You Say 'erbs I Say Herbs...

No matter how you say it herbs are one of the most fascinating plant species on the planet. Man has grown herbs and utilized their products from the very beginning of time. They have added to our lives in a number of different ways. The humble little plants have been utilized in the following areas: flavoring food, medicinal remedies, fragrances, dyes, landscaping, pest control, and industrial uses. In recent years growing herbs has experienced a giant leap in popularity. One major factor is that they provide an attractive method of entry into the gardening fraternity because they are so easy to grow.

Historians tell us that most ancient cultures valued herbs mostly for their culinary and medicinal uses but their fragrant aromas were also highly prized by the ancients for the making of perfumes and other pleasant smelling things. Today botanists categorize herbs according to their uses such as medicinal, culinary, ornamental, industrial or aromatic. Probably the most overlooked use of herbs is in the ornamental department. Herbs produce spectacularly beautiful blooms and exotic textured foliage that add excitement and beauty to any landscaping plan. It doesn't matter if they are merely part of a herb or vegetable garden or added to a formal landscape plan herb foliage and flowers add a beautiful combination of distinction in texture, form and color. Herbs add elements to a landscape plan that other plants can't including the ability to excite the senses of touch, smell and taste.

There are many plants that are included in the herb family. This causes a little bit of a challenge in defining members of the family. The strict botanist school definition of a herb is that it is a plant that does not form woody tissue. Ergo the name herbaceous to describe such a plant. Practical herb gardeners are a little more liberal in their definition of herbs and include plants with flowers, leaves, roots, stems, or fruits that provide any of the manifestations ascribed to herb plants. These qualities include ornamental, aromatic, medicinal, culinary, and household uses. Many plants with woody stems are included in the definition of herbs. Cultivated types (cultivars) such as thyme, lavender and rosemary along with vines, trees and shrubs are in there. Many cultivars are included in the legion of herb plants on the market today.

Under the right conditions herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. They are able to do well in a wide range of growing conditions and soils but the key factor is drainage. Herb plants do not like "wet feet" and they must be planted in well drained soil or they will not live. The soil does not have to be rich in nutrients because the plants will tend to grow larger stems and roots rather that the oils that produce the desired flavors and aromas. When planning a herb garden take into account the native origins of the herbs to included in the garden. Herbs originally from the Mediterranean Sea area will vary in there requirements from from East Asia.

Herbs are a wonder plant. Now is the time to join the herb gardening craze and enjoy for yourself its joys and excitement.

By: Sonny Chenoweth

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SONNY CHENOWETH is a herb expert. For more herb garden information , visit www.herbgardenreport.com