Devices Vary

When shopping for kitchen herb gardens, you'll see that there are several variations on the devices available. Some are just pots that have artificial light attached to them. Then there are those that are completely digitized that will tell you when the plants have enough water, when to water them, when they need more light, how to control the lighting such as putting them on a schedule and some will water them automatically so that you don't need to do a thing. It all depends on how much you want to pay as the more expensive the device is, the less you have to do. However, it also depends on how much effort you want to put into growing your own herbs. If you have a green thumb and want to exercise your abilities, get a device that will allow you to do so.

Your Control

The best part about these kitchen home herb garden devices is that you control what the plants get. You don't have to depend on nature to provide the nutrients the herb needs. The kitchen herb garden devices provide artificial light and you either add the water or you have the device add the water so that you can grow them even when it's storming outside.

When you start to get used to using your kitchen herb garden device, you'll be able to have a fresh supply of herbs whenever you need them. You won't have to buy them at the store anymore which will save you loads of money and you'll be able to cook like an award winning chef using all the herbs and spices from your very own kitchen garden.

In this case size does matter. A container that is too little can restrict your herb, eventually causing it to die. The nutrients often settle in the bottom of the container, and if it the container is too big the young roots will not be able to reach them.

I don’t recommend plastic containers, simply because they do not allow the dirt to breathe the way that a terra cotta container does. Even though I do not use plastic pots, I do use a lot of different shapes, sizes and colors to add something special to my porch.

After you have selected your pots, it is a nice thought to add compost to the potting soil before you add your herb plants. Now I make my own compost, but you can pick-up compost at a greenhouse or home improvement store. Another thing I love to do is add just a little sand to each pot.

Some nice choices for herb plants to raise in pots are:

• Dill: With dill, you can’t go wrong. It’s without a doubt one of the best choices for an easy plant. Starting with seeds is a fantastic way to begin your dill, and it self-seeds so it will do all the work for the rest of the growing season. Use a well-drained container and put it so that your dill herb will get full sunlight. Dill is also gratifying in that you can harvest it soon after you plant it because it grows so fast. You can cut off the leaves, flowers and seedheads and use them right away, freeze them or dry them for the future.

• Garlic: You can start garlic in either spring or fall. Plant your garlic about two inches deep with the clove pointing up in well drained dirt and direct sunlight. Add some nice compost and water frequently. You’ll soon notice that the tops of your garlic are bending over which means that it’s ready to be harvested. Dig up the bulbs and cure them on a windowsill for about a week, or until the skin dries to the papery feel that you notice on store-bought garlic. Then you’re ready to enjoy!

• Lavender: Growing your own lavender herbs is wonderful, but do not start with seeds because you will be waiting forever. The best thing to do is begin with a little lavender plant which you can pick up at the local nursery. Use a pot with good drainage that allows for lots of mulching, but also allows plenty of room for the roots. This plant will do well in direct sun, so make sure to put it in the brightest spot on your porch. Use the dried blossoms in potpourri and sachets. I suggest you keep them everywhere (really).

• Yarrow: With all the colors that yarrow comes in the possibilities for beautiful dried floral arrangements and wreaths are endless. You can even use it in your lotions, soaps and shampoos. It really doesn’t matter if you select to start this herb with a young plant or with seeds. Unlike many herbs, yarrow is adaptable and therefore able to do well in moist earth as well as well-drained dirt. It can grow in full sun or in a semi-shady location. After it starts to blossom you can cut off the buds to be dried in a cool, dark place.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden In Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

Some herbs are better than others for starting from seeds. One plant that can quickly grow and rapidly mature is dill. It can grow pretty much anywhere. On the other hand, you will already be in herb gardener retirement when your thyme plant finally matures. Annuals are usually grown from seeds, as are some perennials. If you’ve got a lot of perennials, you’ll save cash in the long run because there will not be a replacement cost for the plants.

I would rather not to begin my perennial plants in a seed tray or in a regular herb garden bed; instead, I use a pot. The container will give the plant lots of room to thrive and protect it from invasive weeds while they slowly grow. Just be patient with your perennial herbs and you’ll soon notice that your seeds have start the cultivation process within 3 to four weeks.

