The Wonderful World of Herbs
One of the most fascinating gifts God presented to man is the wonderful family of plants generally referred to as herbs. Throughout history as long as man has written things down there have been references to herbs. They have many uses that were widely utilized by most cultures. Those uses include food enhancement, medicine, beverages, perfumes, pest control and in some cases objects of worship. Herbs are God’s catalyst that make other things work better. Now here’s the exciting part; they may provide exotic results but they are very easy to propagate and grow. Herb gardens can easily be grown in a small garden plot in your yard or indoors in any suitable container.
The aspiring herb farmer will be happy to know that you don’t need the south forty to produce an adequate harvest. Twenty square feet tucked away in your yard is plenty to keep you and your family supplied with an exciting variety of herbs all year. And if you want to keep your farm inside – no problem. Herb plants do quite well indoors. What could be better than having a ready source of savory cooking herbs right there in the kitchen. The exciting thing about growing herbs indoors is that they can flavor food, provide very pleasant aromatic treats and beauty to any room with their exotic flowers.
If you want to start you own herb farm just be aware that growing herbs is relatively easy if you follow a few basic principles. The first one is get the dirt right. Herb plants don’t like wet feet so make sure you plant them in well-drained soil. If your garden plot is not well drained it is a good idea to mix in a little organic matter. Herb plants in general love sunshine so consider this when you locate your plot. The good news is that they don’t need much fertilizer and with a few exceptions they are immune to diseases and bugs don’t like them. Just be aware that anise, caraway, fennel and dill are sometimes bothered by aphids and mint can be accosted by rust.
OK so you’ve decided to become a herb farmer. You have made a commitment to raising your plants inside or out and you have prepared the garden plot of suitable containers for indoors. Now what? You have a choice here of buying plants at the store or starting them from seeds. Either way has its advantages. Buying the plants will start your garden immediately. If you like this – go for it. There is nothing wrong with getting a fast start. Starting with seeds is a cool way to go because it allows you to watch the entire growing process. It is meaningful to observe the life cycle as a tiny little seed grows into a plant that produces a wonder of taste, aroma and visuals. I believe this is extremely beneficial for children to experience. If you go the seed route, plant them in late winter in your prepared garden plot in very shallow well-drained soil. For indoors plant about the same time. You might consider starting plants indoors from seed and transplanting them outside later. This works except for these that should stay where they are planted: Anise, fennel, coriander and dill.
If you do choose to pursue the joys of raising your own herbs please research the subject a little more, It isn’t rocket science but with a little knowledge you will reap great benefits. This article was meant to stir up your curiosity and interest and encourage you to explore the exciting world of herb gardening. So GO FOR IT!
