How to Grow Herbs

If you look back in history, you will find that herbs have been grown for thousands of years by most civilizations throughout the world. There are sturdy herbs that can grow just about anywhere. So, regardless of where you live, you will be able to have an herb garden. This is a simple type of garden that you can start regardless of your level of experience, and in this article we’ll be covering some methods for getting the most out of your herb gardening efforts.

What to Grow

If you are going to have your own herb garden, one of the most important things you need to decide is which herbs you actually want to grow. With so many to choose from, it’s better for you to begin with a plan. You should start out by making a list of the herbs that you would like to keep on hand, maybe for you to use in your cooking. Then you just need to investigate their own needs as well as which ones are able to grow the best in your climate as well as how much space you’ve got available to you. Try to grow herbs that have similar needs in terms of sun, water, and the amount of space they need. If you’re growing herbs to use in your own cooking, some good ones to start with are garlic, basil, fennel, rosemary, mint, and parsley.

Dehydrating Your Herbs

If you grow herbs, you may want to store some of them for long term use. Dehydrating your herbs will keep them in such a way that they are readily available. You should look into the best methods for drying specific herbs, but in general the best time to dry them is just before flowering. The herbs need to be rinsed in cold water to get rid of any dirt, bugs or other things. Then they should be drained on towels or hung out to dry in the sun. You can choose to dry them in your main oven or you can also dry them in your microwave oven. The best way to keep the herbs from aging will be to seal them in either an airtight jar or baggie.

Aromatic Herbs

Aromatic herbs are any herbs that people value for their scents. For a very long time, there have been oils, perfumes and potpourri created with herbs. Dried herbs also give off pleasant aromas that will enhance your home as well as all sorts of other places. It may take quite a bit of effort as well as time, but you could try making your own essential oils. Some of the best aromatic herbs that can be infused into oils are oregano, rosemary and mints, along with many more. Essential oils can be duel purpose because they not only make your house smell great, but may have the ability to heal your body as well. Minimally, aroma can be mood altering.

An herb garden is a project you can do by yourself or with a whole family. Even gardeners who have many years of experience, can get satisfaction out of an herb garden, but it is the best way for a beginner to start. A tradition that anyone can enter into at anytime, is growing plants, of which herbs are some of the best liked.