Depending on the climate where you live, you may be able to plant both your annual herbs and perennial herb plants at the same time, any time of the year. If you live in a colder climate, sow your annuals in the spring, summer or fall—all will work.

These are some of the best herbs to grow from seeds:

• Anise: Also known as the hyssop, the anise plant has a lovely licorice aroma and has almost iridescent purple, green and blue notched leaves and spiked flowers of blue and purple. It is mostly used in teas, potpourris and as a garnish for dishes. Start these indoors in a small terra cotta pots at least 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to move this perennial outdoors.

• Caraway: The interesting looking caraway plant, which has a nutty, licorice flavor that is just as interesting, is used in liqueurs, but also in sauerkraut, split pea soup and even goulash. Although you can eat the root, the most often used part of the herb is its seed. You can begin your biennials indoors as early as 6 weeks before the last frost, especially if you want to shorten the time you have to wait before you see the first flower.

• Coneflower: Add coneflower to your herb garden if you are looking for a perennial that is simple to care for. Most folks think of it as a wildflower, but because of its healing qualities, it fits squarely in the herb camp. The medicinal name for the coneflower is Echinacea, which can hold your allergies in check and keep your immune system strong.

If you’re in a cold-weather climate like I am, you’ll want to start your perennial seeds in pots inside so that by the time they’ve sprouted and gotten strong, (about 6 weeks), it will be time to take them outside.

If you are in a warm-weather location, you can start your perennials at anytime.

Sowing seeds for your annuals is pretty easy. Just break up the ground a little and sprinkle the seeds over that location and cover lightly with earth. If you select your herb plants wisely, you can get all self-sowers, which can come back next season from the seeds they “sow” this season.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

In one area I planted an Italian herb garden that included oregano, basil and parsley. One section was for the tea herbs, such as anise, chamomile, fennel and peppermint. In the third quarter I tried my hand at herb plants with medicinal purposes, like calendula, aloe vera and horseradish. The last quarter had cosmetic herbs like for lavender, chervil and lemon verbena that I used in soaps, lotions and shampoos.

It was an awesome success that first year and I liked the experience, but in the second year, my mints took over and my chamomile crept away while my lavender died a painfully tragic sunlight-related death.

The second year was unsuccessful because I hadn’t taken time to think about what my herbs needed most: the right soil, the right kind of light and enough water.

Before you plant a single plant, be sure to check out the spot where you will eventually plant your herb plants so that you’ll know the best herb plants for that place. Each herb needs optimal conditions to thrive and prosper. Try herbs like white willow, thyme, sage, poppies and lemon balm.

Here are some other herbs that you can be successful with:

• Basil: This is one of those herbs that can pretty much do all the work for you. Basil needs full or part-sun and can grow in a bed or pot, as long as it has good drainage, which reminds me to mention that you’ll only need to water it when the dirt is dry. Use the sweet basil variety for your Italian dinners for an unmistakable flavor.

• Lemongrass: I love the fresh, clean smell of lemongrass. Whether you get it or grow it from seeds, this bright green, lemon-scented grass will add a hint of color to your garden and grow pretty tall in just one growing season. For best results, I suggest that you pick-up the plant rather than starting with seeds, and before you know it you will have another ingredient for your Indian and Thai dinners!

• Cilantro: I say “Ole” to this fantastic little herb that I only discovered a few years ago. Its distinctive taste makes it an awesome addition to your Tex-Mex dinners and it is easy to grow.

• Chamomile: To add some extra sparkle to your hanging baskets, experiment with the German variety of this chamomile. When you walk by it you can clip off a few leaves, rinse them, chop them up and brew them into a calming, soothing tea and try it in your evening bath. Chamomile is considered to be a sensual plant because it has a light and woody apple scent that will heighten your senses. It will also make you smile because it looks like a daisy with white petals and a yellow center.

So experiment, have fun, go dig in the dirt and get your hands dirty …there are so many ways to herb garden outside and none of them is the only way to do it—there is no right way, there is only your way.

Good luck with your herb gardening outside. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Designs. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

If you do want to get started in container gardening, make sure that you’re picking herb plants that have similar water, dirt and sunshine needs as well as similar purposes.

