What a fantastic idea! My chia herb garden solved all the hassles when it came to growing herbs on the kitchen shelf. Even for a gardening expert, growing herbs can be quite time consuming and for amateurs, there is a lot to learn. Just like humans, every plant is different in some ways and if you want your efforts to bear fruit, there is some homework to be done. Moreover, how many times have you earned the disapproving look or incurred the wrath of your spouse, all because of those tracks of muddy hand and shoes! That is more than sufficient to discourage many gardening enthusiast! The great news is that you can do away with all the above concerns with a chia herb garden.

The name “chia herb” does not refer to a particular herb. “Chia” means small – and chia herbs mean exactly that -herbs that can be grown indoors or on a windowsill. A chia herb garden is a kit that is readily available in most stores and comprises all the necessary supplies that one requires to grow herbs indoors successfully: seeds, terracotta pots and saucers, a chia sponge and the instruction manual.

The most important condition for germinating the seeds is that you maintain the surroundings of the chia herb garden as warm and humid. This can be obtained by simply using a plastic bag to cover the upper part of the pot Evidence of condensation will be seen after a few hours of wrapping the pot with the plastic bag.

Once the seeds start sprouting and after two sets of leaves appear, you can move your chia herb garden to the windowsill where the herbs will get adequate sunlight. Ensure that the chia sponge does not dry out, however do not get it very wet or soggy,  just make it damp or moist enough to ensure that the herbs start growing little shoots.

Apart from the above steps, growing herbs in a chia herb garden is relatively hassle-free since you don’t have to fertilize the plants every four to six weeks or ensure your potting mix is good. The chia sponge is composed of tree bark and peatmoss, it is a substitute for the traditional potting mix and does the magic for the growth of the herbs. Sometimes while germinating, one may notice some white growth however, do not be alarmed as this is a part of growing a chia herb garden, in fact it facilitates the development of the seeds. The white growth is a by-product of the bark, it is caused by the humidity in the air and is mostly observed in seeds that take long time to germinate.

If after some time one wants to shift the chia herb garden to the backyard, it is not as complicated as in traditional herb gardening. All is necessary is to put a hand at the base, the other hand on the soil top and turn the terracotta pot containing the herb upside down. The sponge does not crumble like normal soil and your herbs can be easily transplanted, just make sure that the hole in the ground is bigger than the chia sponge.

Thus the bottom line is that it is easy and fun growing a chia herb garden.

A herb of the year awardee in 2001 by the International Herb Association, sage is a herb garden plant that is considered as a very efficient cooking help as complements specifically for poultry, pork and veal.

Sage was enjoyed as a tea for many years during Charlemagne’s reign, and its use dates well back into ancient Rome for medicinal purposes due to its high antioxidant content. (The Romans even thought it to be the “herbal savior of mankind” because of its medicinal properties. The belief that the growth of sage in a garden promotes immortality stems from these same ancient forefathers.) Today, studies confirm that it is a wonderful memory enhancer, a great way to introduce a helpful herb.

Nowadays, there are only four recommended sage plants for your garden. These would be: Garden sage, Purple Sage, Tri-color Sage, and Golden Sage. Regardless of which sage you choose, you should plant it well under a full sun with well-draining soil. (Note: the roots don’t like to get wet.)

You can grow sage from seeds, but it does not easily germinate, and unfortunately, not all seeds will germinate no matter how hard you try to keep the soil damp and not wet. Germination may even take up to more than 6 weeks. So it is best recommended that sage be grown from cuttings.

From a mature sage plant, take some cuttings. Dip the tip of the cutting (where you cut it) in rooting hormone (available in local plant and gardening stores in your area). Until new growth appears on the cutting, cover it in plastic and keep in indirect sunlight. When new growths start to appear, you can plant it directly on garden soil or in your containers. It grows to a height of almost 3 feet.

Sage is a great herb to have in the kitchen. So plant one (or two) for your dishes today.

When the summer ends and autumn passes away, that does not mean you have to kiss your herb garden goodbye until next year. You don’t have to buy dried, bottled herbs from the grocery store all winter. You can move your herbs indoors and continue to enjoy herbs that you have grown yourself. Often, growing herbs in pots is a fun way to continue gardening indoors. But there are definitely some things to remember when doing so.

It is important when you are growing herbs in pots that you ensure the pots drain properly. A good tip is to use one third each top quality potting soil, sand and humus. During the winter, you may find that the soil may be compacted. Just grab a fork and gently rake to top layer to loosen it up. Although it is obviously important to water, during the winter herbs don’t grow as fast so they won’t need quite as much. A really good tip to remember is the time to water is when the surface of the soil is nearly dry, but still very slightly damp. Of course you don’t want to completely dry out the soil.

During the winter, growing herbs in pots is going to take more care. Often the air in our homes is stuffy during the winter, so gently mist the plants regularly. Also, a little fan near the pots will help to circulate the air, but will most likely mean more frequent watering since it may dry out the soil faster. It is also a very good idea to use fertilizer once a month.

Although growing herbs in pots means that the herbs are obviously indoors it does not necessarily mean they are safe from pests. In the instance that you do have a problem, it is not as hard as dealing with them outside. Simply get a hold of a insecticidal soap and spray the leaves of the plants on top and bottom. They will still be safe to consume if you were to add them to a favorite dish to spice it up. So by doing a little research and with a bit of determination, your indoor herb garden will be a success even in the winter.

Italian herbs are quintessential items on all of your favorite dishes from salmon to pasta to chicken. You will be amazed at how easy it is to set up your own Italian herb garden and grow basil, thyme, oregano and much more by following a few simple steps.

To start you will need to purchase containers that are large enough for the herbs to grow while having an adequate drainage area. Next, place the potting soil in the container with the seeds of the herbs you will be growing.

It is important you understand that unlike flowers and vegetables, herbs do not need to be watered on a constant basis. The key is to make sure the soil is moist enough for the herbs to properly grow. If it is moist, there is no need to water anymore.

After a little time you will begin to see two or three inch stalks, which is essentially when you can use the fresh herbs in your cooking. You can either pull the leaves from the plant while leaving an inch or two of growth or you can cut them with small scissors. Leaving an inch or two allows for further growth following this batch.

As mentioned, there are a number of different kinds of herbs you can grow with your Italian herb garden. Basil is perfect for tomato-based Italian dishes, thyme is used with lamb and tomatoes, while oregano is most common with tomato dishes, fried foods and grilled meats.

Herbs are an essential piece to most meals you will consume. For this reason, it only makes sense to grow your very own fresh herbs within an Italian herb garden.