Home Decorating Ideas - How to Grow Herbs in Your Garden

Many wonderful creations from the kitchen are dependent on herbs. However, few people know that it is actually quite simple to start your own herb garden as these plants are quite robust. They are suitable for novices to try their hand at growing them. Also, herbs offer healthy alternatives to over the counter medication for minor ailments and are considered to be holistic by many. However, you should be aware that particular herbs might have particular needs for it to be really healthy.

Basil - This herb is one of the most commonly grown and is highly regarded by herb garden enthusiasts all over the world. The Basil plant is best suited for growth in dry air and rich warm soil. Spring is the perfect season to start growing the Basil plant, but only after all threats of frost have been alleviated as this plant is highly sensitive to cold temperatures and may become damaged if exposed.

When planting Basil, it is important to remember to place each plant about twelve inches apart. This way, it will let each plant gain access to adequate water, enabling it to grow into a healthy plant. It takes approximately six weeks for the Basil to sprout leaves that are suitable for collection and use. When the harvesting is done, a proper drying method will result in a flavorful dried herb that can be used in a wide variety of recipes to tantalize your taste buds. By the time it is mid-summer, this hardy plant should produce deep green or purple leaves in combination with a beautiful white flower displayed on stalks about one to two feet high.

Dill - Nothing could be simpler than growing the tasty herb Dill. Just a scattering of seeds thrown into your herb garden can result in stalks that can grow to four feet high. This particular herb is an excellent addition to many recipes and adds a beautiful display to your garden. Dills stalks will have special blue-green leaves that are feathery looking and have a bunch of striking yellow flowers.

The Dill plant is a sun loving plant, so areas with full access to sunlight will ensure a thriving plant. A distance of eight to ten inches between plants is the best way to ensure a hardy crop. After planting, it is important to go back in a couple of weeks when the plants have grown about an inch in height and thin out the area around each plant. This process will ensure that each plant receives its required amount of nutrients from the soil as well as ensuring each plant is exposed to sufficient sunlight.

The Dill plant is useful in many ways. The beautiful bright yellow flowers make an excellent tool for decorating while the seeds and leaves are the perfect addition to dips and salads. You can harvest the flowers when they are in full bloom and use them as part of your fresh flower or dried flower arrangements. After the yellow blooms have blossomed for approximately two weeks, you can then harvest the Dill seeds. A good way is to trim the flowers and dry them upside down, while suspended over a plate or a piece of paper. This process will allow the seeds to fall and be collected for use. Finally, crumbling the dried leaves is another way to add the distinct taste of Dill to any cherished recipe.

Lavender - One of the most beautiful and fragrant herbs is Lavender. This aromatic plant makes for a wonderful ground cover for any herb or flower garden as it produces delicate pink and purple flowers nestled on very tall stalks. Lavender is a perennial plant and is at its peak in the mid-summer months. Lavender is frequently a major ingredient in aromatherapy, soap making and potpourri mixes.

This hardy herb is easy to grow, however if choosing to start from seed form, may require a little extra work and TLC. A good way to cultivate this herb is to get fresh plants or root cuttings from a nursery near you. Such plants grow well in sunny areas with alkaline rich soil that is not water logged. As the winter months approach, the beauty of these plants will fade, however, during the next spring and summer seasons these plants will return more hardy and lush then the last.

Each of these herbs are a delectable treat offered by nature. With simple care and many uses for their beauty and taste, adding these herbs to any garden is sure to be an aromatic and pleasurable experience.

Moses Wright is a gardening enthusiast and loves to work in his garden whenever he is free. He started this site to help fellow garden enthusiast with rose gardening and bonsai gardening tips.

How to Grow Herbs in Your Garden - Basil, Dill and Lavender