Infolific » Herb Gardening

Onion

Jeanie Howey — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:13:02 +0000

A staple since before the Pharaohs, the bulb of the versatile onion provides plenty of good eating in little garden space. Its characteristic smell is caused by sulfur compounds, which have beneficial medicinal properties. Best climate and site: Zones 4 and wanner. Full sun. Ideal soil conditions Rich, well-drained soil; [...]

Hostile Herbs

Jeanie Howey — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:27:48 +0000

Just as some plants grow especially well together, a few are able to keep other plants from crowding in around them. This is called allelopathy. Allelopathic plants release inhibitory chemicals into the soil or air--a good trick for making sure nothing is going to compete with a plant for its [...]

Companion Planting

Jeanie Howey — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:57:22 +0000

Companion planting is the technique of growing together plants that will benefit each other. Companion planting uses ideas that gardeners have followed from earliest times to help them control pests and improve harvests. In past centuries, gardeners couldn't pop into their local garden center to pick up some insecticides or [...]

Design Rules for Your Garden

Jeanie Howey — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:33:22 +0000

While designing a garden is a very personal and creative activity, following some basic design rules will give your finished garden a cohesive look, whether you are aiming for a polished feel or a more natural one. The key rules are to create balance and rhythm and to add a [...]

Rosemary

Jeanie Howey — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:12:48 +0000

The flowers and leaves of this highly scented herb are used to season and garnish meat, poultry and fish. Rosemary is also used as an insect repellent, a hair and scalp tonic and a breath freshener. Best climate and site: Zones 7-10. Grow outdoors where temperatures remain above 10°F (-12°C). [...]

Garlic

Jeanie Howey — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:05:42 +0000

Garlic is one of the most familiar herbs. The strongly scented bulb is used to flavor dishes from almost every ethnic cuisine. It is also recommended as an insect-repelling plant. Best climate and site: Zones 7-10. Ideally in full sun. Ideal soil conditions: Rich, well-drained soil; pH 4.5-8.3. Growing guidelines: [...]

Mulching

Jeanie Howey — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:58:29 +0000

Mulching simply means covering the surface of your garden soil with a layer of organic or inorganic material. Mulching keeps the soil warmer in winter and cooler in summer, helps retain soil moisture thereby reducing the need for you to water, keeps dirt off you and your plants, and protects [...]

Ginger

Jeanie Howey — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:32:37 +0000

Fresh ginger has a zing that the powdered spice lacks. Crow your own in pots placed outdoors during the warm season. It has the double advantage of being both spicy and kind to your digestive system. Best climate and site: Zone 10 or warmer, or in a warm greenhouse. Full [...]

Cumin

Jeanie Howey — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:30:31 +0000

Cumin is a small and delicate annual of the parsley family. Cumin seeds have been used for centuries as a pungent and aromatic addition to curries and spicy dishes. Cumin grows in Mediterranean and warm climates. Best climate and site: Zones 8-10. Full sun with wind protection. Ideal soil conditions: [...]

Raspberry

Jeanie Howey — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:42:28 +0000

This deciduous, woody-stemmed scrambler is native to the Northern hemisphere. Raspberries have heralded the onset of summer and all its bounty for centuries. They are delicious fresh or cooked in pies and jams. Best climate and site: Zones 3-9. Full sun and good air circulation in a sheltered position. Ideal [...]

Germander

Jeanie Howey — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:29:32 +0000

Germander is grown for its boxy ornamental shape, and is well suited to the formal herb garden. The foliage is lightly aromatic and has been traditionally used as a treatment for gout, rheumatism and other ailments. Best climate and site: Zones 5-9. Full sun to partial shade. Ideal soil conditions: [...]

Saffron

Jeanie Howey — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:49:15 +0000

The fragrant pink, mauve and purple blooms of saffron with their red stigmas and long, yellow anthers are a striking and valuable addition to the garden. Saffron is the source of a yellow dye and a unique culinary flavoring. Best climate and site: Zones 6-9. Best in full sun, sheltered [...]

Herbs in the Wild

Jeanie Howey — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 17:24:18 +0000

Herbs are a diverse group of plants found in all countries and used by indigenous peoples on all continents. You may have considered some well-known herbs to be native to your own country, but it's more likely that many of these herbs were originally found growing wild only in concentrated [...]

Angelica, European

Jeanie Howey — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:55:19 +0000

This tall, sweet-scented herb resembles its close relatives parsley and cilantro (coriander). Leaf stems can be candied, or the seeds and root can be infused and drunk as a tea. The seeds are also used to flavor drinks. Best climate and site: Zones 6-9. Full sun or partial shade. Thrives [...]

Watering Your Herb Garden

Jeanie Howey — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:17:42 +0000

Water makes up 85 to 95 percent of the weight of living plants. It's not surprising that when water is lacking, a plant stops growing and wilts. After wilting comes collapse of the cell structure in the wilted leaves and stems. After that, if much of the plant is affected, [...]

Sassafras

Jeanie Howey — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:27:01 +0000

Sassafras is a tall, deciduous tree that produces an oil once used as a flavoring for cold and hot beverages. It has striking yellow, orange and red foliage in the autumn. Best climate and site: Zones 5-9. Full sun to partial shade. Ideal soil conditions: Well-drained acid to neutral garden [...]

Caraway

Jeanie Howey — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:06:16 +0000

The seeds of this biennial have been used for over 5,000 years. Caraway was thought to give protection from witches and was also believed to be able to prevent departures, so was used in love potions. Best climate and site: Zones 6-10. Ideally in full sun. Ideal soil conditions: Fertile, [...]

Madagascar Periwinkle

Jeanie Howey — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:38:38 +0000

This tender perennial, which can be grown as an annual, is used in the treatment of cancer as it has properties that can reduce the number of white blood cells. It has been used to treat leukemia in children. Best climate and site: Zones 9-10. Full sun but tolerates partial [...]

Lady's Bedstraw

Jeanie Howey — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:21:04 +0000

Lady's bedstraw needs little attention and readily spreads by seed. It is often grown as an ornamental. Herbalists seal the dried foliage in pillows that release a sleep-inducing scent when rested upon. Best climate and site: Zones 3-9. Full sun, but tolerates light shade. Ideal soil conditions: Deep, light, fertile [...]

Savory, winter

Jeanie Howey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:29:00 +0000

This aromatic bushy, evergreen perennial has a peppery flavor and has been used in cooking for 2,000 years. It is also thought to be beneficial for digestion and skin problems. It is sometimes used as a salt substitute. Best climate and site: Zones 6-9. Full sun. Ideal soil conditions: Poor, [...]