Growing culinary herbs is an excellent way to provide fresh, flavorful and healthy food for yourself and your family. Other than buying seeds or herb plants for the garden, potting soil, stones and containers if you're planning an indoor or container garden, the initial cost of herb planting is minimal but the payoff is huge.

Reasons for Growing Culinary Herbs

Growing culinary herbs provides a supply of herbs and flowers that have many uses. One of the main uses is to have fresh herbs at hand to use when creating meals. Home grown garden herbs have no preservatives or additives and are healthy ingredients that can be added to any recipe. Not only can the herbs be used in cooking, they can also be used for medicinal purposes such as brewing a steaming cup of spearmint or lemon verbena tea to soothe a sore throat. There are edible plants such as fennel, coriander and borage while others are toxic such as wormwood and tansy. Many herbs are used in craft projects including santolina, yarrow and artemisia to make flower arrangements, wreaths and potpourri.

Harvesting Herbs

Now that you're efforts at growing culinary herbs has produced fresh herbs, it's time to harvest the crop. First and foremost, always allow new plants to adjust to their garden setting before harvesting. For most plants, once they are ready to harvest, do not cut more than a third of the stem so the plant can replenish itself and have time to re-grow before the next harvest.

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In today's economy, growing fresh herbs to use when creating meals is a good way to save money and provide fresh, wholesome food to your family. Growing fresh herbs takes only a little time on your part but the rewards of growing culinary herbs that can be sliced and diced and added to a favorite recipe are well worth the effort.

Best Choices for Growing Fresh Herbs

If you're growing fresh herbs for the first time, start off by selecting the herbs you plan to use the most often. For example, if Italian cooking is your forte then oregano would be a good first choice as it complements tomato based recipes. Other choices to consider would be caraway, parsley and chervil that go well with soups salads and stews. Basil, marjoram and tarragon work with meat dishes while cilantro adds zest to soups and beans. Rosemary and sage add savory flavor to stuffing and chamomile and sweet woodruff make fragrant teas.

Options for Growing Fresh Herbs

There are several options for growing fresh herbs and it all depends on how much time you can devote as well as how much room you have for the garden and how many herbs you want to plant and harvest.

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Creating a container herb garden for your home not only allows you the opportunity of growing fresh herbs year-round for a variety of uses, it also provides an eco-friendly way of decorating your patio, sunroom or balcony. Using decorative ceramic pots, clay urns, wooden window boxes or any unique item that can serve as a plant holder for your container herb garden will add color and fragrance wherever you decide to place them.

Benefits of a Container Herb Garden

There are plenty of reasons for having a container herb garden versus a traditional herb garden in your yard. Besides having the ability of growing fresh herbs throughout the year right at your fingertips, the container herb garden, once set up with the proper supplies, requires little care. With proper light, soil, drainage and water, the plants tend to take care of themselves. Additionally, herb plants tend to be mostly pest free. A container herb garden can be a convenient way of growing fresh herbs without all of the work a traditional garden requires. The containers should be portable so they can be moved inside during cold weather, they're decorative and fragrant, they take up little space and they're good for the environment.

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For those folks who live in an apartment or condo and are interested in planting a garden but have little or no gardening space available to them, growing herbs indoors is the perfect solution. And for those who want to have fresh herbs throughout the year, growing herbs indoors whether it's one plant or five, can provide what you need. Whether you're growing herbs as a food additive or to have an abundance of flowering and fragrant herbs to display on the windowsill, balcony, patio or screened porch, growing herbs indoors is easy to do and requires little maintenance or time.

Successfully Growing Herbs Indoors

Growing herbs indoors can be very successful but in order to achieve this requires several specific steps in order to make it possible. First, the herbs need to be planted, either from seed or a plant, in a large enough container that will allow the plant to grow and expand. Next, the soil needs to be a high quality potting soil and there needs to be good drainage within the container. For growing herbs indoors that will be healthy, it is vital that they be placed in a location that provides at least 6 hours of full sun. Grow lights can be used to aid in prolonging the light needed. It's also important that the temperature be moderate for the plants. Some herbs are better suited for indoors such as rosemary, chives and oregano while others, such as basil and fennel, are not well-suited to growing indoors.

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Growing herbs can be an easy process and the results can be used to add flavor to meals, make soothing and relaxing teas or for making fragrant sachets, potpourri, scented candles and oils. Whether you're growing herbs in a garden for food purposes or as ornamental flowers following a few simple steps will ensure you have a successful and bountiful harvest.

Where to Plant Growing Herbs

The first step in planning an herb garden is to determine what types of herbs will be grown. Once this has been decided, what section of the yard will be used for growing herbs will be the next decision. If the herbs are to be used in cooking, it is a good idea to have a variety of growing herbs planted nearby so they are easily accessible. If you're interested in having only one or two growing herbs for cooking or for display and fragrance purposes only, you also have the option of growing herbs indoors.

The Basic Herbs

There are many varieties of herbs and which ones you choose will depend on the type of cooking you do and the flavors you like. Some of the basic and easiest growing herbs include thyme, garlic, oregano, basil, dill and chives. For making delicious and soothing teas, add lavender, peppermint and chamomile to your herb garden. Some herbs are best grown directly from seed as they do not do well when transplanted. Other types of herbs should be purchased as established plants and then transplanted to your garden.

