You have decided to take up herb gardening, good for you. If you have a little experience in planting and caring for plants, this is the perfect hobby for you. But, do not be overwhelmed if you are unfamiliar with the principles of herb gardening. In this article I will provide you with basic information on how to go about starting and growing your first herb garden.
The first step when it comes to growing herbs is to choose what herbs you would like to grow. There are literally thousands of types of herbs and you should choose only those that you know a lot about and enjoy growing. Once you have decided which herbs you would like to begin with, you need to determine where you will be growing them. If you have limited space, you may want to start small and grow your herb garden in pots. But if you have room and garden soil, planting a big Rosemary bush in a pot or container is an excellent idea.
Next, you will need to get the proper equipment. Some basic tools that are essential for herb gardening include a sharp knife, garden hoe, a sharp pair of scissors, hoes with sharp blades, potting soil, stakes, a trellis kit, stakes and a wooden board. These tools are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased at your local gardening store, lumberyard, or online. Before using any of these tools, practice with them until they are comfortable enough for gardening.
When choosing which herbs to plant, pick those with hardy seeds. Seeds from hardy herbs will generally resist cold weather much better than those from not so hardy herbs. You should also try and select plants that have similar growing requirements to Rosemary and other plants you are already growing. Some examples of plants with common growing requirements are sun, wind and shade.
Rosemary can be grown in a variety of areas and climates. In a southern climate it is an ideal plant to start planting early in the spring as the leaves begin to appear. It is important to note, however, that in the winter months, Rosemary should be moved indoors if it is in full bloom. Because it is a woody perennial, it is very susceptible to drying out.
Because the leaves of Rosemary are somewhat fragile and short, it is not recommended to pull the plant’s leaves while it is still in the ground. Instead, gently clip the stems by hand. A high-quality trellis or twine will provide an ideal location to plant the herb. To harvest the herb after the flower has opened, snip off the long needlelike leaves just below the flower. You will not have to worry about cutting the stem and leaving unsightly buds as you will not see the stems of this herb when it is in its whole state.
Rosemary is a favorite among herb gardening enthusiasts for a number of reasons. One of them is how well it responds to the fertilizer and soil additives that are used to help it grow. This herb is one of those that grow quickly and stay put even in poor soils. Another reason it is so good for growing is because of the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties it possesses. Rosemary leaf powder can be added to the soil before planting to control these pesky insects.
The best time to grow Rosemary is spring, but it can be grown year round if you have room. It does well with a warm sunny location. Because it does not need much maintenance, you can easily grow an entire herb garden with just a handful of this herb. In fact, you can use Rosemary to season all of your favorite foods. If you love gardening herbs and your taste buds to enjoy the flavor, then try growing Rosemary.