Growing herbs as been a popular activity throughout history dating back to the Bible. Producing herbs in one’s home herb garden has always been a time tested method of assuring a constant supply on these fine flavorful plants.

This took a backdrop with the enduring popularity of convenient food stores and mass manufacturing of these ”products”, however, actually there is a strong resurgence of interest in the joy of creating and maintaining a personal home herb garden. The pleasure and excitement of growing herbs has been rediscovered and is even practiced in small apartments in urban areas.

Returning to this wonderful and practical hobby can be for many different reasons. The home herb garden can be cultivated for economical reasons, freshness and availability of the product, the scents and flavors associated with having herbs growing in your environment. There are many other reasons that can be attributed to this pastime if not simply for the sheer pleasure of seeing these beautiful plants come to life in your environment.

If you are among the newly initiated, you may have to do a little homework to start you off in the right direction. There is a large selection of different herbs to choose from when starting a herb garden project.

There are basically 73 different herbs recognized and are divided into 4 main categories classified for their individual usage. However, certain herb can be used for more than one purpose so can be classified in more than one category.

The list of herbs is quite extensive and can be classified in 4 main categories: aromatic, medicinal, ornamental and culinary. The gardener can choose which herbs he will be growing by defining the usage he plans to use them for once harvested. This is a brief review of the 4 main categories.

Culinary Usage
The many usage of herbs to enhance the taste of food has been mentioned repeatably through history. So many recipes have been created and savored by the perfect amount of a well balanced mix of herbs.

Most often a small garden can provide for a family very well so the amount of space needed depending on the variety you may wish to grow. Since herbs are used in small quantity, 1 or 2 plants can will be sufficient for a normal household. Among the most popular herbs grown are thyme, basil, sage, chives, oregano, mint, rosemary and savory.

Aromatic Usage
Aromatic herbs are in a class of their own. They offer great pleasure to the senses if not by their beauty then by the wonderful scent of the foliage and flowers.

If you choose to grow herbs with that intention, aromatic herbs can be a very interesting garden project. The enchanting fragrances come from their oils produced while growing and are used to produces various perfumes, eau de toilette and lotions.

Once harvested and dried, you can enjoy the smell of the plants for many months. They can be used to freshen the air in rooms or spaces and even used to give a pleasant smell to clothes and linen.

Aromatic herbs that are popular:  basil, marjoram, mint and rosemary.

Medicinal Usage

Before modern medicine, medicinal herbs has long been used to treat injuries and many levels of sickness. Many herbs are known and used even nowadays for their healing qualities. They play an important role in many products we by in a pharmacy, prescriptions and is used extensively with alternative natural medicine.

If you plan to grow herbs for medicinal usage, please research these herbs and capacities, They can be excellent when used in the right conditions but can be unpredictable if used randomly.

Medicinal herbs commonly used: Ginseng, Ephedra, Catnip, Dandelion and St. John’s Wort.

Ornamental Usage
Thought not always the first group of plants to be proposed when discussing landscaping, an wisely designed arrangement of ornamental herbs can be quite breathtaking by their brightly colored flowers and foliage.

They can be combined with other plants or even other herbs to create an overall exotic layout. Among the ornamental herbs that are often

Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare (Umbelliferae)

Appearance: These tall graceful herb garden plants have fine foliage which can be used fresh throughout summer. The thick and shiny primary stem reaches about 1.5 m (5 ft) with featherlike soft fine foliage topped by delicate yellow flowers blooming in midsummer.

Usage: Fennel is a popular and very traditional seasoning for fatty meats. In small quantities it may be used as an addition to lamb or poultry. It greatly enhances the taste of fish, particularly oily fish. Seed is used in bread dough. Use steeped in oil or yoghurt to make a salad or vegetable dressing. Fennel bulbs are delicious.

History: These herb garden plants have been grown and used in northern Europe and the mediterranean region since Roman times. Fennel was transported to the New World as a digestive remedy by settlers. (Seeds) Fennel seeds provide an anise—flavoured condiment stifles appetite and were used in Europe during religious fasting. Puritan communities in the USA took seeds of fennel and dill into church to chew during long services. Hence the expression “meeting seeds”. ln the Middle Ages it was placed into keyholes to stop the migration of evil spirits. The Romans employed fennel as a specific for various and regarded it as an agent of power and safe travelling.

Cultivation: Fennel is a tall plant suitable for the back of the herb border. Seed should be sown in late spring. To maintain Sow a few seeds in succession with about a 10-day interval between sowings. Cultivate as an annual if desired, but the established roots produce hardy plants that easily survive winter. Divide established roots from established herb garden plants in the fall (autumn) after seed has been harvested.

Harvesting: Fennel is sap rich and does not dry easily. Collect seed heads immediately you observe a color change. Hang them up in a dry, well ventilated environment out of the sun. Place a large tray or towel/paper/cloth underneath to collect the seeds easily.

Rosemary is a great plant to add to a fresh herb garden. While many people will opt for complete separation of the herb, it is a great herb to grow among other plants because of the look and smell it permeates throughout the garden. If you choose to grow rosemary among other plants, there are certain precautions you can take to keep the plants from spreading too rapidly. Whether you grow the rosemary in a separate area, or with the rest of the garden, you should definitely grow this hearty herb.

