Growing Your Own Herbal Tea Garden
These days more people than ever, are turning to the healing benefits of herbal teas. The problem is that most people live in the city with little to no yard in which to grow a herb garden. So the solution is to grow a herbal tea garden in pots on your balcony, patio or the window sill. But how do you go about this? Why should you do this? And when is the best time to harvest the leaves?
You can harvest either fresh leaves to dry for winter use or for immediate use. Something to remember is that with fresh leaves you will need more of the herb then when it is dry. Be careful not to take too many at once or you will kill the plant. Grow multiple plants of the same kind to prevent this. Harvest the leaves at as close to dawn as possible in order to get as much of the beneficial oils in the plants as possible. To reap the full benefits of the herbs sweeten the teas with honey not sugar. Sugar tends to reduce if not totally block the benefits of the herbs.
What kinds of plants are good for herbal teas? A great place to start in answering that question is in understanding the benefits of the herbs you will most likely grow. Popular herbs in most herbal gardens are listed below.
Mints…There are so many varieties of this little but tall beauty. There are so many flavors out there besides the standard garden varieties like peppermint and spearmint. There is apple, lemon, pineapple, chocolate, lavender and believe it or not catnip is in the mint family. But one thing all the varieties of mints have in common is that it is great for an upset stomach, nausea , depression, stomach flu, flatulence, heartburn, liver function, hunger, gall bladder, menstruation, headache, toothache, thrush, chapped hands, bee stings and other kinds of insect bites, bad breathe (always a good one), foot baths, and depression. By the way catnip will help with your stomach, provided that you can get past the bitter taste.
Chamomile…Unlike mint chamomile has only two types; Roman and German. The German is the herb that is the best. The part that you use is the small flowers. This plant needs sandy soils and plenty of sun and water. Chamomile is used for indigestion, nausea, insomnia, promoting the healing of wounds, an anti-inflammatory, headaches, colitis, bladder or kidney infections, warts, pink eyes, chapped skin and eyestrain. This herb has a apple scent and taste to it.
Lemon Balm…This plant can be grown either by seed or by plant dividing. It isn’t picky with the soil type or sun quality. This herb is good in a tea not just for the lemony taste but for what it can do for you. It can help you with nausea, headache, toothache, flatulence, digestion, menstration, eczema, mumps, fever, depression, cold sores, stomach cramps, a sedative, anxiety and bleeding.
Thyme is another herb that is good for stomach troubles. It has a spicy taste to it so you may have to take your time to get used to it. Also do not use if you are pregnant, sensitive skin, and if taken in large amounts may cause poisoning by overstimulating the thyroid gland. However if the necessary precautions are followed then this herb can help with stomach upset, insect bites, cough, flatulence, asthma, colds, bronchitis, rheumatism, water retention, digestion.
Basil…This herb takes a bit to get used to the spicy taste but this herb that has about 250 varieties is not just wonderful in cooking but in teas as well. You could grow several types in one pot. But what this tasty and aromatic plant is good for as far as your health is concerned is…indigestion, anxiety, stomach cramps, sores, insomnia, depression, nausea, lung congestion, milk production, menstrual cycle, insects stings, and acne.
There so many wonderful herbs that are great to grow in a potted herbal tea garden. It is up to you to discover which ones work for you and learn what soils that work for the herbs; that way you can group herbs that match soil type and sun requirement. Growing your own herbs for teas is a rewarding experience. If you’re just beginning the important thing is to learn and have fun.