These are some herb plants that I’ve worked with that will do well in pots:

• Sage: There are so many varieties of sage that you could grow only sage in your garden and still have an abundant array of colors, textures and sizes. Sage does well from seeds, which can give you a head start on the growing season if you start early indoors. Grow your sage in nice, large pot that has nice drainage and put it where it can get lots of sunshine. This is one of those that I plant for the foliage, so I snip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the herb focus on the leaves, which I then cut off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.

• Scented geraniums: Just like sage, there are a lot of varieties of scented geraniums to select from. I hope you enjoy scented geraniums as much as I do. Even though they look very like floral (non-herbal) variety, these also grow well in containers that you can purchase at any nursery, home improvement or discount store. They can take full sun and well-drained sod. You can harvest the stems and leaves for cakes and teas. You can even harvest the blooms for use in floral pressings.

• Cardamom: Cardamom is a great plant for you if bad breath is an issue for you. This large houseplant-like plant will get big in the summer and will need to be brought indoors during winter months to thrive, so use a large container. You can harvest the seeds to add a little hint of India to your rice and chicken dishes, soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can help with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell better.

• Lemon verbena: This is one of those indispensable herbs to have in your herb garden because you can utilize it in so many ways. Don’t worry with seeds. I recommend that you buy your lemon verbena and get it established in a container with a wide brim that will support its stem development. This herb likes full sun and well-drained dirt. Do not let your plant get too dry. The leaves are often the first part of the herb to suffer and these are the parts that you will use.

Some other herb plants that I’d suggest for you to start with in your pot combinations are: thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your plant garden grows.

Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

Here are a few of my favorite low-maintenance herb plants for your garden:

• Borage: The long, fuzzy and prickly leaves may be difficult to eat, but you can certainly dig in and taste the flavor of cucumber. The borage plant likes dry, dark earth and full sun—the blue or purple star-patterned petals are cute as can be. Start your seeds in early summer and by Independence Day your herb will have grown to up to two feet tall.

• Caraway: Even though the leaves of the caraway can look like that of a carrot in its first growing season, don’t mistake it for a carrot. When year two comes around, white or pink flowers that sit in umbrella-shaped clusters replace the carrot-like foliage on 1 to 3 foot stems. Give your caraway plant full-sunlight and also make sure it has well-drained soil for the best outcome. Because this is a biennial, you can sow seeds outside in spring or fall. Your caraway will self-seed if you don’t remove the dead blooms.

• Dill: Dill is one of my favorite plants to grow because of its fine, fern-like leaves. It will sprout fast for you as long as you provide it with well-drained soil and full sun. It will grow to a height of more than three feet tall, but you can begin harvesting it to eat once it reaches a foot. The yellow flowers on the umbrella-like heads will look great in bouquets and can also be used as seasoning. Dill will grow well from seed and because this herb grow fast you won’t need to start the germination process in advance.

• Fennel: The mature version of fennel looks a lot like dill, but its licorice taste is nothing like dill. If you plant your seeds in late spring, you will have an adult, four-foot-tall plant in only a few weeks. Your herb will thrive if you plant it so that your fennel will get full-sun with well-drained dirt. Don’t forget to harvest the yummy seeds! Don’t let the seeds get brown. Dry them and use in baked breads, soups and stews.

• Lemon Balm: If you like the sweet, lemony scent of lemon balm, you’ll be happy to know that this perennial likes light, shady, well-drained soil. I love its heart-shaped leaves. Seeds will take too long, instead begin with a nursery-bought lemon balm and set it out in a pot or in your flower bed. Before long, you’ll divide your lemon balm plant and replant the divided part somewhere else. As a self-sower, lemon balm will spread quickly so give your plants plenty of room. Pinch off the dead flowers to stop lemon balm from self-sowing.

• Sweet Cicely: This perennial likes light shade as long as you provide loose, rich soil. Be sure to add in mulch and organic compost. Buy your initial herbs and it will spread out from there through self-sowing.

These aren’t the only good herbs either ... there’s plenty more to choose from, including Queen Anne’s lace and dandelion.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Home Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.  

You’ll see basil all over Greek, French and Italian menus, but this little herb that could is native to the tropical Pacific islands. I am not sure how it got to Europe, but I’m glad it did. In my opinion, the best basil dish is a mouth-watering pesto, which is a green sauce made from a whole bunch of chopped basil mixed with olive oil. Wonderful!

