| One of the most appealing things anyone will learn | | | | gardening tips for two well-known herbs that are |
| about herb gardening is how relaxing and simple | | | | great for beginning herb gardeners.Sweet Basil -- |
| growing herbs can be. Discovering all the wonderful, | | | | Sweet basil leaves are good in salads, and are a main |
| various herbs and what they do is a captivating | | | | flavoring ingredient in tomato dishes such as spaghetti |
| pastime, and can be quite beneficial. You can use | | | | and marinara sauce. In the northern climates, basil is |
| herbs for cooking, as medicinal aids such as topical | | | | usually grown as an annual plant. In milder climates, |
| dressings or healthy teas, or simply for decorative | | | | sweet basil will return each year on its own, and |
| plants in the garden.There are so many herb plants | | | | therefore is considered a perennial plant.The sweet |
| to choose from, it can be a bit daunting to the | | | | basil herb is a pleasure to grow because it thrives in |
| beginning herb gardener. A good source of | | | | average soil, and likes sun or partial shade. Sow the |
| information that you probably have is your | | | | seeds after danger of frost is over, or start them |
| cookbook, which often devotes a chapter or two to | | | | indoors about eight weeks before growing season |
| the uses of different herbs as flavorings and | | | | and then transplant them outside. You can also |
| accents.Planting a Basic Herb GardenGet acquainted | | | | purchase ready-to-grow starter plants from nurseries |
| with herb gardening by growing herbs you think you'll | | | | and through catalogs.It's easy to promote the |
| use, plus throw in one or two that sound interesting | | | | bushiness of the basil plant leaves by pinching and |
| to you. Herb gardens can range in size from small | | | | clipping the herb throughout the summer. Use the |
| containers to vast outdoor gardens.To best learn | | | | leaves fresh during the summer growth months, and |
| herb gardening, start simple with a small, sunny plot, | | | | in the fall, dry the leaves and store them for use |
| or use a clay pot filled with potting soil.The Two Big | | | | during the winter.Garlic -- Garlic is full of minerals and |
| Needs that herbs have are:- lots of sun, and- | | | | nutrients, and is known to have great medicinal |
| well-drained soil.Most herbs have a preference of full | | | | properties. It is a staple in every chef's kitchen for |
| or partial sun, and the seed package or nursery will | | | | cooking dishes from chicken and pasta to seafood |
| have this information clearly stated. Most herbs will | | | | and vegetables. We've all seen garlic bulbs at the |
| not do well in very wet soil, and watering about | | | | grocery store... but did you know that one simple |
| every 2-3 days is usually sufficient. Raised garden | | | | garlic bulb has enough cloves to begin a garden full of |
| beds are a good fit for herb gardens. They have | | | | garlic plants? Here's what you do:When spring arrives |
| excellent drainage and can be easily arranged for | | | | and the weather has begun to turn warm, prepare a |
| proper sunlight.When planting herb seeds, cover them | | | | small garden bed in a sunny spot. Take the cloves |
| lightly with soil, and don't plant the seeds too deep. A | | | | and place them, pointy side up, in the soil. Plant them |
| good rule of thumb with herb gardening is "the | | | | in clusters, or rows, and put a light layer of topsoil |
| smaller the seed, the shallower you sow." If you are | | | | over them with some compost mixed in. When fall |
| using young herb plants already started in growing | | | | arrives, lift the garlic bulbs out of their bed.Dry the |
| trays, simply transplant them into your pots or | | | | garlic by slicing the bulbs into thin slices and placing |
| garden bed. Sometimes the plants in the trays are | | | | them on a rack at room temperature. You can also |
| dry; if so, water them first before planting | | | | store the bulbs by braiding the stalks and hanging the |
| them.Finally, remember that annual herbs (herb plants | | | | garlic in a dark, cool space. You may also freeze the |
| which only grow for one season and then die) and | | | | entire garlic bulb!Learn about herb gardening with |
| perennial herbs (herb plants which will return the | | | | these herbs, and then begin to branch out with more. |
| following year) do best when planted separately. This | | | | In the meantime, you'll add wonderful flavors to your |
| avoids disrupting the perennial plants' roots when it is | | | | recipes, and mouthwatering aromas in the |
| time to dig out the dead annuals. It also prevents | | | | kitchen!Robert Mosse is a gardening and lawn care |
| leaving dead root pieces behind which can contribute | | | | specialist and author of the "Easy" Lawn and |
| to fungus growth.Grow Fresh Herbs for | | | | Gardening Book Series. Learn more about herb |
| CookingCooking with fresh herbs from your garden is | | | | gardening the fun way with great, hands-on info... |
| a wonderful experience. To get started, here are | | | | |