Organic Herb Gardening
Organic Herb Gardening is both beneficial for you, and the herbs are easy to grow. If you have ever wondered what types of chemicals are found on store bought herbs that you pick up at the market, you will be more than happy to purchase food grown in an organic garden.
When we think of herbs, we think of having a cup of mint tea, or taking a fragrant lavender bath. You can smell the fragrance of the spices in your herb garden, or taste the Italian dishes full of garlic, basil, and oregano. Herbs have many uses other than just spices for your food.
They have been used in every culture down through history. Using herbs started around 2700 B.C., by the Chinese. Then they spread to the Greeks and Romans and were used by them to crown their heroes.
Organic herbs were found in their own habitat without any sort of pesticides to drive away unwanted insects, and they thrived without any type of fertilizer at all, except what nature itself has provided for them.
So what is the big secret to having a nice healthy, thriving herb garden? Think about the above paragraph and you will realize that what nature provided for these plants was nothing more than old dried out leaves covered with dirt and aged over a time period. So the secret is to plant your herb garden with plenty of compost.
Soil is the largest problem that herb gardeners have. Mulching, compost, kitchen scraps, and other recycling materials can be used in the soil that you prepare for your own herb garden. Be very careful not to over water your herbs; that is just as bad as not getting enough water. You can purchase a soil tester to keep a check on your moisture level.
Many of these herbs have a natural bug repellent built into their composition. Herbs such as chives help the other herbs by keeping bugs at bay. Herbs like to be planted fairly close together, just for this reason. However, some herbs do not do well in a companion environment, such as mint which likes to take over the entire area. So it should be planted in a spot by itself and then you will still need to clip the edges, so that it doesn’t overtake the other herbs.
Some of the kinds of herbs that can be grown in an organic garden include Sweet Basil, Bay, Chervil, Chive, Dill, Garlic, Mint, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon, and Thyme. Other more unfamiliar herbs are Catnip, Catmint, Dill, Fennel, Chamomile, Lavender, Cilantro, and the list just goes on and on.
If you are not sure how to start an organic herb garden just ask someone at your local garden store, or purchase a book about gardening organically, or perhaps you would prefer to look it up on the internet. There is a lot of information about organic herb gardening on the internet, and you can find companies that will send you seeds or small plants, even some starter plants to help you get your organic garden going. They will explain the importance of pH, Soil requirements, and the importance of good drainage. They can explain potential pest problems, and anything you need to ask them.
Once you get started with organic herb gardening, it will become your favorite and most enjoyable hobby. Soon your small herb garden will become an even larger one, as they really do not need a lot of space, just a flowerbed, or the side of a walkway, or even in a rock garden.