There are many types of basil to choose from, such as:

• Sweet Basil: This type is the most popular one for cooking. Sweet basil has glossy leaves and has the full basil taste.
• Lettuce-Leaf Basil: This type of basil has broad leaves and a milder taste. There are several varieties of this leaf type, including Mammoth, Napoletano and Green Ruffles.
• Bush Basil: This smaller type of basil is good for edging and also comes in a few different varieties, such as Spicy Globe, Bush, Tiny Leaf Purple, Green Bouquet and Piccolo Fine Verde.
• Lemon Basil: This kind has short, little leaves and offers a lemony fragrance. You can use the leaves in vinegar, fruit salad, fish and poultry dishes and herbal tea.
• Purple Basil: It’s no shocker that purple basil has wide purple leaves and delicate pink flowers. This type is best in vinegars and Greek meals.
• Thai Basil: This type, which is from Thailand (of course), has long, narrow leaves. It also has a slight licorice taste that adds extra flavor to Thai and Indian dishes.

Starting with seeds is a nice way to get going with basil, but you can also pick-up your plant from the nursery, greenhouse or home improvement store. Regardless of how you start, your plants should reach about 20 inches tall as long as they have lots of sun and well-drained dirt.

I pinch back the white buds that will start showing up during the summer. The reason I do that is because I’m not in it for the flowers; I want those nice 1-two inch leaves. Pinching it back makes the herb grow bushier (more leaves).

Harvesting your basil is as easy as one, two, 3: simply cut the stem just before the blossoms, pick off the leaves and dry them. Once they’re dry you will put them in a freezer bag to store them. In fact, you do not have to dry them, they will go immediately into your freezer. You can even store your herbs in a container and cover them with olive oil, which will bring out all their taste. They can keep for several months this way.

You can cultivate basil inside, but I cannot recommend it. My try at wintering basil several years ago was not successful. It really needs about 5 hours of direct light a day with moist dirt to grow and thrive. Sadly, my kitchen does not get that much sunlight.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Italian Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

All of the varieties of thyme share similar attributes such as leaves shaped like ovals and a twig like, woody stem.  Your herb will have small purple, pink or white blossoms that appear in early summer or late spring depending on the growing season.

Some of the many varieties, here are 3 you’ll probably want to be familiar with:

• Common Thyme: When you get thyme at the grocery, this is the type that you'll generally be getting.  This type is bigger than the others and is awesome to bake with because of the strong aroma and taste.  Among the common thymes there are at least three kinds, which you can tell by examining at the leaves.  You can find that the French kind has narrow leaves as opposed to the German which has very wide leaves, and then there is the English variety which has variegated leaves.

• Lemon Thyme: You will never guess what lemon thyme smells like.  If you cannot tell that that one out you might want to choose another hobby.  You can't miss the smell of lemon that emanates from lemon thyme.  Some types of lemon thyme even have little pale yellow blossoms.

• Wild Thyme: This kind of thyme is not usually grown for use in cooking, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking that every thyme plant is the same.  It's rather engaging and ornamental, and people often use it as a ground cover.

Cooking with thyme is as simple as snipping off some leaves and tossing them to your other ingredients.  Thyme does well with trimming back and there’s no better way to prune your plant than to cut some leaves for a fantastic entree.  If your talents aren't found in cooking, you can still use your thyme to make health and beauty products.  You can use thyme in soaps and lotions, toss a little bit in your bathwater or use it to make an excellent potpourri.

Those same folks will tell you to use thyme to help with several different ailments including sleeplessness, gas, asthmatic breathing, headaches, poor digestion and coughing.  I guess it basically can do anything but bring in the newspaper.

It is one of the easiest plants to raise.  It will succeed indoors or outside and succeeds in well-drained, rich soil and full-sun.  Because it takes a long time to germinate your herb (a long thyme), I suggest that you go down to your local home improvement store and pick up a few plants for your garden.  For your outside thyme, try it in your rock garden or along a stone wall or over a rustic driveway.

If you’d rather dry your thyme for use over the winter than bring your plant inside, just cut off each branch at the stem and hang it upside down to dry.

