Methods of Herb Growing

Grow herbs using several different methods to give you fresh herbs for cooking.kitchen herbs image by PhotographerOne from Fotolia.com

Herbs are one of the most versatile plants to grow. Gardeners like to grow herbs for their beauty and fragrance. Chefs like to grow herbs so they always have fresh herbs in easy reach. You can choose from a few different methods for growing herbs. Choose your method depending on the amount of space and time you have for gardening.

Inside Pots

Grow your herbs inside your home. To do this, buy planting pots. Many people who plant herbs inside their homes use the windowsill in the kitchen or another window that has ample sunlight. When growing pots indoors, you need to make sure to add fertilizer. Look for fertilizers that are especially for indoor edible plants. Ask an employee at your local gardening store for help. Remember not to over fertilize or under fertilize. Plants grown indoors usually need less water, depending on the conditions inside your home. Keep the soil in the pots moist, but not soaked.

Gardeners often use herbs in their gardens outside as a natural bug repellent. Some gardeners like to have plenty of herbs to use fresh and then to dry for the winter months. Growing herbs on a windowsill in the kitchen just does not suffice. When you do grow herbs outdoors, it allows you to have much bigger plants and gives you a greater yield if you use herbs in your cooking. Make sure your garden soil is well tilled with no rocks or large lumps of soil. Follow the directions on the seed packets for specific directions regarding your chosen herbs. Water frequently, at least once a week and more during hot, dry times to keep the soil around the plants moist. To harvest, trim the mature herbs with scissors; doing so also keeps the plant growing.

Use the hydroponic method if you prefer. The hydroponic method is where you grow plants using water instead of soil. The roots of the plants are below the water while the rest of the plant is above. This is a good method to use in green houses. If you want to plant your herbs using the hydroponic method, it is necessary to make "teas" for fertilizer. A "tea" is simply a water mixture that you drain from compost. You can fill a bucket with composting items, such as shredded newspaper, kitchen scraps, ashes, manure and other items. Fill the remainder of the bucket with water and let the "tea" steep. After that, drain off the water and add this to the water containing the roots of your herb plants to give them the necessary nourishment they need.