Herbs have been around since time immemorial and served different kinds of purposes. They have been used to treat illness and flavour cooking; they were even believed to have magical powers. Do you want to have your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to establish an herb garden.
Plan your garden.
Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials?
How much space will they occupy in your garden? If you want, you can purchase a book that can give you the right information on what specific plants you are planning to grow.
List or draw your garden on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won't be in danger of getting dug up.
Another thing to remember is that you have to plant the tall ones at the back and the shorter ones in front. Also, provide your plants with enough space to grow. Proper position shall help you in this area.
If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole.
Some Design Ideas
You can consider having a square herb bed. You can have your square bed divided into four by two paths crossing at mid point measuring 3 feet. You can border it with stone or brick. A wooden ladder may also do the trick. You can lay it down on your garden and plant your herbs between its rungs. You can also choose to have a wagon wheel bed. Planting here is like planting with the wooden ladders. Plant your herbs in between the wagon wheel's wedges.
Get Your Plants Growing
Of course, different plants have different needs, but many of them require alkaline soil. This is the reason why you have to determine the herbs you want to plant in the planning stage. This can more or less help you find out how you should care for your plants. If you germinate your herbs from seeds, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature.
Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. You just have to provide them with an effective drainage, sunlight, enough humidity or moisture and fertile soil. Even with just minimally meeting these requirements they will be bound produce a good harvest.
Sunday 12 October 2008
Sunday 5 October 2008
Vegetable Gardening The Organic Way
Because it is cost effective and they are able to produce almost the same yield of crops, more farmers are getting into organic vegetable gardening. You must first understand the organic vegetable gardening principles before you can do this in your own garden. It is forbidden to use fertilizers, nutrients or pesticides in organic vegetable gardening. Nature is your partner here because you will be using two things to make it all work namely sunlight and water. The ideal area and adequate drainage must be provided since we don't produce these ourselves.
Using compost heap from leftover food, chipped bark, garden compost, leaf moulds and manure which you can mix together and then spread throughout your garden can encourage the crops to grow, aside from sunlight and water. Manure is sold in stores so you don't have to scoop this from the toilet so don't feel queasy, also chickens are great to have - just let them roam around in the garden. Dead animals or meat products are used by some people but you can't put these in the soil. To help fertilize your garden, leave them for a couple of weeks in the bin and maggots will soon appear which can be used.
Bringing various minerals to the surface and providing better drainage as it digs deep into the ground and aerates the soil, is what makes the earthworm is another helpful creature. Experts say that the casting this long pink colored creature leaves behind is five times as rich in nitrogen phosphorous and potassium. You will be able to buy this from almost any gardening store or garden center.
Organic gardening is a challenge because pests such as army worms, crickets, gypsy moth caterpillars, slugs and squash bugs are unwanted guests. Despite the fact that at one time people used fertilizer to kill them, the toad, which is known to eat more almost every type of insect it is the best weapon in an organic setting. It is not in the toad's diet if you have caterpillars or spiders lurking in the garden so get a bird.
As long as you set the ideal environment for them, you don't have to buy a toad or a bird from the pet store because they may come in to your home. Erecting a bird house or a small pond means you will have some new occupants protecting your garden within days. The job could be done by insect killers such as the preying mantis and the ladybug as they mark their territory and eat anything that dares enter their domain.
Rosemary, sage or thyme can be used to protect your vegetables against butterflies and marigolds protect vegetables against nematodes. But, despite all the flowers and creatures that nature has to offer, crop rotation is seen as the best way to keep the soil fertile. Alternate between the kind of vegetable planted for this season and another then return to the first after this one is harvested. with some practice you can harvest the vegetables you have planted weeks ago.
Using compost heap from leftover food, chipped bark, garden compost, leaf moulds and manure which you can mix together and then spread throughout your garden can encourage the crops to grow, aside from sunlight and water. Manure is sold in stores so you don't have to scoop this from the toilet so don't feel queasy, also chickens are great to have - just let them roam around in the garden. Dead animals or meat products are used by some people but you can't put these in the soil. To help fertilize your garden, leave them for a couple of weeks in the bin and maggots will soon appear which can be used.
Bringing various minerals to the surface and providing better drainage as it digs deep into the ground and aerates the soil, is what makes the earthworm is another helpful creature. Experts say that the casting this long pink colored creature leaves behind is five times as rich in nitrogen phosphorous and potassium. You will be able to buy this from almost any gardening store or garden center.
Organic gardening is a challenge because pests such as army worms, crickets, gypsy moth caterpillars, slugs and squash bugs are unwanted guests. Despite the fact that at one time people used fertilizer to kill them, the toad, which is known to eat more almost every type of insect it is the best weapon in an organic setting. It is not in the toad's diet if you have caterpillars or spiders lurking in the garden so get a bird.
As long as you set the ideal environment for them, you don't have to buy a toad or a bird from the pet store because they may come in to your home. Erecting a bird house or a small pond means you will have some new occupants protecting your garden within days. The job could be done by insect killers such as the preying mantis and the ladybug as they mark their territory and eat anything that dares enter their domain.
Rosemary, sage or thyme can be used to protect your vegetables against butterflies and marigolds protect vegetables against nematodes. But, despite all the flowers and creatures that nature has to offer, crop rotation is seen as the best way to keep the soil fertile. Alternate between the kind of vegetable planted for this season and another then return to the first after this one is harvested. with some practice you can harvest the vegetables you have planted weeks ago.
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