My Herb Site

Herbs have many uses and have been grown and gathered for thousands of years to protect against germs; heal injuries, infections and ailments; as scent in perfumes; to flavor food and drinks; as a disinfectant for wounds, clothes and homes and even as currency.

Growing your own herb garden is quick and simple and serves as an excellent way to reap some of the many benefits of herbs by collecting them right out of your own front yard. But before you start planting, it is important to create an herb garden plan which will help you layout your herb garden aesthetically and functionally.

Before you start planning the layout of your garden, you’ll want to consider what types of herbs you think will be most useful to you. You can base your choices on personal taste preferences or the preferences of your family or anyone else you may cook for. If choosing the herbs one by one from so many available options seems like a daunting task, consider drawing up a layout for a themed herb garden. An Italian herb garden would be useful for a cook who makes a lot of Italian dishes and sauces. If you choose an Italian herb garden consider sage, basil, chervil, parsley, onions and garlic while creating your herb garden layout. If you prefer spicy food, plan a layout for a spicy herb garden. Some options include coriander, cilantro, cumin, cayenne pepper, horseradish root and jalapeño peppers

Next, choose a number of herbs for your garden that grow to different heights. Plan the layout of your herb garden so the herb plants will be arranged varying in height. Tall herbs should be placed in the back, serving somewhat as a backdrop for your other herbs. Most of your herbs will be medium height, so set aside a lot of space in your herb garden layout for those plants. Finally, the low growing herbs should be positioned at the front of the bed where they won’t be covered by the taller plants. Also, while creating your layout, plan to use different leaf shapes and colors. Mixing shapes can create interest and will be aesthetically pleasing. Mixing different colors will also add interest to your herb garden.

During your layout process, it is also important to consider how you are going to display your herbs. Some creative options to consider include herb wheels, rock gardens, spirals, or as a border for a larger garden. If you’re looking for simplicity, plan a plain square herb garden layout. There are a number of more traditional layout such as a crosses or rhomboids. Don’t forget to consider practicality during the layout process - many gardeners plant their herb garden close to the kitchen for easy accessibility.

An indoor herb garden might be a good option for many reasons. Not everybody has the luxury of having even a patch of soil for a garden outdoors, with most of the population of the world crammed into cramped flats. Alternately, you might be living in a cold place where even if you do have a garden, for fresh herbs during winter, you will need another option – this is where an indoor herb garden becomes the perfect solution.

However, you have to keep a few things in mind while planning out your indoor herb garden. The first thing you have to do is choose what herbs to plant. Some popular and practical choices are Mint, Sage, Basil, Parsley, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Chives and Angelica.

When you buy the seeds or seedlings for this indoor herb garden, make sure that you get them either from others with gardens or from some dealer you trust.

Before you actually buy them, you have to choose the right spot for your indoor herb garden. The first consideration is light. If you can find a spot where the herbs will get plenty of natural light, great, you are set to start. If you cannot find a place like that, choose a place with as much natural light as possible, and press into service a couple of grow lamps, that is, fluorescent lamps, which will help.

Now you have to get the soil right, before you actually start planting. Getting the soil just right is important, so sterilized soil specially meant or potting, which is easily available, is a good way to go. However, you might consider mixing in one third coarse sand with it to get it just right. Next, a bit of lime to make sure that the sweetness is right is a good idea. Just a teaspoon will do for a five inch pot. Also, you have to consider drainage – gravel at the bottom, about an inch, will take care of that.

There is not such thing as the right or wrong pot, as long as it is big enough for your herbs. Old pots and kettles can all be used. It might be a fun activity for your children if you ask them to ‘dress’ the pots.

Now it is back to the basics of taking care of your herbs – water these herbs regularly, but do not drown them, keep them out of the frost, except for those few herbs that a slight frost benefit, and give them all the tender loving care you can. Talk to them, sing to them – do everything you do for your herbs, and your indoor herb garden will thrive.

