Italian Herb Garden

Italian Herb Garden - Oregano, Parsley and Rosemary

Italy is known for its great food. Going out for an Italian dinner is just the best because the Italians have got it figured out when it comes to cooking fantastic food. Part of the reason their food is so good is because of their tasty herbs. And for that reason we need to discuss why you should have an Italian herb garden.

The Italian oregano is used in stews, soups, sauces, meat and shellfish. The plant has a finer leaf then other oreganos and will hang over the edge of any containers it is planted in. It grows best in a full day of sun without partial shade. It needs a water soluble plant fertilizer every 2 or 3 weeks. It needs to be watered every 2 or 3 days and needs a lot of drainage so the soil should have some sand or perlite in it.

Bundle the oregano and hang it upside down in a dry place and let it dry. When the leaves are dry you can just crumble them on your food. That's actually how it is when you buy a bottle of it in the store, it's just dried leaves. It's best not to harvest oregano until the flowers have bloomed because that is when it is most tasty.

Parsley is used today by the nicer restaurants to decorate your plate but parsley was not always used for this purpose. It has an interesting history in that many generations ago, long before the invention of the breath mint parsley was used. It was served on a dish after a tasty meal so that all could help themselves to what was then their version of a breath freshener. There is nothing wrong with eating it and it is actually part of the carrot family. So help yourself, sweeten your breath with a natural healthy herb.

Rosemary can be used in many different dishes like salads or soups or meat and the leaves can be used as a tea and no Italian herb garden would be complete without it. It gives a generous amount of foliage which you can just pluck off as needed.

If you feel down and out or depressed rosemary can energize and cheer you up believe it or not by having some as a tea (with a pinch of valerian added) or an herbal bath.

It likes to grow in warm sunny places. Rosemary is though and will survive a cold winter or if it should dry and turn brown all you have to do is cut it way down and it will spring back with healthy foliage.

You can get some more herb tips free of charge for your Italian herb garden at http://herbalplanting.com/ so go grab some tips for some healthy herbs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russ_Cooper

Growing Herbs - Dill

Dill is a soft; yet crisp aromatic spice with slightly sweet and sour fragrances. It's suitable for many appetizer and entree preparations (mild cheeses, vegetable dishes, soups and cream sauces) that call for a savoury yet subtle spice.

Dill is an annual of the parsley family and is related to Anise, Caraway, Coriander, Cumin, and Fennel. The name Dill is thought to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon 'dylle' meaning to soothe or lull. It's an increasingly popular herb throughout the world and is found in many Scandinavian, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes. Dill is also a unique plant because both its leaves as well as seeds can be used for seasoning food.

Dill is a hardy annual that thrives in a sunny, sheltered position and is native (and grows wild) in many areas of the world including Southern Europe and the Mediterranean countries; Western Asia and North and South America. Dill is a very popular flavouring in northern, central and eastern European countries, but hardly used at all in France or Italy.

Dill is fast growing and very easy to cultivate. It's an annual aromatic herb, growing to about 3ft (90cm) tall, with a single stems and feathery leaves. It's best propagated from seed. Sow the seed straight into the ground from April to June, (spring) place 2inches apart and plant in good garden soil and in a sunny position. It's best grown in soils that are medium rich in nutrient content and well drained.

One of the advantages of planting dill is that it is heat and drought resistant, but it does produce best when watered at regular intervals at least twice weekly.

The plant is very intolerant of root disturbance and should not be transplanted because it will quickly run to seed. Dill is a hardy plant that thrives on long days and cool weather.

One of the easiest herbs to grow, Dill would make a great first herb for someone who has never grown herbs before. It's the type of herb that can be harvested at any time, its young leaves offering the best flavour. Dill is also a helpful plant to have in the garden since it attracts beneficial insects whose larvae feed on aphids making it a good plant to protect your roses.

Though not the most popular of herbs, dill is generally used in soups, salads, crock-pot recipes, dips, vinaigrettes, and with dishes containing fish or sour cream and of course, the principal flavouring in dill pickles. It's also used to add zest to potato salads, egg salads and sauerkraut, and to flavour vinegars and sauces. Dill is also used in poultry and egg dishes, to flavour meats and stews and as a seasoning in casseroles. Dill is used to flavour many vegetable dishes, particularly peas and beans and dishes made from the cabbage family of plants. Known for its crisp grassy taste and rich aroma, Dill is a perfect seasoning for seafood. The best way to use dill is fresh from the garden, so during the growing season, cut your dill to use fresh as you need it. To preserve Dill simply dry and keep for use at a later time.

Dill is a very good source of dietary fibre and is an excellent dietary supplement because it's rich in manganese, vitamin C, calcium, flavanoids, iron and magnesium. Additionally, Dill is a good source of antioxidants so adding just a little to your meal is an ideal way to boost your antioxidant intake.

Dill has been attributed with many medicinal qualities as follows:

Reputed to have a calming effect on the digestive tract

Is a diuretic that aids in curtailing infection.

Is an effective disinfectant and carminative.

Is soothing, aids digestion and also helps with constipation.

Used in Gripe water that is given to babies to relieve wind and colic.

Useful in stimulating and regulating menstrual flow.

