the production of interferon and properdin. There are also times when the purple coneflower is used together with antibiotics when treating bacterial illnesses.
Cranberry juice or its extract can be used to inhibit ‘adhesin’ activity which is needed in the urinary tract. This can prevent bladder infections as well. Saw palmetto has 5-alpha reductase which inhibits prostaglandin production. If you have symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, you can use this together with other plants used for medicine specifically stinging nettle. Valerian is great as a sleeping aid. This is definitely an effective sedative herb and if you have addicting tendencies, it would be best to avoid using sleeping pills and other sleeping medications.
If you are experiencing heart failure, you will love the beneficial effects of Hawthorne. If you have herpes, you can use lemon balm and for depression, you can use St. John’s Wort. To protect your liver from toxins, you can use milk thistle. In cases of poisoning, you must eat yarrow immediately. To soothe your stomach and aid in digestion, the appropriate plants used for medicine is dill oil or just dill.
Sweet sagewort has anti-malarial and anti-cancer properties. This can also be used for parasite resistance. For pain relief, glaucoma, nausea, and hunger stimulation, you can use cannabis sativa or marijuana. To reduce duration symptoms of flu and colds, you can use Echinacea or purple coneflower. For expectorant, you can use horehound. To calm your senses, you can use chamomile.
To sooth coughs, the best solution is catnip and for insomnia, you can use passion flower. A lot of people are suffering from acne and the best plants used for medicine for this condition is pokeweed. This is also great for treating tonsillitis. To prevent further infection and mend broken bones, you can use comfrey. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, you can use ginger to ease nausea.
Indeed, plant medicines have many wonders. If you can find a local herbalist to help you with the herbal preparations, you can seek their help so that you can use the plants properly. You will also learn a great deal of info about these healing plant medicines. You don’t have to resort to conventional medications all the time. If you want a less costly alternative, determine the plants used for medicine and be cured.
Medicinal Herb Garden Plan for Better Health
For centuries, the ancient people relied on herbal preparations to address common illnesses and this is where a medicinal herb garden plan can come in handy. There is no doubt that medicinal herbs are effective and less costly as well. If you always use herbs for medicinal purposes, you will need to get the right plan so that you can start planting your preferred plants.
Among the all time favorites are parsley, peppermint, thyme, sage, basil, and many others. You can use parsley and spearmint for indigestion although you can also use these herbs for cooking. The medicinal herb garden plan can guide you in picking the medicinal herbs to grow and how to take good care of them especially during winter. The plan will also help you in picking the right spot in case you opt for an outdoor garden.
How large is your garden space? Herbs have various requirements. For instance, some varieties prefer a lot of sunshine while others prefer shade or a combination of these factors. Knowing a great deal about the herbs that you want to grow can put you at an advantage because you can easily determine the right site and the medicinal herb garden plan is the key to doing things right the first time.
List down all the herbs that you want to grow. Conduct a bit of research on these herbs. Lawn weeds like plantain, dandelion, chicory, and chickweed need not be planted because they grow almost anywhere. What teas do you drink frequently? If you have preferences, you can start your choices from there.
Identify your needs. Do you have health concerns? If you always suffer from colds, you can benefit greatly from planting and growing sage, chamomile, peppermint and elderberry. By doing your homework, you can easily find the perfect medicinal herb garden plan and you will know which herbs are suitable to grow in your region. You will also know the right time to harvest and how to do it properly.
If you want to grow the burdock root, you must be aware that it will take about two years before you can make the first harvest. This plant is ideal if you own the property and you will not be moving from one place to another. Make sure that you grow only the necessary herbs at the right quantity to avoid wasting them. A medicinal herb garden plan can help you save money and your precious time.
Lack of garden space is not a problem because you can always opt for container gardening. There are many large containers that you can use to plant several herb varieties. You can also plant the herbs in individual containers. If the herbs need sunlight, you can place them at the windowsill and during winter, you can bring the plants inside. You can also create window boxes to grow the herbs but make sure that the area gets a lot of sunshine so that it can thrive. Find a medicinal herb garden plan that can guide you in preparing window boxes to plant the herbs.
Medicinal herbs vary in size – you can find tall plants as well as short plants. If you plant in containers, make sure that you plant the largest ones at the center and arrange the smaller plants around the taller ones. Proper arrangement of the herbs in the container will allow them to grow to the fullest and produce healthy herbs. Don’t forget to apply organic compost to give plants the needed nourishment. Never apply pesticide because it can also harm you. A medicinal herb garden plan can show you how to avoid pests by planting herbs that repel pests.
Plant combinations of various herbs but if you’re a newbie, it would be best to start out with 2-4 herb varieties so that you will not be overwhelmed with the tasks involved. Keep in mind that you need to gather all the pertinent info about the herbs so that you can meet their growing requirements. Herb gardening is for everyone – whether you’re young or old. If you want to have better health and enjoy the beauty of nature, get a medicinal herb garden plan now and start creating your own masterpiece.
