Thursday, January 29, 2009

Organic Herbal Gardening Tips For At-Home Growers

By Susan Honeywell

Having an organic herbal garden is a pleasant way to have an always-ready, fresh supply of delicious kitchen supplies at the ready. Your guests and family will be impressed by the fresh herbs, as well as the beautiful effect of the plants growing on your balcony or in your kitchen.

Organic herbal gardening in the house has certain advantages over outdoors growing. You are much less season-dependent, and you can have a plot of plants that is just the size you need it to be within constant reach of your kitchen.

There are very few herbs that cannot be grown organically indoors, so rather than thinking about herbs to avoid you should focus on the plants that will go well together. It is great to have an organic garden theme!

For instance, for a fragrant note you can grow angelica, bergamot, catmint, chamomile, thyme, lavender, lemon balm, and mint. This organic herb garden is also a great organic air freshener, ideal for indoor gardens in small flats.

As for the pots, you need to make sure that the ones you get are right for the herbs you want. Not all herbs are suitable to all kinds of containers. Specifically, for some plants you need a pot with a minimum size.

Make sure that you don't get any tiny pots meant for growing from seed, unless that is your original intention! In fact, better to get slightly bigger pots if you have the space in your growing area.

Container size is important, so begin with those that are a bit larger than those in which the live nursery plants were purchased. This will give your plants room to start growing. Once your herbs are stabilized and growing well, transplant them into larger containers. This is important to ensure growth and so that nutrients make it from the soil into the plant.

Concerning extra soil and fertilizer, you should make sure that only organic earth and additives are used for your herbs. This will ensure better quality, flavor and health benefits, with little effect on the cost of growing your herbal garden.

In most cases, available natural lighting will be enough, although some growers may want to try out electric growing bulbs. But in normal circumstances, these won't be needed. Check if your chosen plants prefer sun or shade, and then place the sun-lovers on a south-facing window. The others should go where there is plenty indirect sunlight.

You will find that indoors organic herbal gardening is both useful and pleasant. Herbs are generally easy to grow, and require little safeguarding. Simply give them the right food, water, and sunlight, and you will have lots to cook with.

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