Herbs have been valued for their medicinal and cosmetic properties for centuries. In more recent times, the artifices of modern science made these uses seem outmoded for a while. Now, the pendulum has swung back again towards a more natural approach to health and beauty, and interest in the traditional art of growing and preparing herbs has revived.
Easiest Plants to Grow
Nowadays many herbs and herbal preparations are available in supermarkets, chemists ans health shops . but it is infinitely more satisfying to grow and use your own. Not only do herbs make a charming and fragrant addition to the garden, but there is an elemental pleasure to be gained from harvesting and drying them and then mixing and concocting the many remedies and beauty preparation they provide. Only you need small financial outlay or specialized skill; patience and a little gardening knowledge and interest in herbs of their properties which have provided so efficacious to the human race.
Herbs are among the easiest plants to grow and once established in their plot or pot, need little attention. While they will grow quite happily mixed with other plants in the garden, it is easier to have all the herbs grouped together in a separate bed.
A herb bed will last for many years, so it is worth-while spending time and trouble in its preparation at the outset. Once the location for the herb bed has been decided upon, the dimensions should be pegged out. If it is in a lawn the turf should carefully lifted for re-laying elsewhere or placed in a heap upside down for composting . If the planned layout includes them, paths or edging should be laid on the undisturbed soil by packing sand underneath paving slabs, stone or bricks to ensure they are firm and level.
Herbal plants grow in any normal garden soil , which should ideally be a balanced mixture of clay, humus, lime and sand. The soil should have good drainage and to easy to work, so that is soon warms up in the spring, this makes it possible for the herbs to be planted much earlier in the year. Given these conditions it is only necessary to fork in some well-rotted compost and leave the soil for two or three weeks to settle before planting out the herbs.
There are many herbs which can be grown in containers ,both indoors and out of doors. Larger herbs with long tap roots , such lovage or fennel, are not suitable. When growing herbs out of doors, the pots, tubs or boxes should have adequate drainage , otherwise the plants will stagnate and die. They should be strong enough to hold the weight of teh soil, and they must stand on bricks or stones to allow air to circulate and excess water to drain away. A layer of shingle at the bottom of a window box which has no holes will provide adequate drainage.The same rule apply to containers for indoor herbs, but as light is essential to growth, plants should stand on a sunny windowsill wherever possible. Place the pots on trays of shingle to allow air to circulate and excess water to drain away. Herbs need ventilation and will not grow well in a stuffy room, but a bowl of water will keep the air moist round the herbs (this is especially important in a heated room).
