Growing herbs with their numerous culinary, cosmetic and medicinal uses have become very popular. You can create your own herb garden and grow them yourself and have a readily-available and fresh supply whenever required. For each herb presented here, you will be given guidelines for the best possible conditions to grow them so you can get the best results

There are many interesting recipes also included for some of the common well known herbs. You can grow more of these herbs as you will need to use them more frequently than others in the kitchen. Household economy has continued to know and to need these plants however unassuming many of them appear to be.

All herbs need light but while most enjoy full sun, some need full shade, while others can thrive under almost any light conditions. Early morning light has a marked effect on growth and development. Most plants have an optimum temperature at which growth is best. Critical examples are herbs that do not tolerate heavy frost and those that wilt in high temperatures.

Strong or persistent wind can be detrimental. A combination of wind and heat is particularly damaging. Herbs with shallow roots will need more frequent watering. Check dryness at least twice a week especially in hot, windy weather and mulch to save watering and keep the soil cool.

The use of chemical fertilizers is not necessary for herbs. They grow well in almost any reasonable soil. Added manures and compost is an advantage. Where food elements and trace elements are deficient, especially when you first start your herb garden, it may be necessary to supplement such elements.

Although there are many different types of soil that herbs could grow, loam is the ideal soil. It contains a mixture of clay, sand and silt. In this type of soil availability of plant food and drainage are good. However, soil improvement for the other types, especially for a small herb garden, it is not too difficult.

Herb nurseries offer the best range of herbs, but garden centers are also good especially for popular herbs and their variants. Before buying check the requirements of each herb.

Most herbs are naturally vigorous and will require little attention when established. Largely, maintenance for herbs consists in winter to cut and remove dead stems and, in spring and summer to encourage growth by mulching your herb garden with a layer of well-rotted compost.

Wild Herbs

Almost any uncultivated land, whether it is in the woods or a building site will have plants that have both nutritional and healing properties. However, when they seen in places such in the garden we tend to destroy them on the pretext that they are weeds. They are almost always overlooked any where else or–if noticed, usually it is with disdain and eradication in mind.

The properties and uses of such plants were well known to our ancestors but only recently research confirm scientifically what once was an inherited common knowledge. Generations ago the youngsters in the family were taught which plants were good for a particular complaint or ailment.

Today many once wild herbs are cultivated for the drug making market. However tempting the idea is to the common man, it is extremely important to be able to distinguish safe from poisonous plants and, to avoid picking plants from areas that have been polluted from industry or been sprayed with chemicals.

You should not use any herbs for medicinal purposes based solely on what is written on some popular books or websites - to do so could endanger your health. A good illustrated reference book or the presence of good knowledgeable herbalist when picking wild herbs is of paramount importance.

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The only definition of herb garden I know is where herbs are grown. However, it may be based on a formal design such as Ladder, Chequerboard, Wheel, Knot or on a non formal simple border design. At is smallest a garden consist of a window box or a collection of herbs in pots.

There are numerous designs and styles of herb gardens to fit your needs or taste. The traditional herb garden is usually divided by paths into orderly geometric beds while the informal herb garden is planted in the relaxed style of a cottage garden creating effects based on habits and colors. In many gardens, herbs have to take their places beside other kinds of plants. Many herbs are in their own right ornamental border plants - lavender and purple sage is obvious examples.

There are a hundred and one ways to grow herbs - they are very undemanding plants. Most need plenty of sun and well-drained soil. Some herbs make excellent border plants while others are good edging plants along pathways, their scent drifting up as you brush past them. Various thymes are often sold as rock-garden plants and many herbs with creeping habits can be planted to form fragrant carpets in gravel or paving.

Many herbs can grow well in containers. In small gardens or balconies, the entire herb garden may consist of containers placed with a little imagination on steps, walls, window-sills or hanging baskets.

However, if you have plenty of space you could design a formal herb garden based on traditional medieval or Elizabethan designs, which incorporated herbs for use in the kitchen, for flavoring, perfuming and for medicine.

Before you decide about the shape of your garden, consider the space you have available and whether you want the herbs to be a part of your garden or you would rather plant up your entire garden with herbs. Round shape gardens are a good solution for small space as they are easy to move through and around them to plant or pick herbs. However, if you have a large area you could make a round shaped herb garden the central theme of that space.

Other shapes to consider are: Square; a low maintenance garden divided by paths to form four beds. Rectangular; a country style low maintenance garden with winding path(s) running through it. Border garden; a double sited herbaceous border several feet long along your driveway or a path.

For the keen gardener with a lot of gardening space a Celtic maze garden based on the manuscripts of Ireland’s Golden Age maybe the kind of garden that would like to consider.

When planning a herb garden today there is a vast choice of styles and influences to choose. As herbs and plants cover a wide range they often grown throughout the garden in ornamental beds, borders and even among vegetable plots. However, a designated herb garden with a range of medicinal, culinary and aromatic herbs and its own boundaries always makes a rewarding feature.

Whatever the style, the key to a successful herb garden is to work with nature and understand that your garden has a unique growing needs and conditions that distinguish it from any other garden.

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everythyng herbal at herb-garden world

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