Many people like to grow herbs in their home, either outdoor or indoor. There are many advantages for growing herbs in home. As everybody knows the healthiest foods are vegetables and fruits. Vegetables are rich in all the variety of vitamins our body requires. They are fiber enriched food, making the digestion process smooth and fast. Also there are many herbs which can be used as remedies for many diseases. These herbal remedies attracted attention of many and found effective in the treatment of diseases, even for severe diseases.

As the advantages of herbs are numerous and many people use them in daily diet, growing herbs is a best option. It will save much amount in your wallet if you grow herbs your own instead of going to any super market to purchase.  Also if you get herbs for cooking in home itself, it will be extremely convenient for you to store and always you can get garden fresh vegetables. The advantage of gardening herb sin home is that you can use organic manures and organic pesticides to grow the vegetables. This will not only save your health but improves lot. The vegetables you get from markets are grown with much chemical manure and by spraying many poisonous pesticides. These severely poisoned vegetables are challenge to your health and body. Many cases of diseases caused by the poisonous manures and pesticides are reported. So it is advisable to grow vegetables in home garden.  Tomatoes, ladies finger, bitter guard, green chilly, egg plant and many such vegetables can be grown in the home gardens. Also medicinal herbs such as Tulsi, ginger, neem, and hibiscus can be grown easily in home garden.

Home garden can be set up either in outdoor or indoor. Kitchen gardens in outdoor can get you all vegetables you require. If you want to do it indoor or in terrace make sure that the herbs are kept at place where enough sunlight is available. The wastes in the home can be converted to organic manure and can be used for the vegetable garden you grow; this will save you from polluting your environment. Growing herbs in home is a good exercise for the family members, especially moms who like to do the gardening as a hobby as well. Daily one hour if you spend in your garden by pouching, watering, and removing pests, you are getting the required exercises for all of your body parts.

The herb which blossoms with beautiful colored flowers is very much attractive and is a good hobby as well as money mending business. The flowers can be sold for the people who make gift baskets and you will be gained with much money. Or you can start your own home made gift baskets with home made green leaves and flowers. The demand for such gift baskets are more and growing such plants in your home is surely bring you good revenue.

Growing herbs have many advantages. It will help you in numerous ways. Make a decision and start growing the herbs in your home.

Herbs have been used for centuries in the use of treating illnesses. To this day, people around the world use herbs for treatments and cosmetics.

Ancient Egyptians were experts in the knowledge of herbs. Written texts found, dated 1500 B.C., hold references to over 700 herbal remedies and uses. The Chinese have used herbs for over 5000 years. A Chinese medical journal written in 2700 B.C. lists 13 herbal remedies.

In countries all around the world, the old ways are still practiced and many more turn to herbal use everyday. Herbs are a very important part of Wicca. They are used throughout the craft in cleansing rituals, healing the sick and spell work. They can be burned, embedded into candles and be used for extracting essential oils that they hold within. Spell work would not be complete without specific herbs used for their properties. Many are used in charm bags from warding off evil to finding true love. All different herbs can be used in Spells and Rituals to help in any area of your life.

Herbs are found in the wild and can even be grown in small container gardens for your own use. Or visit a wiccan site to find the herbs that you need. Herbs are a wonderful natural addition to any work… dont be afraid to use them

Happy Magick

Herbs to Know and Grow: Meet the Families

The herb garden is home to five major families of plants. While these families comprise literally thousands of species, a relatively small number are familiar as herbs. The five families are listed here with small sub lists of some of their more commonly known members.

Note that in the menthe or mint family, you’ll find not only all the mints, but the rosemary, lavender, oregano, sage and thyme!

1. The Parsley Family– includes chervil, fennel, parsley, dill, anise, cumin, coriander, caraway, fennel and carrot not to mention that most famous of plants, hemlock. This family is made up of plants with “umbrella” shaped flower heads.

