Drinks like Sageriffic, are increasing in popularity and it doesn’t stop with herbs either.  Some are growing fruit trees, and tending vegetables as well.  It’s just another example of why you might want to grow your own herb garden.  Be unique and standout from the crowd!

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Danni

Growing one’s own home herb garden is addictive in nature. A novice in this area would very soon find himself an ardent producer- so much that it most often results in more herbs than he could normally include in his diet. Therefore, it has become a common practice today to save the excess produce for future use by methods such as drying of herbs, freezing them or use of preservatives.

Excess production of herbs can be frozen and packed for future use. This is a convenient way of preserving, and can be done by anyone who has a freezer available at home. This also ensures we are able to use the herbs in their fresh form. Using preservatives such a salt and vinegar is also very popular.
Unlike the other options, drying of herbs is not very easy. It is a process to be carefully done. Or else, the precious growth from your home herb garden could easily be ruined.

-First step is to prepare the herbs for drying. Select healthy stems from the available lot, which have good leaves. Remove all the dry foliage to minimise the decay process.

-The next stage is to select around half a dozen from the selected herb shoots. Tie each bunch of stems together with a string.

-Make several holes on bags, and Put each bundle into individual bags. Herbs could also be dried without use of bags. Make sure that not too many herb shoots are crowded in one bundle. This would hinder proper drying process.

-Hang the bundle in cool and dry place. The drying area should not be subjected to sunlight.
It is wise to occasionally turn the bundles and change their arrangement, so that all the stems are dried in an even fashion.

This is the drying process for your home herb garden through natural means. Today, there are several artificial measures that could be used to dry your herbs. Dehydrator is an electric appliance that is being widely used to dry herbs artificially. Ovens and microwaves are also largely used to dry herbs. Though these appliances are convenient for the purpose, they are not as effective as natural drying of herbs.
So don’t worry if your home herb garden has produced more than you can consume. Just dry them for future use and take pride in them just as much!

Lavender is one of the herbs grown for its delicious aroma. It can grow up to a height of 1 to 3 feet. Its oil is of great value and even dried flowers retain the aroma and can be used in potpourris. The herb garden seeds requires a short refrigeration time in the growth medium after which it is kept outside. It can take from 15 days to a couple months to grow. Once the seedlings the obtained, they can be transplanted to a well drained soil.

You can grow celery easily from seeds in places with the right light, water and soil conditions. Basil, mint, dill, thyme, etc are other commonly grown herbs which are useful in the kitchen. Rosemary is often used in the kitchen but is not required in large quantities so one or two plants will suffice. Before you plant the seedlings, determine how many plants you will needs and give away the rest to others who want to start a garden.

If you already have a garden, you can collect the herb garden seeds when the flowers die and preserve them. You can then use these seeds whenever you want to expand your herb garden. Otherwise, you can find almost any seeds in your local garden center. You can start with perennial herbs which last for two years like thyme, oregano, etc. Basil is an annual herb and you should collect the seeds to sow for the next year. Sage, chervil, coriander are half annual and are very easy to grow and they grow fast too.

If you are planning to start the herb garden indoors, you will be able to grow almost anything throughout the year as you can control the conditions. You will need to put more thought into the herb garden seeds you buy for your outdoor herb garden as you will have to consider the climatic changes. They are usually grown in containers like pots so that they don’t spread all over the plot. It also helps you maintain a certain amount of moisture in the soil.

Most herb garden seeds come with instructions on when to plant them and how to plant them. The depths at which the seed should be placed and the amount of water the soil should be given are all important points that have to be followed to get the best out of your seeds. Most herbs are robust and survive even if you have to go away for a week or two. They are easy to grow and very useful and every house should have one.

Considering how popular herbs are, the demand for herb garden plants is growing at a phenomenal rate. If you were thinking of starting a home business, you may want to consider growing herb garden plants and selling the herbs for cash. In today’s market, you are likely to be able to make a lot of money in this business.
If you are wondering which herbs to grow in order to make cash, here is a list of herbs along with their uses. You can decide what is likely to fetch the best prices in your locality and then grow your herb garden plants accordingly. Of course, it is best if your herbs are sold locally, as they are at their best when they are fresh.

Scented Herbs: There are a number of herbs that are used purely for their decorative uses and even amongst them; scented herb garden plants like scented lawn herb and lavender are the most popular. While the scented lawn herb is used to cover the entire lawn area, lavender is usually grown in pots or small plots.

Bee Balm: Bee Balm Tea is a part of the Native American tradition and its other name is Oswego tea. Its fruity flavour makes it very refreshing and is ideal to make iced tea on a hot day. At the same time this tea also cures bronchial and stomach ailments and is a very popular herb garden plant.

