Unlike most plants that largely serve a decorative purpose in our homes, herbs are plants that you can actual use as flavoring for your food, fragrances for potpourri and aroma oils, or simply as leaves that you can pluck off and chew for medicinal properties. Herbs have a wider range of use.

It’s relatively easy to grow herbs .You can easily create your own herb aid box with varieties that resonate with you the most. You can choose curry leaves and coriander which are used for Indian cooking, basil, oregano, peppermint, blue balsam. For medicinal purposes you can grow tulsi, ashwagandha (winter cherry) aloe Vera, wheat germ, stevia, and lemon grass.

Having fresh herbs growing in your garden adds charm to it and they are easy to grow too. You can choose the right herbs for your garden, some need sunlight and others are happier in the shade.

Growing tips:

• Choose any herb to grow in your garden but know whether they are annuals, biennials or perennials.

• You can plan your herb garden by grouping herbs according to light, irrigation and soil requirements.

• Herbs do not grow in wet soil. Good drainage is a must.

• Avoid growing on the ground where water stands or runs through during heavy rains.

• Mix the soil with compost and sand to lighten the texture and increase fertility.

• Heavy applications of fertilizer, especially those containing large amounts of nitrogen will decrease the concentration of essential oils in the lush green growth.

• If you are growing the herbs in pots, ensure that they are at least 25 to 30cm deep.

• Almost all herbs can be grown from seeds. If possible sow seeds in shallow boxes in late winter and transplant these seedlings outdoors in spring

• Most herbs need full sunlight. Choose a spot that receives at least six ours of direct sun each day.

• Cutting and division is a useful method in propagating certain herbs.

• Harvest leaves before the flower buds open. This is when the flavor is at the peak. Pick seed heads when the color changes from green to brown or gray.

• Some herbs like borage, anise, caraway, coriander, cumin need to be directly seeded, as they do not transplant well.

• You could refrigerate or even dry herbs for later use.

Herb Gardens were almost an essential feature of pioneer homes. Now that you know that it’s not difficult to grow herbs in your garden. Begin before it’s too late.

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