2. The Mint Family – includes all the mints, pennyroyal, lavender, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, thyme and basil Look for the squared stem, opposing leaves and often wrinkly or hairy leaf type.

3. The Aster Family (also known as the Sunflower Family) includes daisy, thistle, calendula, dahlia, dandelion, chrysanthemums and zinnia. This family is recognizable by its daisy shaped flowers.

4 The Lily Family (recently this group has undergone a good deal of change, however, historically, this group included onion, garlic, asparagus, jonquil/daffodil, amaryllis The lily family has long then tapered leaves and a bulbous body stalk.

5. The Mustard Family includes cabbages, kale, mustard, broccoli, brussel sprouts, Chinese kale, rape seed, mustard seed, rutabaga, turnip, horseradish, wasabi.

A Few Important Things to Know About Herbs

Herbs have three different types of life cycles. They are evergreen, herbaceous or annual. The specifics of these life cycles and how to care for plants in each life cycle are given below.

Herbs grow in two phases each season: leaf producing phase and flower producing phase. Most culinary herbs are grown for their leaves or foliage. Once flower production begins, leaf production ceases. Therefore, in annuals and herbaceous varieties, harvesting the foliage consistently before the plant flowers can extend leaf production somewhat if care is taken to cut consistently.

Three types of herbs – Evergreens, Herbaceous and Annuals

EVERGREEN HERBS

The evergreen varieties of herb, for example, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, do not die back over the winter, but remain green year round. They will still require pruning to maximize their production of new tender and flavorful growth, and should be pruned at least once a year.

HERBACEOUS HERBS

The herbaceous herbs include oregano, mints, tarragon, chives bee and lemon balm, winter savory and many others. These plants will die back to the ground at wintertime. There is no need to prune these plants with care, as they can be chopped right to the ground and will come back strong and healthy. In fact, for some, an annual mowing is an easy solution.

ANNUALS

Annuals, unlike evergreens and herbaceous herbs, do not live more than one season. While evergreens and herbaceous herbs are perennials, and grow for two years or longer, annuals produce flowers and then seeds before dieing off at the end of each growing season. Therefore, annuals require new plantings each spring.

Examples of annual herbs are cilantro, basil and chervil.

Planting the Herb Garden

There are three main ingredients to a healthy and successful herb garden sunlight, soil and pruning. It simply is not true that herbs will grow anywhere in any soil. Herbs require healthy well drained soil to grow, and poor soil or poor drainage lead to failed gardens.

Sunlight is a major factor in a successful herb garden. Full sun is a must if what you want are healthy full lush herbs. Shade or lack of sun leads to “leggy” or long stemmed plants with poor foliage and little flavor. To get the full lush foliage, fragrance and flavor of exceptional herbs you need plenty of sunlight.

Soil should be loose, have a good base of composted matter, leaves or mulch to create plenty of air space for the roots and nutrients for the growing plants. Herbs need well drained soil to avoid drowning and root rot.

Pruning is the final ingredient for your healthy herb garden. Follow the guidelines according to the plant type (evergreen, herbaceous or annual) above to ensure your plants remain strong and healthy throughout the growing season.

At the very least, at the end of each growing season all herbaceous plants should be cut back completely, evergreens should be well pruned to remove older non productive woody growth and annual seeds should be collected.

Selecting The Herbs to Start Your Garden

For a simple start, consider choosing from the following selection:

1. Basil – 3 to 6 plants, depending on your taste for it. For a constant supply of fresh leaves, plant consecutively over the growing season. For fresh basil and tomato salads you’ll need at least two cups of fresh leaves to serve 4 people.

2. Greek Oregano – this hardy easy to grow herbaceous seasoning will flavor almost everything. Plan on 2 plants to start if you enjoy Italian cooking.