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Herb planting in your backyard garden can be a fun and beneficial project. Not only will the herbs planted be available to eat, they can also be used in various ways from growing catnip for your feline friends to growing plants to use in craft projects. Regardless of the reason for planting herbs, once they beginning to bud, blossom or bloom, it's time to harvest and preserve the plants.

Herb Planting Harvest Time

Harvest the herbs only if the plant has enough foliage to sustain itself. Meaning, do not harvest a plant if it has not established itself. Always harvest plants in the morning after the dew has had a chance to dry and do not harvest plants in the middle of the day. Always use sharp scissors to ensure a clean cut. Snip flowering herbs once the first signs of buds appear and if they are to be used in crafts projects, snip them once the flower has begun to open.

Herb Planting Preservation

Now that the herb planting and harvesting portion of the growth cycle is over, it's time to decide what to do with the harvested herbs. There are several methods that can be use to preserve the plants and these include freezing, drying and microwave.

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Balsam of Tolu is an herb that comes from a very tall tree that can be found in Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. This herbal plant has also been called Balsam of Peru because it was originally exported primarily from Peru but that is no longer the case. The resin of this tree is what is most valuable and is retrieved in the same fashion that one collects the valuable properties from a rubber tree by tapping into it. The gummy resin that comes from the tree is then turned into balsam. Today, the main exporters of Balsam of Tolu are El Salvador, Columbia, and Venezuela.

In earlier times it was tribal groups from Mexico and Central America that used the leaves of Balsam of Tolu to treat such common ailments as external wounds, asthma, colds, flu, and arthritis. Some native Indians used the bark in a powered form as an underarm deodorant while others found it best for lung and cold ailments. Those who originated in the rainforest tribes used Balsam of Tolu quite frequently for many medicinal purposes such as abscesses, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, headache, rheumatism, sores, sprains, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, and wounds.

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Marjoram is the dried leaves from an herbal plant called the Origanium hortensis. The name Marjoram is a Greek word that means "Joy of the Mountain." Ancient Greeks believed that if Marjoram grew on a grave that person would enjoy eternal happiness. The taste of Marjoram is a bit sweeter than that of Oregano.

Marjoram
Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Lamiales
Family	Lamiaceae
Genus	Origanum
Species	O. majorana

Many people believe that Marjoram is, in part, a species of Oregano. Marjoram is a pretty user friendly herb that is used quite traditionally in Italian, French, North African, Middle Eastern, and American cuisine. Marjoram compliments quite nicely sausages, various meats, fish, tomato sauces, salad dressings, breads, stuffing's, and salads.

Marjoram is a relative to the mint family. You get the most flavors from Marjoram if you use the fresh leaves rather than fried marjoram. One big difference between Oregano and Marjoram is while Oregano tends to prosper in taste the longer it simmers in a sauce or stew, marjoram is the opposite and should be added into the dish as late as possible. Although Marjoram is sweet and mild, it is also at the same time minty and has a hint of citrus. The biggest Marjoram exported in Egypt. Marjoram blends very well with Bay Leaves, pepper, and Juniper. While all vegetables can benefit from a hint of Marjoram, it seems to work best on adding and enhancing the flavor of cabbage and legumes.

Many people find a great benefit from Marjoram in aromatherapy oils. Marjoram is said to have a soothing and warming effect with a spicy and warm scent. This explains why it is so popular with those who enjoy the many benefits of aromatherapy. Many times for aromatherapy oils it will be mixed with lavender, bergamot, and cedar wood. Beyond the great world of aromatherapy Marjoram has many other beneficial uses too as it is used as an analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and as a diuretic. The many uses of Marjoram include treatment for anxiety, arthritis, bronchitis, bruises, colic, constipation, digestive problems, gas, insomnia, muscle aches and pain, PMS, Rheumatism, sinusitis, and sprains.

Quite often people use Marjoram on a daily basis in various forms. Some prefer it as a tea which has been used throughout history for easing such ailments as hay fever, indigestion, sinus congestion, asthma, stomach upset, headache, dizziness, coughs, colds, and disorders associated with the nervous system. Some even use the tea as a mouthwash. One or two cups of marjoram tea per day have proven to be extremely therapeutic. More on Marjoram

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Do you love the flavor of fresh herbs in your foods, but are afraid to try growing those plants on your own? Are you afraid that your lack of a green thumb will leave your herb plants less than desirable for your culinary needs? Here is a way to indulge your love of fresh seasoning with a garden that is nearly carefree. Pre-planted herb gardens have become a popular business today, and with good reason. Now you can enjoy fresh herbs on your windowsill year round by simply opening the package and adding water!

Pre-planted herb gardens take the guesswork out of gardening by providing you with all of the elements necessary to successfully cultivate your own herbs. These kits can be used indoors or out for a successful garden any time of the year. Some of these pre-planted herb garden kits don't even need natural light to thrive since they come equipped with their own lighting to keep them healthy. There is no easier way to enjoy the gardening experience and the freshest herbs right from your own home garden.

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