Starting A Home Herb Garden

A home herb garden is a great source of fresh herbs any time of the year. Herbs have a rich history and can be traced back to ancient times. There are references in medieval documents and the Bible, showing that herbs were used by most households in those times. Herbs can be grown inside in containers or outdoors alongside other species of plants. Growing herbs has many benefits: they may be used to flavor food, for tea, potpourri, and medical purposes and can even control pests in the garden. Herb gardens can be specialized towards cooking, medicine, or multiple purposes.


Herbs grow as annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees, similar to all other plants. A key to herb gardens is using well-drained soil. If the soil is heavy or compacted, organic matter can be added to it. Fertilizers are typically not necessary. While a few herbs grow well in full shade, most herbs prefer a sunny location and many herbs will grow fine with afternoon shade. Interestingly enough, herbs are not often affected by insects or diseases, with a few exceptions: red spider mites can be found on low-growing plans in dry, hot weather. Dill, caraway, anise, or fennel may be attacked by aphids and mint can be affected by rust.

Herb gardens can be grown indoors or a small area in your garden. To support a small family needs, a small plot of four feet by six feet is a large enough area. Culinary herbs are a popular herb garden use. Some herbs can be used to enhance the flavor of a dish, while others are used as garnish for plates or salads. Other herbs are also grown for their aromatic foliage and the beauty of their flowers. Hers can be used fresh or dried.

There are two ways to start an herb garden: from seeds or from seedlings. Growing a plant from a single seed is a great joy, seeing the process from the beginning to the end. Almost all herbs can be grown from a seed. Herbs are very useful and growing an herb plant from a seed is a rewarding experience. Well-drained, light soil should be used to grow seeds in. Plant seeds in a shallow box or pot in the late winter. The seeds should not be covered with too much soil since they do not have a deep root base. A rule to follow is: the finer the seed, the shallower it should be sown. In the springtime, the seedlings can be transplanted to the outdoor garden. While most herbs can be grown from seeds, some, such as fennel, coriander, dill and anise, should be planted directly into the garden since they do not transplant well.

A home herb garden is particularly worthwhile and it is easy to grow. Having a good understanding of herbs and a lot of plant growing information available is important. This article has given you a good start and now it’s a good time to complete the journey with more information. And you can find all of the knowledge you need right here! Good luck!

By: Jenny Merigould

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Jenny Merigould enjoys herb gardening and sharing her excitement about home herb gardens with others. For more great information on starting a home herb garden, www.herbgardenDIY.com.

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