Getting started with growing rosemary usually means using a cutting for propagation. While it is possible to grow rosemary from a seed, it is often difficult to germinate the seed in order to grow a strong, healthy plant. It is also fair to expect anything when growing from a seed. When growing from a cutting, you will be able to get about the same plant as the plant the cutting was taken from. This is a good way to grow exactly what you want in your fresh herb garden.

In order to get started with a cutting, cut off about 2 inches from a new growth from a plant in a friend’s garden. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting and dip it into a rooting hormone. The next step is to plant your cutting into a seed starting mix. Make sure the container is put in a warm spot so it will have the chance to grow a strong root system. The usual length of time to develop roots is about 2 – 3 weeks. You will know when you have good roots when the cutting is resistant to any pulling upward. Transfer the rooted plant into a prepared soil bed and pinch of the top of the plant.

If you are planting your rosemary in the same garden as the rest of your plants, use a separator, which digs in to the soil at least six inches. This will prevent the roots from growing in the direction of the rest of the garden and inhibit growth in that direction. You will also need to practice proper pruning techniques in order to control the growth of the plant. It is recommended to reduce the volume of the plant by 1/3 when it is getting too big. This will control the growth, but leave enough leaves on the plant in order to keep growing. Make sure all pruning cuts are made with sharp shears at the stem of the plant.

When growing your rosemary outdoors, there is not much problem with pests attacking the plant. The only problem you may encounter with rosemary is if you decide to remove it from the fresh herb garden and take it inside for the winter. The biggest problem you may encounter is in developing powdery mildew, or being attacked by aphids and spider mites. In order to overcome powdery mildew, use an oscillating fan to create an artificial breeze and allow the soil to be somewhat drier than normal. In order to overcome aphids and spider mites, apply insecticide soap.

Although when lavender is mentioned visions of sweet smelling cachets, perfumes and oils come to mind, lavender is an herb and a very tasty one at that. The use of the lavender herb as an aromatic or medicinal herb has been common throughout history.

Recipes for healing and perfumes were passed on through the generations in written documentation or oral lessons on usage and applications of this very aromatic herb. In early history, the lavender herb was only grown by royal families and in monasteries. Tutankhamen’s tomb is said to have jars of a mixture that smells like lavender and during that time period lavender was used in embalming methods. However, let’s consider using this fragrant herb for culinary purposes.

Lavender (Lavandula) is a member of the mint family and can easily be substituted for rosemary in recipes. Usually the leaves and the flowers of the bush are used as the stems can be hard and woody. The lavender herb may be brewed into a tea to alleviate headaches, relieve stress and depression and aid in sleep. Drinking a cup of lavender tea before bed can be very beneficial.

In culinary applications usually just the buds and flowers are used adding a bit of a sweet and elegant flavor to dishes. Lavender syrup made by boiling water, sugar and lavender flowers may be used in ice teas, lemonades, mixed with fresh berries or poured over cakes. The lavender herb added to butter creates a delightful topping for biscuits or sweet breads.

Lavender may also be added to scones, coffee cake, pound cake for a sweet flavor, or in potato, meat and eggs dishes for a more elegant taste. Paired with a goat cheese, the lavender herb will add a new dimension of flavor. There are also many external uses for lavender, including extracting oils for perfumes, natural mosquito repellent and was even used during war time to dress wounds.

Lavender is difficult to cultivate indoors, but drying the lavender herb for storage will keep plenty on hand for culinary purposes. Lavender is an excellent herb to grow in an herb garden, not only for the beautiful fragrance – but also for its many uses, so experiment – create your own culinary delights!

Growing basil indoors is pretty easy, as it is a plant that doesn’t generally require a lot of care. However, you still need to keep an eye on it, especially when it’s young, because replanting can be difficult. It’s a plant that doesn’t require a whole lot, but what it does require can sometimes turn into a tedious routine.

Basil grows steadily just as long as the soil can retain sufficient water and drain excesses away. This plant really doesn’t need a whole lot of fertilization, although you should still water it one a day with warm water.

The best type of pot for growing basil is a strawberry pot. This will make it easy to keep each variety in its place. All you have to do is fill the pot with dirt up to the first opening, where you will plant some seeds and add some water. You must then proceed to fill dirt up to the next opening, and continue the process to the top. If you’re planting the basil for cooking, then plant sweet basil at the top of the pot.

Growing basil indoors is a lot like growing it out in a garden, except that you need to use a container. Any pot will do just as long as you make a few holes at the bottom. It’s important that excessive water drains out appropriately so that the roots don’t rot. This is because basil grows best in moist soil, so make sure the pot is never filled with too much water. You should also occasionally cut off single leaves. Make sure you don’t cut away leaves that are a pair.

The type of fertilizer you use depends on the reason(s) for which you’re growing the basil. If you are growing basil for food flavoring, then you should only use an organic fertilizer. For any other reason, a general fertilizer can be used just as long as it helps the plant maintain PH levels. Healthy PH levels are important when growing the basil in your home, so you need to check once a month to ensure the plants have PH levels between 6.5 and 7.5.

As with all indoor plants, lighting is important when growing basil in your home. This plant typically requires six hours or more of sunlight a day, so you need to place it near a sunny window. If this isn’t an option, then you need to place it under fluorescent lights for at least ten hours a day. Some people choose to alternate between sun and artificial light when growing basil indoors. Whatever you do, make sure it doesn’t get too little or too much.