3. Chives – 2 to 3 plants can be found in various flavors. Delicious in fresh salads, on potatoes and in a variety of dishes

4. Parsley – 4 to 6 plants, or try a few plants of cilantro as a variation

5. Rosemary – 1 to 2 plants will get your garden started and as they grow you’ll have plenty of this pungent evergreen each year. If you live where Rosemary cannot winter over, consider using a container, or plan to harvest and dry for the winter. Delicious in rosemary garlic roasted potatoes, or place a few springs inside poultry before roasting!

6. – Marjoram – 1 to 2 plants will provide plenty of this tasty herbaceous plant for your seasoning needs. Use the leave fresh and harvest the soft seed heads for winter flavoring.

7. Bay – 1 plant which can be taken indoors in winter if needed will provide you with a bay tree. Use Bay leaves in soups. Savory stews, meat dishes and a host of other ways. Add a bay leaf to stored grains and flours to repel weevils

8. Mint – 1 plant at least, in a container so as not to take over the garden. Personally, I keep one peppermint and one spearmint, and use them both prolifically.

9. Dill – 2 to 4 plants. Like Basil, dill will need to be planted consecutively during the growing season to keep a fresh supply of leaves.

Some Tips to Success with Your Kitchen Herb Garden

1. Finding a sunny spot near the kitchen means you’ll use the herbs more often! Herb gardens far from the house or kitchen tend to be used much less often. Out of sight is out of mind, so keep it as close as you can to the kitchen door.

2. Consider using outdoor containers or raised beds. Many garden supply stores now carry old wine barrels cut in two, as well as extensive lines of prefabricated containers. Raised containers or beds mean you don’t have to get down on your hands and knees to work the garden.

3. While the idea of indoor herb gardens is quite popular, the practical truth is that unless you have plenty of indoor sunlight, your herbs simply won’t grow. A patio, porch or even a picnic table placed in the sun will serve perfectly to hold your kitchen herb garden containers.

4. Mix it up! While it is recommended that individual containers be used for each type of herb, if you’re working in an outdoor garden there’s no reason not to pretty things up: plant marigolds, zinnias, calendula or other clumping flowering plants around your borders. If you’re looking for protection from pests and animals, use wormwood and tansy as an outer border to the garden.

5. Take the time to enjoy your new herb garden! Nothing perks up a dull moment like a whiff of fresh basil or rosemary crushed between the fingers. Feeling mentally sluggish? Basil is known as the “mind clearing herb” and it’s surprising how just inhaling a few deep breaths of this pungent plant can bring your mental faculties back on line!

6. If you’re new to cooking with fresh herbs, start slowly. A great chef recommends you begin with one herb at a time: choose the herb and use it in your cooking in different ways until you get familiar with its qualities. Then try another. If you try to use too many different herbs at once you’ll end up with a muddle of flavors and it will be harder to learn the individual tastes and complimentary characteristics of different herbs.

7. Have fun! After all, the heart and soul of great food is its ability to bring pleasure and joy to the table! If you’re getting frustrated or overwhelmed by your kitchen herb garden project, take a break, find a spot in the sunshine for yourself and sip a cool drink. There is no point in stressing out over your kitchen herb garden!

Menstrual cramps are a dreaded monthly enemy for every woman. Some women experience mild pain while some unfortunate ones have extreme pain to the point it interferes with daily life. Statistics show that approximately 50% of menstruating women have menstrual pain. 10% suffer extreme pain for a few days. If you are part of this 10%, then you are familiar with the excruciating pain felt in the pelvis, lower abdomen or back. These horrible menstrual cramps have become many women’s reason to skip work, classes or household chores. As they curl up in bed, the only thing on their mind is “how do I find relief from this menstrual pain?”

If you are tired of taking drugs, why not try Chinese herbal medicine? An international nonprofit organization called the Cochrane Collaboration did a review to compare the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine in relieving menstrual pain compared to western drugs. The outcome positively favored Chinese herbal medicine. Although they called for better studies in the future, I believe you can trust a medical system that has over 3000 years of history.

