3 Important Tips for Your Herb Garden Plants
By admin at 21 January, 2010, 4:59 pm
Like other types of plants, herb garden plants come in different forms. There are different varieties of herbs. If you are planning to have one type of herb garden plant, you should know how to care for it and how to use it properly. To better understand different types of herb garden plants and their uses, you should continue reading this article.
Annuals like basil, cilantro, and summer savory will not survive a frost. They need to be planted from a seed or a small plant every year. Perennials like sage and winter savory can survive colder temperatures and will return year after year. Biennial herbs are herb garden plants that form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Biennial herb garden plants like parsley, angelica, or caraway should be sown in late spring directly into the garden. Prepare the soil first by working it to a fine texture and wet it slightly. Plant the seeds in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. Fine seeds can be planted in a mixture of sand which will allow them to spread more evenly. You can also cover the bed with wet burlap or paper in order to keep the soil moist during germination.
Herb garden plants are also grouped into the categories for which they are used. Culinary herbs are probably the most useful to herb gardeners. They have a huge range of different uses in cooking. Because of their strong flavors, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities to add flavor to different types of food. Parsley are extremely popular herb garden plants that are used mostly as a garnish. Aromatic herbs have pleasant smelling flowers or foliage. Oils from aromatic herbs like loyage, mint, and rosemary can be used to make different types of perfumes, toilet water, or other various scents. Parts of aromatic herb garden plants used intact can also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. They can also be dried and made into potpourri which will enable them to be able to retain their aroma for a long period of time. Lavender and lemon verbenas are great herb garden plants to use for potpourri. Some herbs are also used for medicinal purposes. For centuries herbs have been thought to have the ability to cure the body. Present medical knowledge recognizes that some herb garden plants are beneficial to ones health, others are overrated. Herbs used for medicinal purposes should be used carefully. Some herb garden plants are harmless but others can be dangerous if eaten.
Herb garden plants are not only used for their flavor, scent, or ability to heal. Some of them are used to decorate houses because of their brightly colored flowers and foliage. Valerian which has light colored flowers and crimson blossoms are favorite decors. Borage and chicory are also used because they have beautiful blue flowers.
Herb garden plants are categorized with their uses but still some of them can be used in different purposes. Mint can be used either for cooking, tea, and pest control. Whatever purpose you have in herb plants, at least you have the right knowledge of their proper uses.
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