Mint Plants
Mint Plants
The Best Herb Garden Plants For Inside Your Home
Many people want to know which herb garden plants will grow best inside your home. Well the answer is simple. Nearly all herb garden plants can be grown inside. However, before you go move your entire container garden inside there are some things to consider. Individual herb garden plants will require different environments in order to grow well.
Growing herb garden plants in your home is not only a great way to add tons of great flavor to food, but it’s also a great way to add beauty to your home. Many herb garden plants are quite beautiful, in addition to being useful. Take, for example, Lavender. Lavender has small, pretty, light purple flowers and is not only beautiful to look at, it is also edible. Lavender is popular in some European cuisines and it is also popular in health and beauty products. Instead of paying a fortune for Lavender infused oil, you can simply make your own and have complete control over the result.
When you grow herb garden plants in your home, it’s important to consider where the plants will be placed. Some herb garden plants such as Basil, Oregano, Thyme or Sage prefer full sun, whereas herbs like Chervil and Mint prefer partial sun. Often those who are trying to grow herb garden plants indoors find that it is helpful to use artificial light sources. Fluorescent light bulbs are an affordable way to provide light to your plants in the right spectrum to help them grow. There are other forms of grow light bulbs as well, but fluorescent bulbs are the most affordable and widely available option.
Another important consideration to be made when growing herb garden plants in your home is water. Some plants, such as varieties of Mint, like a lot of water whereas plants like Thyme and Sage do not. Water is something easy to control in an indoor garden. Just be sure that you make a note of which plants need to be watered frequently so that you don’t end up over watering your drought resistant plants.
Growing an herb garden indoors is a great way to begin gardening. Herbs are easy to grow in comparison to other plants like roses or citrus trees. Several different types of herbs can be started from the cuttings of healthy plants, although most are started from seed. Most seed packages will tell you what type of environment that your plants need. Since you won’t be planting them outdoors, you won’t have to worry about frosts and freezes in regards to when you plant.
One last thing to keep in mind when planting an indoor herb garden is the container you plant your herbs in. You will want to be sure that you plant your herbs in containers that are attractive, but also that those containers are adequate for the herbs you put in them. Some plants, such as Mint, like very moist soil, so you would put it in a pot that allowed it to stay moist.
Indoor herb gardens are beautiful, practical and easy to grow. With little effort, you can enjoy fresh herbs all year long.
About the Author
Pat McTigue is an herb garden enthusiast. For great information on
herb garden plants, visit http://topherbgardensecrets.com/.
Any recipes for mint leaves besides mojitos? What else can I use it for? I have lots of mint plants in my yard
When mint is ground it has a different taste, although still refreshing. Make a Pesto with mint or mint and basil. It's really really good!
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A Basic Guide to Herb Garden Plants
Before you begin planting your herb garden, you will need to know basic information about herb plants in general. Garden herbs, like other plants, may be annuals, perennials, or biennials. Each one has certain growing characteristics that may determine its placement in the garden. You also need to be aware of growing requirements, the specific uses of the herb, and generally how to harvest it.
Examples of annuals, plants that mature in one year, then die, are basil, cilantro and summer savory. These can be planted from seed or purchased as starter plants yearly. Biennials like parsley, caraway or angelica grow foliage the first season, and next year will bear flowers and seeds. Some examples of perennials are sage, tarragon, thyme and oregano. These return year after year, and most will survive colder temperatures. Many perennial herbs grow quite large, so you may need only one or two plants.
You can start your herbs from seed by sowing them in late winter in flats of fine loose soil or in starter pots. Some, like parsley and cilantro are better planted directly into the garden. Always ensure your soil is moist and fine, as well as loose. Herbs don't like to be in wet soggy soil. Mix fine seeds with some sand, so they spread out better. Check the seed packages for any specific planting requirements.
We categorize herbs by how they are mainly used. Some herbs will appear in more than one category. Culinary herbs, the most commonly grown ones, are used mainly to add zest to your meals. The most commonly known culinary herbs are parsley, chives, thyme, basil, oregano, savory, rosemary, tarragon and dill.
Another group of herbs that are related to culinary herbs are those grown for teas or tisanes. Many fragrant herbs make wonderful herbal teas, for aiding relaxation, sleep, or even energizing you. Mint is probably the most common tea herb, but others such as sage, thyme, chamomile, bergamot and lemon verbena also make delicious herb teas. These can be used alone or in combinations, fresh or dried. You'll be guided by personal taste in choosing tea herbs.
Other herbs are grown for their aromatic flowers and foliage. They are used to make fragrant oils, potpourris, and sachets. For example, you can refresh your linen closet or your clothes drawers with sprigs or sachets of dried lavender or mint flowers and leaves. Fragrant herbs such as lemon verbena, rosemary, mint and even rose petals are often used in commercial cosmetics, soaps and toilet waters.
Another group of herbs you may wish to grow are used to enhance health. Many of these have a long history of use in folk medicine. These herbal preparations were once the only medications used, and in some countries, they are still the only available treatments. Many medicines we use today are derived from natural plants. Some commonly recognized medicinal herbs are arnica, calendula, fennel, sage, valerian and echinacea. Before using herbs as curatives, you must familiarize yourself with their properties, and study how to correctly use them.
We also can grow herbs because they are beautiful, and add to our visual enjoyment. Lavender is often grown for its spikes of lavender flowers, echinacea for its bold orange and purple blooms, and varieties of sage for red or blue blossoms and dusty green foliage. Who hasn't seen creeping blankets of thyme draping over rock gardens, with a blush of tiny purple flower spikes.
Many herbs mentioned will overlap into different groups, since they are grown for different uses. The best example, mint, is used for cooking, tea, cosmetics and pest control. No matter your reason for starting your own home herb garden, by understanding how different plants are used, you will be able to choose the right herbs just for you.
About the Author
Gardening expert Nicki Goff offers a free e-mail starter course all about her main passion... herb gardening. For access, visit her website, Home Herb Gardener.
You'll find more great tips, and her new comprehensive e-book on creating, maintaining and enjoying your own home herb garden
right here.
Mint Plants