Below is a list of Chinese herbs that can help stop menstrual cramps:

1. Dong Quai (Chinese Angelica Root)
Also known as the “female ginseng,” it is commonly used to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve menstrual cramps. It also helps to relieve menopausal symptoms, reduce PMS (pre-menstrual syndromes), improve anemic conditions and correct hormone imbalance. You can drink it as tea or cook it with chicken. Take note that the taste is strong and bitter.

2. Chuan Xiong (Szechwan Lovage Rhizome)
This herb is also a key medicinal herb when treating menstrual disorders. It improves blood circulation, promotes the flow of “qi” or vital energy and dispels wind to relieve pain. Other uses of this herb includes treating headache, heart disease, rheumatism, arthritis, carbuncles and boils. It has a pungent taste and a very strong aroma. Ancient Chinese women, dating back to the Song Dynasty, used to take this Chinese herb in the form of soup. The soup called Four Substance Decoction (Si Wu Tang) also included other Chinese herbs such as Chinese Angelica Root, Red Peony Root and Chinese Foxglove Root. They drank the soup as a tonic to relieve PMS, stop menstrual pain, strengthen the body and to look more beautiful.

3. Bai Shao (White Peony Root)
White Peony Root nourishes the blood and activates circulation. It is also used for a wide variety of gynecological problems such as vaginal discharges, threat of miscarriage, excessive menstrual bleeding, and menstrual cramps. White Peony Root can be found in a Japanese formula called toki-shakuyaku-san with five other herbs. The formula of Peony Root, Hoelen, Atractylodes Rhizome, Alisma Rhizome, Dong Quai and Chuan Xiong is said to be effective in reducing menstrual pain.

4. Yi Mu Cao (Chinese Motherwort)
Chinese Motherwort is a member of the mint family. The leaves of this herb is used to treat menstrual problems. It improves blood circulation and regulates the menstrual cycle. Herbalist also recommend it to treat anxiety and heart palpitations. The seed have also been found to benefit eyesight. Chinese Motherwort can be taken as a tea by infusing the dried herb with boiling water. If you find the taste too bitter and unpleasant, add honey or lemon to improve the flavor. this herb can also be found as a tincture. Do not use this herb during pregnancy or when bleeding is heavy.

5. Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizome)
There are two main functions of this Chinese herb: strengthen blood circulation and relieve pain. Corydalis is a relative of the opium poppy. Although only 1% in strength compared to opium, it is an effective relaxant and pain reliever. The alkaloids, specifically tetrahydropalmatine (THP) helps to relieve menstrual cramps It is usually combined with other herbs such as Pteropus and Bulrush (Shixiao San). Corydalis can be taken as a decoction, infusion, tincture or extract. You can look for it in Asian stores. Take note that this herb is not to be taken by pregnant or nursing women. Also be careful on the dosage. Some people have reported experiencing fatigue, nausea or vertigo after consuming large doses.

Except for Chinese Motherwort, Chinese herbal treatment usually combine several herbs together to address an individual’s needs. It is a unique formula for each person. Mixing these herbs together to produce an effective formula is an art. Therefore, consult with a licensed Chinese herbal medicine practitioner before taking the herbs.

Chinese herbal medicine can be a bit intimidating to westerners, what with funny sounding herb names and maybe having to face a Chinese practitioner that may know little english. However, it is beneficial to trust our oriental counterparts and their years of medicinal tradition. Give Chinese herbal medicine a try today and say goodbye to painful menstrual cramps.

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind, and is also called botanical medicine or herbalism. Herbal medicine began with primitive cultures using different plants for shelter, clothing, and medicine. Herbal medicine is a complementary therapy that uses plants or plant extracts to treat illness, and is an important part of keeping healthy holistically and naturally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that as many as 4 billion people, or 80 percent of the world’s population presently use herbal medicine for some aspects of primary health care.