Is reputed to cure hiccups, stomach aches, insomnia, and bad breath

Helps individuals suffering from insomnia.

Hi, Felicity here. I've been a keen gardener for as long as I can remember and love to cook with different herbs. After experimenting for many years growing herbs I have finally written down what I've learnt, which I hope will help others.

To learn how you can grow your own herbs visit Successful Herb Gardening today and purchase a copy of my book: http://www.successful-herb-gardening.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Felicity_Newsham

The Benefits of a Home Herb Garden

In this article we will discuss why and how to have a home herb garden.

There are many reasons for raising your own home herb garden. Herbs can be used for teas as a healthy alternative to coffee. Some varieties produce beautiful flowers for your home or garden. Some herbs add flavor to your food others garnish your plate. Some herbs are grown for their aromatic foliage for use in perfumes or potpourri.

A lot of herbs are grown for their healthy medicinal benefits. Some herb doctors will give you one specific herb to produce a specific health benefit sometimes they will give you a package of mixed herbs that you boil in 4 cups of water until it's down to 2 cups which you drink hot as a healing tea. Herbs can be grown indoors in pots or in a garden

Some herbs are even used in pest control. Curiously herbs in general seem to be immune to the diseases and insect attacks that all other plants are susceptible to. And oddly enough fertilizers aren't even necessary for herbs.

Those are some of the reasons for having your own home herb garden now let's get into the how-tos.

Herbs prefer well-draining soil. If your soil it to compact and clay like it would be best to get some porous soil from the nursery. It very cheap in fact it's dirt cheap (ha). For growing herbs in pots use 2 parts of the porous soil and add one part sand (or perlite) with an inch of gravel in the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage.

Almost all herbs can be grown from seeds but you can also buy herbs in the plant form and plant those in your garden. Sure it is faster to use the already grown plants but it's more fun to grow your own herbs from seeds. Seeds are best started in pots with the well draining soil and since they have very shallow roots the seeds should be planted very shallow (with very little soil above them). After they've grown sufficiently you can transplant them to the garden or leave them in the pot as an indoor herb.

Growing your own home herb garden is truly easy. To find out just how easy it is start with growing a few in some indoor pots. Once you see for yourself how easy it really is and how useful herbs can be you can expand from there.

Obviously there is a lot more to herb gardening but this is enough information to get you up and going.

Home Herb Garden came from a website that give tips on herb gardening which are free for the taking at http://herbalplanting.com/ so go there and grab some tips for a productive herb garden.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russ_Cooper

Growing Herbs Indoors

Growing Herbs Indoors

It seems that these days, everyone wants to grow herbs. It is probably because of the triple dividends paid by herbs: good scents, good flavors and good looks. Freshly chopped chives' magic sprinkled on soup or omelet; the charms of thyme, oregano and fresh rosemary; lemon verbena's aroma - all of them make it hard to get passionate on herbs.

Not all herbs like indoor life. Dill, garden cress and coriander are short-lived annuals, which when cut for harvest, do not grow again. These herbs need re-sowing to produce continuous crop.

Parsley can be grown in pots. Its older leaves fall off, but its thick taproot drives new growth from the center. But parsley that is grown indoors from seed does not reach the productivity and size of plants that are dug from the garden. The soil on the top root should be maintained intact and the pot to be used should have a depth that can accommodate the roots.

Unless there is a plentiful light, most indoor herbs' growth slow or stops in the winter, even with sufficient warmth. When this happens, control a little on the water and reduce harvests. It can also help if the indoor temperature is reduced to 60º to 65ºF.

There are things to be considered in growing herbs


One is to provide light. It is necessary to install supplementary lightning though your indoor herbs are getting four hours of sunshine daily.
Another is to acclimate the plants gradually. There are two kinds of leaves that plants produce in response to weak or strong light. The high-light leaves are narrow, strong and thick, whereas low-light leaves are broader, more delicate and thinner than the high-light leaves.
Others things to be considered include soil, fertilizer and water. After light, good soil is the second most important factor to produce herb plants that are healthy. With some exceptions, herbs need great drainage, particularly on the winter months, when the rates of transpiration are lowest. When the roots are being confined in a planter or plot, air and water cannot easily move. For improving drainage, but without sacrificing nutrients, perlite or sharp sand should be added to fine sterilized compost-based mix. Majority of herbs do good in soils with 6-7 pH.
Most people think incorrectly that herbs are able to grow better in poor soil. When the culinary herbs are grown outdoors in gardens, their flavors are stronger. However, in the confines of pots, the supplementary feedings with organic fish emulsion or liquid fertilizer are necessary. Herbs should be fed once a week as the plants are growing actively, but not when inactive.
Watering is not an unimportant matter with the herbs. Generally, water more thoroughly and less often, and when the soil becomes dry. If the soil is dry to the touch, just add water till it comes out beneath of the pot. When the water does not come out, it means there is a drainage problem in the pot. If this happens, the first thing to do is to check if the holes are not blocked. If not, then re-pot with soil which has a good drainage.

Kevin Payne is gardener enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby. The newest eBook, "Herb Garden Kits," teaches gardening and everything you need to know about Growing Herbs Indoors. If you need to know more info starting and maintaining a thriving herb gardening visit http://www.herbgarden-kits.com/

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