Don’t forget to harvest the seeds on your thyme herb.  Believe it or not, they can still be used in germination up to 3 years later.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Plants. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

The best bet for your balcony herb garden would be any plant that does well with lots of sun, like a morning glory. These little herbs will tolerate the reflection from the windows and doors and also the heat that a metal balcony captures. Observe the amount and type of light, heat and intensity on your balcony during a regular day. Check to see which way your balcony faces and whether it gets a lot of morning or afternoon sun.

Use gray or silver-colored herb plants as well as those with a velvety texture or thick leaves in your balcony garden. These will do well because they lose less water in evaporation.

Here are some herbs that I suggest for your balcony:

• Aloe vera: Aloe vera is an uncomplicated plant to grow. It tolerates the sun very well and requires minimal watering. You can use aloe vera easily by snipping off the tip and rubbing it on a burn or other skin problem. It’s sticky, but you’ll feel better in no time!

• Cayenne pepper: With cayenne pepper on your balcony, you can always add a little spice to your dinner next time you grill out. With a bright pop of color, cayenne pepper will be awesome on your balcony.

• Cucumber: Trailing cucumber vine will add a new texture to the herb plants on your balcony. You can also use cucumbers in cosmetics—think facials! You can also grab some cucumbers to slice for your salads, straight from the balcony!

• Hens-and-chicks: I completely like hens-and-chicks. These do not need a lot of watering—they are water-holding succulents—and can tolerate the hot temperature and bright sun that you might have on your balcony. Not to mention that they are so cute too!

• Lavender: Because lavender is a fragrant plant, you will be able to breathe in the soothing smell of lavender when you put it on your balcony. The wonderful purple buds can make a colorful balcony even better.

Select a collection of interesting containers for your balcony or use a hanging basket lined with a coconut husk for good results. I actually made my own balcony basket with chicken wire and moss. I’d never tried anything like that before. That basket wasn’t the best thing since sliced bread, but it worked for me. It will work better if you carefully consider the drainage when you are buying your basket or pot.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Windowsill Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

When you are ready to buy your chamomile, you will find 2 main varieties. These two kinds share similar functions, but because the appearance is different you should find it simple to choose the right kind for your needs.

You can use German chamomile for many different things ranging from teas to lotions. The combination of this herb's woody, apple smell and daisy-like appearance can cheer up any room.

A good benefit of German chamomile is that it is self-seeding, which is great since it is an annual and this way you do not have to replant it every year. You can even collect the seeds to try elsewhere in your garden or give some to a friend.

It’ll do best in full or direct sunshine and dry conditions. It will grow straight up, unlike Roman chamomile, and your German chamomile plant should grow to a height of nearly three feet.

The best way to raise German chamomile is to either plant the seeds in a pot inside or to sprinkle them on the ground. The seeds are so fine, there’s no need to cover with earth. Keep the sod moist, but not wet, and if you’re cultivating your German chamomile in pots, wait until your seedlings are at least four inches tall before you transplant them. If you’re cultivating it outdoors, every four weeks throughout the growing season sow more seeds so that your harvest can be even greater. German chamomile produces few blossoms, so the more you grow the better.

I haven't seen the variety of German chamomile that is double-flowered, but I am sure it is awesome.

A nice way to ease tension is to drink a cup of tea that has Roman chamomile in it, which is frequently called "true chamomile" or "English chamomile." This kind is a ground cover or creeper, unlike the German chamomile which is a bushy plant; however, both types share the woody, apple-like scent.

This plant can only grow to about 10 inches high as it creeps along the ground. In the summer, the Roman chamomile can get a little taller and sprout little white flowers with yellow centers that are similar to the German chamomile, but more aromatic.

If you’d like your hair to be lighter or softer, you can use the natural oil from the Roman chamomile plant. Chamomile is also called manzanilla in Spain and a few varieties are used to flavor certain types of sherry.

This herb is not actually best if started from seeds, so I recommend you buy it or begin with a division from someone else’s Roman chamomile.

Fortunately Roman chamomile is drought resistant and able to survive for long periods without water, for those of you who forget this necessary task.

You may not believe this, but even though these 2 herbs look alike, taste alike and have the same name, according to the scientists, they aren’t related at all.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Tea Herb Gardening. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.