History of Herbals

Nearly every people, including ancient cultures dating back thousands of years, has used herbs. Medicinal herbs were found in the personal effects of an “Ice man” whose body was frozen in the Swiss Alps for more than 5,300 years. They appear to have been used to treat the parasites found in his intestines. In the written record, the study of herbs dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who described well-established medicinal uses for such plants as laurel, caraway, and thyme. The continuing importance of herbs for the centuries following the Middle Ages is indicated by the hundreds of pages of information on herbs published after the invention of printing in the fifteenth century.

How To Use Herbs

Herbs can be prepared in a variety of forms depending on their purpose. They have been used in all cultures throughout history to restore balance by nourishing the body and have provided humankind with medicine from the earliest beginnings of civilization. Herbs contain a large number of naturally occurring chemicals that have biological activity. They help the body strengthen its own resistance to infective organisms and throw off illness. Herbs can act on the body as powerfully as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated with the same caution and respect.

Herbs can also have undesirable side effects just as pharmaceutical products can. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs or alcohol, or used by persons who don’t know what they are doing. Most herbal traditions have accumulated knowledge without modern scientific controls to distinguish between the placebo effect, the body’s natural ability to heal itself, and the actual benefits of the herbs themselves.

Who Can Use Herbs

Medicinal plants can be used by anyone, for example as part of a salad, an herbal tea or supplement. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal compounds. To use an herbal product as safely as possible consult your doctor or a trained herbalist before you begin. Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends. Take it under the guidance of someone trained in and experienced with herbal use. Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing.

While herbal medicine is older than any other type of health care, it continues to influence the medicines of today. Herbal medicine has proven to be a huge benefit to mankind and has never been more popular than it is today.

You can improve your health and personal well being as you begin to use complementary herbal medicines confidently and effectively.

The focus of tonic herbs is not relieving symptoms, but to increase or fortify the natural processes and systems of the body. Tonic herbs are generally very safe to use, with few or no side effects, and many benefits.

The tonic herbs are also medicinal herbs, but not all medicinal herbs may be used as tonics.

Researchers have coined the term “adaptogen” to describe some of these tonic herbs. They discovered that adaptogenic herbs have a stronger effect when the organism taking those herbs is under greater levels of stress.

Ginseng root is probably the most familiar tonic herb. There are several types of Ginseng, all of which share many characteristics.

Panax Ginseng is the most famous of the Ginsengs. It is most often available as “Red” or “White” Ginseng. (The difference between Red Ginseng and White Ginseng is how the roots are treated after harvesting.)

Panax Ginseng has a very long history as a tonic herb, going back thousands of years. The word “Panax” comes from the same root as panacea, (cure-all), and was used to describe the many, many uses of ginseng.

There is also a Siberian Ginseng. Eleutherococcus Senticosus (often called Eletheuro) may be the most researched herb on the planet. This was the first herb described as an adaptogen. (Acanthopanax Gracilistylus is also sold under the name Siberian Ginseng, and shares many properties with Eleuthero.)

A few effects of Siberian Ginseng are: increases endurance; helps insomnia; lowers blood pressure; improves blood circulation; improves blood flow to the brain. (A full listing would take several pages.)

Some herbalists say Siberian Ginseng is the safest of the Ginsengs. It is often used with elderly or infirm individuals, to improve their energy levels.

There is also an American Ginseng, Panax Quinquefolium, which once grew wild in great abundance. Over-harvesting has made wild American Ginseng scarce. Botanically, this is the closest to Panax Ginseng.

All these varieties function as adaptogens, and tonify a range of body systems. They are all safe to use, and are suitable for long term use.

Some people find that Panax Ginseng over-stimulates them, and find Siberian Ginseng to be a better choice.

All of the Ginsengs are available as raw herbs, in capsules and freeze dried powders. Capsules and powders are the easiest to use, simply follow the manufacturer’s directions. Some herbalists say that using standardized extracts gives you less benefit than using the whole root.

Trying one or more of the Ginsengs is a good way to introduce yourself to the benefits of herbal tonics.