Lemon Balm: The Lemon Balm Tea is one which not only provides medicinal value but also aesthetic value by adding a touch of lemony scent to its surroundings and its little flowers add beauty to its environ. This tea not only improves digestion, it also gives the drinker an energising feel and elevates moods.

Basil: The medicinal advantages of the Basil tea are numerous and well documented. Its refreshes a person and helps in keeping cough and common flu away. Besides, that it is used in cooking various dishes.

Fennel: Fennel Tea serves as a very useful herb garden plant for mothers and newly born babies. It improves the lactation ability of the mother; helps babies in digesting their food better as well reduce their teething pains.

Chamomile: You don’t have to think twice before planting this herb garden plant, as it helps cure a number of ailments. Chamomile tea works wonders minor problems like throat aches to major issues like insomnia and nightmares. It also reduces the pain of menstrual cramps in women.

Making cash by growing an herb garden is one of the opportunities you can start off with and make it your home based business. There are a number of ways which from which you can build a good business which can be your garden too.

Herbs-fresh picked herbs can be sold to restaurants in bunches.

Herbal turf farm-This is yet another way to make cash by growing an herb garden. There is a herb which is known as scented herb lawn. It happens to be in great demand for city dwellers who acquire a small yard. Many of the clients to whom herbs are sold possess a square land. These herbs are quick to grow. They also need to be watered and fertilized. These herbs sell for a good price. You can tag in your own price too. All you need to do is dig up a section of herbs and have it rolled into small trips and it’s ready to sell.

Herb Nursery- A herb nursery is one of the important means to make cash by growing an herb garden. It is a very easy process where you can initiate a home herb nursery. All that is required to be done is to sell herbs in pots .It is a very common practice that is undertaken and the monetary results are perpetual.

Plants and Seeds-The best, easiest and the fastest way to make cash by growing an herb garden is by selling herb plants. It is the quickest way to profit. It is always advisable to grow herbs late winter or early spring. Start your business of growing herbs on a very small patch of land, always grow the herbs that you know perfectly and learn to manage them well. It is only through these means that you will get quality results.

Dried herbs-Dried herbs are great to sell with its plentiful demand. Dried herbs have many a uses at it is one of the means of making cash by growing a herb garden. It is used for culinary as well as for crafts. Dried herbs have a market for both of these.

Medicinal Tea-Medicinal tea has become well known in the recent times. Medicinal teas available in the market are expensive. So it is appropriate for you to grow it in your garden and make cash by growing an herb garden by means of selling medicinal teas.

A lot of medicinal herbs can be easily grown with very low maintenance. All you will need is a good pot of soil and water. The benefits of medicinal herbs are more than you can imagine. Most of the common ailments like common cold, indigestion, etc. can be treated with these herbs. A little research will tell you how useful herbs grown in an organic herb garden can be. The herbs can be used straight from the plant when you don’t use artificial pesticides. Otherwise you will be consuming harmful chemicals which can have negative effects on your health.

Some of these herbs are applied as medicine or for beauty purpose. When this is done, it is very important that you skin is not fed with chemicals. When a plant is fed chemicals, residues will settle on them and then eventually get into the leaves, stem and roots. Using herbs like aloe in its purest form will get the best results for your skin. Basil is another herb which has antiviral properties. It is used on insect bites, wounds, etc. Basil is also boiled and taken as a tea from stomach aches.

Going organic is especially important when children or infants are involved. Sometimes these herbs are used in the bath water or as a shampoo and chemical free ingredients will be the best. The plants grown in the organic herb garden are healthy and more resistant to disease. Organic herb teas made from licorice root, cinnamon, mint, etc. are also widely used and are found to be very relaxing.

Organic herbs taste better than inorganic ones and they also help eliminate toxins from the body better than the latter. Lemon grass has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Herbs grown in an organic herb garden have more vitamins and minerals. Cosmetic products made at home using the herbs are not only free from chemicals but the fragrances are not artificial too. Lavender oil gives soft fragrance which is very pleasant and totally natural.

Oregano is another herb that can be grown in your organic herb garden which can be used for cooking and also has medicinal properties.

Using organically grown food would mean fewer chemicals for you. Salads which are eaten raw should use organic vegetables as the artificial fertilizers and pesticides are not good for the health. You can maintain a compost pit in the corner of your garden where you can dump all the organic waste from your house. After a few weeks, the bottom layers can be used as manure for your organic herb garden.

It is essential to know that many herbs can be successfully grown indoors. If you have been craving to have seasoning herbs at your own houses and not have to go to market to buy and if you are one of the many who think that not having a huge backyard garden is a barrier, then this article on indoor herb gardening for beginners will make you rethink. In order to have an herb garden, all one requires is a sunny windowsill which has adequate supply of sunlight for a minimum of five hours per day and a couple of pots. There are three important factors that can impact the growth of any herb, especially when grown indoors. The three factors are: lighting, temperature and moisture. The best part is, these factors can be controlled without much effort, by even a beginner of herb gardening.

