Different Types of Herbs for Growing
October 18, 2009 by herb
Filed under Herb Articles
Herbs for Growing
Many people buy herbs for growing in their gardens. In fact, it’s so popular, that even those who don’t have a yard to speak of have taken to buying herb kits and they grow the herbs in pots in their homes.
Different Varieties of Herbs
There are many different varieties of herbs. The most popular varieties are likely those that are used in cooking such as:
1. Basil – this one has a strong odor and in many cases can even out-do garlic! Fact is, besides just cooking, basil is also good for use as a fly-repellant of all things! Basil is a wonderful companion plant to the tomato because it helps to repel fruit flies.
2. Parsley – this actually grows best when the weather is cooler and the heat will actually stunt the growth of the parsley plant. When you plant, you should start it indoors then transplant when about 4 inches tall. It’s best transplanted where the sun is filtered such as under a tree.
3. Sage – this will grow just about anywhere. It is a perennial and plants can live as long as 5 years. It is used as a poultry seasoning and no dressing recipe is complete without it. It is also said to have medicinal value and many people use it as tea to cure a variety of ailments.
4. Dill – dill is best planted in the ground about a week or two before the last hard frost. It does better in the cooler weather, so the location that you choose to place it should be out of the direct sunlight as well.
5. Oregano – likely the most popular of all culinary herbs. This herb is used in many Italian dishes as well as some of the other herbs. It is used to flavor tomato sauces and should be added near the end of cooking for the best result.
Many ask how it’s possible to grow herbs indoors and the answer is quite simple really. There are plenty of herb garden kits available on the market to assist in propagating the herb plants. Once they reach a height that is suitable for transplanting, they should be moved to their permanent locations, either in flower pots or flower boxes, as the case may be.
The reality is that herbs for growing indoors are much more convenient and especially helpful to those who are not able to run in and out of the house as they need something. Another advantage to growing them indoors is that they go a long way to add to the decor of the house, and the fragrance they emit are simply wonderful.
Another good thing with growing the herbs in the house is that you can locate them just about anywhere you want, whether there is sun available or not. Because the pots are portable, they can be moved around periodically to get the sunlight that they need.
For those who opt to grow their herbs outdoors, when it comes time for the first frost to hit, you can always transfer your plants into pots to bring them into the house. This affords you the opportunity to have fresh herbs on hand all year long. Simply put them back out in the garden in the spring after the danger of frost is gone.
Growing herbs is a wonderfully fulfilling hobby. It gives a person a warm feeling when they realize that some of the ingredients used in their cooking were brought about by their own hand, and the taste of the final product is out of this world.
If you decide that you want to become an herb gardener, a task that is as easy as it is fun, then you need only do minimal research in order to get started.