Grow An Organic Herb Garden
Growing herbs in your garden or indoors is one of the most exciting experience that you can ever have as a gardener. Herbs add spice and fragrance to our foods and provide medicinal values to our bodies. If you are a beginner to herb gardening, we will show you how you can grow organic herbs at the comfort of your homestead and enjoy full-year supply of fresh, organic and tasty herbs.
How to Start an Organic Herb Garden
Herbs are very easy to grow because they require less space and maintenance. They can either be grown outdoors in the garden or indoors in containers. One of the main advantages of growing your own organic herbs is that you are certain of what you are consuming. If you want organic herbs that are free from chemicals, you must use the right certified materials and organic compost manure.
Herbs can be grown from either seeds, divisions, cuttings propagation, or from layering. Herbs such as Tarragon, mint and Chives can grow well from division. Cuttings do well when growing herbs such as Rosemary, Lemon balm, Lavender and Sage.
Most of herbs require more sunlight and it’s therefore advisable to grow them in an area with good supply of direct sunlight of about six hours in a day.
Which is better: Indoors or Outdoors?
Since herbs require less maintenance and space to grow, they can be grown either indoors or outdoors. However, there are a few factors that you need to consider so as to way the best option among the two alternatives.
When you grow organic herbs outdoors in your garden, they are not movable even during the harsh winter season. This means they will not do well in such cold conditions and you will get low yields.
On the other hand, when you plant your organic herbs in containers, you can move them indoors during the harsh winter season. Herbs grown indoors are also easy to monitor and control any pest and disease infestations.
Indoor organic herbs also require a source of light for about six hours a day and you must put them in a near window or balcony. Alternatively, you can use grow lights to supply them with the much needed light.
Going by the ease of monitoring and mobility, growing your organic herbs indoors can be more rewarding than in an outdoor garden.
The Best Herbs That Canadian Gardeners Can Grow
If you have always liked to grow your own herbs, here are the best organic herbs that you can grow in your garden or indoors.
Rosemary
Rosemary is one of the most popular and loved herb that gives your foods a unique fragrance. You can also use it as a decorative herb during the festive season. To harvest Rosemary, you just snip the stalks off with scissors at your desired height.
You can also use the fresh Rosemary stalks to make hot drinks such as winter tea and enjoy at the comfort of your home.
Thyme
There are different varieties of thyme flavored herbs that you can select depending with your preference. They are also easy to grow and you can use them to spice your favorite dishes. When they are fully grown, you just snip the stalks near the base of the plant and add them to your foods and enjoy.
Oregano
Oregano is another outstanding herb that you can use to flavor roasts and stuffing, spice Italian sauces among other dishes. They are also easy to grow and when fully grown, you just snip the stalks and strip the leaves.
Chives
Chives are decorative herbs that can be grown indoors during winter. They produce colorful purple edible flowers which are perfect for use in salads.
When mixed with salads, they produce a garlic-like flavor coupled with a crunchy texture. When Chives are fully grown, you just need to snip of branches close to the base of the mother plant.
Basil
Basil herbs grows well indoors and you can use them to spice your kitchen dishes. To harvest the fully grown Basil, you just need to punch off bunches of leaves using your fingers which are above the newly developed leaves.
Parsley
Parsley is another popular herb in Canada which grows up to about one foot tall. It’s an annual herb although it can become biennial in some warmer regions. There are two varieties of Parsley namely; Curly and Italian flat leaf parsley.
The Curly variety is best for garnish while the Italian flat leaf parsley is mostly used for adding flavor.
Sage
Sage is a perennial herb that has a woody stem and greyish green leaves. It can also do well when planted in containers.
To harvest Sage, just pinch off the leaves or stem and you can use them as fresh or dry them for later use.
You can use it to spice your kitchen dishes, add it to tea or use it for smudging.
Mint
Mint is also a perennial herb that grows up-to 2 feet tall. There are different varieties of mint herbs and they are used to add flavor to different dishes.
They grow well in containers and they grow rapidly giving you a lot of vegetative leaves and stem to harvest.
When they are fully grown, you can harvest them by just pinching the leaves and stem. Mint herbs can be used when fresh or dried.