There are few steps in order to start an indoor garden. Firstly, a right place needs to be selected. Care should be taken to not choose a place that does not receive any sunlight. The chances of herbs growing in these sheltered spaces are limited. Secondly, the seeds or the plants that one buys should be one good quality. Buying from a reputed supplier, checking the expiry date and the freshness of the plants can help one choose good seeds or a healthy herb. Since the herbs are being grown indoors, using the right compost can make a huge impact on the health of the herbs. The indoor herbs will depend heavily on the compost. Finally, find a good pot that suits your interiors, or even better, one could paint the pots and decorate it so as to give your house a distinctive look. After planting the herb and finding a right place for it in the house, taking good care of them is the most critical part. Watering the plants regularly and not over-watering will be deciding factor.

In herb gardening for beginners, understanding the benefits of herb gardening can be motivating.  Besides its well-known medicinal benefits, planting them indoor will add an aroma to the house. Indoor gardening also has the magic of lifting the spirits of the house.

One of the things a beginner worries about will be how much water the herbs will need, how deep into the soil they need to be planted, etc. Since all the beginners worry about this, the kits come with booklets which give you simple and clear instruction about how to go about it. Some of the more recent herb garden kits will come with a CD. Whether you get a booklet or a CD, you will get all the information about the herbs the kits come with.

If you keep them indoors, you will have to do the pollination yourself too. Details on when to do this and how will be given with the instructions. This will be necessary only if you want seeds from it otherwise you will not need to worry about it. Seeds obtained can be used to plant more herbs or can be exchanged with other herb garden enthusiasts. You will need to check how test your soil and ensure it is alkaline before putting in the plants.

If you don’t have a lot of space, you can always try the kits that come with stackable pots. A small corner of your windowsill will be sufficient for your herbs as long as it gets enough sun. A beginner will be better off getting herb garden kits with plants rather than starting a garden from seeds. Seeds will take time to go and by then there is a good chance you will lose interest. Some advise beginners to keep a journal. This will tell them how their herbs will behave and when to cut the tips off to make them bushier.

Harvesting can begin when you have a few leaves and is best done before it flowers. The herb garden kits will tell you the right time to harvest too. Most beginner kits will contain stakes, seeds in separated boxes and containers. Some even supply you with soil which is suitable for the particular herb you want to grow. Fertilizers can be supplied or the ones suggested by the kit can be bought.

When you first plant a herb, there is a chance that it will droop for a few days. This is normal and there is no need to worry. Some may try watering it too much which is not recommended. For any beginner, herb garden kits will be very helpful and they can also be used by people who want to start a herb garden as quickly as possible. Patience is necessary to grow any garden and the same holds good with this too.

But, the most important reason to grow an herb garden is because herbs help you stay healthy and keep away a number of illnesses. In fact, in many ancient cultures like India and China, entire medicinal treatises have been written detailing the use of herbs to lead a healthy lifestyle. Here are some of the herbs you can grow that are bound to have a positive impact on your health:

Borage: Borage is a very useful herb to grow in your own home and if you decide to grow an herb garden, having this herb is a great idea. It has lovely blue colored flowers that add a lot of vibrancy and life to its surroundings. But, more importantly, the borage herb is extremely great in relieving stress and anxiety. Borage boosts the adrenals and is a great restorative after a major illness or surgery. Borage grows best when it gets a lot of sunlight and ample shade as well.

Catnip: If you have children in your house, then having catnip in your herb garden is a great idea. It is a great tonic to help overcome teething pains and toothaches as well as cramps in the stomach. And, if you find the children too much to handle, add a little catnip to your tea as well- it works wonders on frazzled nerves. If you grow an herb garden and add catnip to it, ensure that it gets plenty of water as well as sunlight.

Chamomile: Chamomile is also a great herb to have in your herb garden. It will help ease menstrual pains, minor aches and pains. For children, it helps ease toothache and teething pains and colic in babies. It also helps give you a deep and restful sleep at night and helps relieve insomnia. It also provides a great mood lift and is great to treat mild depression.

Calendula: If you grow an herb garden, the calendula which is commonly known as marigold is also a wonderful addition. They provide a great cure for stomach upsets cramps and vomiting and also treats fevers effectively. Calendula is very easy to grow and requires very little maintenance.

Skullcap: Skullcap is a very useful herb to have in your herb garden as both its flowers and its leaves are extremely useful. Skullcap is a great pain reliever and also helps relieve menstrual pains. It is also a mild sedative and helps overcome insomnia and restlessness at night. Moreover, it also works as an anti depressant and keeps you feeling upbeat and happy. Skullcap is extremely easy to grow and will easily grow indoors in containers or in herb garden kits.