The information in this article is for information only. It should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. Consult the appropriate medical professional if you have a medical condition.

Herbs have been around since time immemorial and served different kinds of purposes. They have been used to treat illness and flavour cooking; they were even believed to have magical powers. Do you want to have your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to establish an herb garden.

Plan your garden.

Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials?

How much space will they occupy in your garden? If you want, you can purchase a book that can give you the right information on what specific plants you are planning to grow.

List or draw your garden on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won’t be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won’t be in danger of getting dug up.

Another thing to remember is that you have to place the tall plants at the back and the shorter ones in front. Also, provide your plants with enough space to grow. Proper position will help you in this area.

If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole.

Some Design Ideas

You can consider having a square herb bed. You can have your square bed divided into four by two paths crossing at mid point measuring 3 feet. You can border it with stone or brick. A wooden ladder may also do the trick. You can lay it down on your garden and plant your herbs between its rungs. You can also choose to have a wagon wheel bed. Planting here is like planting with the wooden ladders. Plant your herbs in between the wagon wheel’s wedges.

Get Your Plants Growing

Of course, different plants have different needs, but many of them require alkaline soil. This is the reason why you have to determine the herbs you want to plant in the planning stage. This can more or less help you find out how you should care for your plants. If you germinate your herbs from seeds, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature.

Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. You just have to provide them with an effective drainage, sunlight, enough humidity or moisture and fertile soil. Even with just minimally meeting these requirements they will be bound produce a good harvest.

Fresh herbs have many wonderful properties. When you dry them carefully many of these properties are preserved. The following fourteen tips will help you to dry your herbs successfully.

Tip 1 Pick your herbs just before you plan to dry them. They are just right when they are fully developed and just commencing budding. Pick off any damaged leaves or dead bits of stem.

Tip 2 Have a good look over the bunch and ensure that your herbs are insect-free. It is not recommended that you wash your herbs once picked unless they really need it. If your herbs look like they need washing, you could hose them a day or two before you pick them, allow them to dry, then cut your bunches for drying.

Tip 3 Have everything ready so that you can prepare the herbs for drying as soon as you cut them.

Tip 4 To allow the herbs to dry at a similar rate, gather them in similar size bunches. For each drying bunch - tie about 8 - 10 stems together.

Tip 5 For the majority of the herb bunches, tie their stems together with string and hang upside down. Some of the larger bunches of herbs can be hung on a hook or wire by themselves. But, remember to hang them upside down.

Tip 6 If your drying location is at risk of contamination (e.g. dust, smoke, wind) place a paper bag (or other cover) over your herbs.

Tip 7 A warm, dry, dark location is the best place to dry your herbs. (e.g. shed, loft or pantry cupboard)

Tip 8 In the right conditions, it takes approximately five days for your herbs to dry. In cooler conditions, it may take up to two weeks for your herbs to dry. The best temperature for drying herbs is around 30o C (85o F).

Tip 9 It is OK to dry different types of herbs at the same time. Just make sure that you do not place them too close together. If the herbs are too close together the properties of one herb may taint the other.

Tip 10 When the herbs leaves are papery (fragile) the drying is complete. If your herb leaves collapse when touched, you have let the drying process go on for too long.

Tip 11 To store your herbs, remove the leaves from the stems. Try to keep the leaves intact as best as you can, in as larger pieces as possible, even whole leaves if you can. This will help your herbs to keep their wonderful qualities. Tip: Gather the dried leaves on a piece of paper. Use the paper to pour your dried leaves into an airtight container.

Tip 12 Do not commence drying another batch of herbs until previous batches of herbs are ready.

Tip 13 Store your newly dried herbs away from sunlight. Ensure your container is airtight, preferably glass and even better if you have a dark glass container.

Tip 14 Crush your herbs just before you plan to use them.

Some herbs suitable for hang drying are: rosemary, sage, lemon balm, wormwood, lovage, parsley, mint and lavender.