Herb Garden Pest Control Can Be Done Naturally

If you are an avid gardener, then you know how difficult it can be to maintain herb garden pest control.
If you’re just getting started with an herb garden, you will want to know which pests are problems and
how you can get rid of them safely. It is a good idea to check with a local agency to find out which pests
are potential problems in your area. Depending on the area of the world you live in, you will have
problems with different pests.

Once you have identified the most likely pests, you can make a determination on the best way to
eliminate them. For herb garden pest control, you want to use natural ways to deter the bad insects
since you plan to use the herbs medicinally or in your cooking. You don’t want to spray harmful
chemicals on your herbs to kill the bugs and then turn around and give those chemicals to your family.
There are actually some good insects that will be beneficial to your garden and will take care of many of
the bad ones, so this is a natural way to control the pest population. You don’t want to get rid of the
good bugs at the same time as the bad, so identifying which pests you have is very important. Some of
the bad insects include aphids. These are tiny soft-bodied insects that feed on plants and like to be near
the tips of the plants or on the underside of the leaves. Leafminers and spider mites can also be
identified by the look of the leaves of your plants. Snails and slugs are often found in damp climates and
tend to leave behind a slimy trail.

If you notice some of these bad bugs, you will hopefully also notice that they have attracted the good
bugs which will help with your herb garden pest control. The Praying Mantis is a good bug that will eat
almost any other insect and will keep the pest population down. Another good bug is a ladybug. They
can each eat over fifty aphids per day. Wasps can be good because they pollinate for you and also help
with controlling the aphid population.

If the natural cycle has not helped enough with herb garden pest control, you may want to plant herbs
such as Pennyroyal that help to repel insects between other plants. As a last resort, look into some
natural or organic pesticides. Make sure that whatever you use is safe for your family and targets the
specific pests you have.

What You Need to Know Before You Buy Herbs for Your Health

Although widely touted as a healthy alternative to synthetic pharmaceuticals, herbal treatments must be used with caution and by someone who knows
what they're doing. You want to be knowledgeable about what you put into (or on) your body before you ingest a dangerous amount of an herb you're
not familiar with.
Many companies sell herbs off of the Internet and from a variety of websites without any verifiable way to back up and to prove their claims or even
that you're receiving the kind of herb you're investing in. When you are in the market for herbs, you really want to only buy from a reputable company
that delivers herbs you can trust.
Make sure you're working toward preventative health, and not simply treatments or cures for diseases or ailments you encounter from time to time.
Herbal medicine works to its best level when you try to maintain a balance within your body, not when you seek out help solely to fix an immediate
problem that you may be experiencing.
Whenever you invest in herbs for your health, you want to know what the plant does and how much you can safely consume of it. If you're on any
other medications, you'll want to check with your physician first to determine if you'll have any unsafe interaction between the natural and synthetic
medications.
Many herbal distributors will put directions for use on the packages, but some do not. Make sure you have valid information before you ingest or
apply any herb without understanding its effects and dosage. You can usually find ample amounts of information about an herbs abilities online, so be
sure you order the right herb for the right ailment.
Whenever you start taking an herb for the first time, you'll want to use precaution and start with smaller doses until you make sure you're not going to
have an allergic reaction, just as you could any synthetic medication. Start with a test sample and then if all goes well, increase it to the recommended
dose.
Some people hope to avoid going to a doctor and try to instead treat all of their ailments - from the insignificant illnesses to the serious, potentially life
threatening illnesses and diseases - using only herbal remedies. It's always best to consult with your doctor before you begin using herbal treatments
whether on their own or in conjunction with other medications he or she prescribes.
Source: http://www.articlecircle.com
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For more tips on herb gardening visit http://thehomeherbgarden.com

A Quick Guide to Herb Gardening

Herb gardening is ideal for people who love fresh herbs but have a limited space for a garden since they will grow virtually anywhere. You don't need to be a green thumb to grow herbs since they are amongst the easiest plants to grow. First get an idea on what herbs you'd like to grow, then do a little research (usually seed packages contain viable information) to determine whether they are adaptable to your climate and how much room they need to grow. Some herbs, like mint, are invasive spreaders and can take over a garden if not carefully placed and maintained. Most herbs will require a significant amount of sunlight, between 6-8 hours a day, and should be grown in an area that will provide it - normally on the south or west side in the northern hemisphere. Water regularly but be careful not to over water, which in some cases can cause root rot, meaning death to the plant.

Most herbs can be grown in containers, which is ideal for many people that have very limited space, have pets, or live in an area of intense climate changes. Some herbs like rosemary and thyme can be grown in containers, but are hardy enough to endure most climates and pest if planted in the ground. One of the best aspects of small container gardening is that they are mobile and can be moved in the event of inclement weather, even indoors during the winter months. You might also want to learn about drying and/or freezing some of your herbs for the winter.

Another method of herb gardening is hydroponics which in essence is a method of growing plants without soil and has grown more and more popular each year. You can build your own hydroponic unit or there are many on the market today designed for indoor counter tops.

As you grow your own herbs you'll discover that not only do they add wonderful flavors to food but some even possess medicinal properties that have been used for centuries to combat indigestion, fatigue, and a wide variety of other ailments. Some, like basil, are known to repel insects like mosquitoes, which makes planting basil near or on a patio a great idea.

Planning a herb garden is pretty easy and a lot of fun. You may already have an idea on what you'd like to plant, but if not here's six I'd recommend for starters that will go with just about any kitchen, basil, oregano, dill, cilantro, rosemary and thyme. It's always fun to add another one or two herbs every year to your garden and soon you'll be the envy of all your neighbors.

Many herbs like basil are annual, meaning they will die and need to be replanted every year - although some will grow back themselves from their own seeds. Others are perennial like rosemary, meaning they live at least two years. It's always a good idea to have a mix of both.

Whether you decide to grow your herbs indoors, outdoors, in the ground, or in containers, you'll find herb gardening satisfying and rewarding.

For more information on creating and maintaining your home herb garden, please visit http://thehomeherbgarden.com/

Dry Your Own Herbs

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.
Source: http://www.articlecircle.com
About the Author
For more Food Articles by Ian Williamson please visit http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Food/83

For more tips and advice on growing or maintaining a home herb garden please visit http://thehomeherbgarden.com

For a FREE copy of the Herbal Secrets Ebook click here.

Winter Home Herb Gardens

Winter Home Herb Gardens

Spring is that time of year when the weather starts allowing us to get back to our outdoor activities. A lot of us include herb gardening in those activities and late Winter / early Spring is the ideal time to start your herb garden so you can reap its rewards throughout the Summer months. But are we limited to just those few months to enjoy our own fresh herbs? Not necessarily since most herbs can be grown in containers and can be brought indoors when the weather turns cold and inclement. No need to give up your home grown flavor for cooking. In fact, by bringing them indoors, you can add the fresh aroma of living plants into your home. The climate is controlled for easier growing as well. With a little care, you don't have to give up fresh savory taste just because old man winter comes calling.

If you don't already have herbs planted in containers to bring inside for winter, here are a couple of ways to grow an indoor herb garden. One is to set aside a small area in your home, then buy seeds, containers, organic soil, and for best results, a grow light or two. Fill the containers 3/4 full with soil, plant the seeds as directed on the seed package. Water regularly, but be careful not to over water. Set the grow light(s), or at minimum a fluorescent light, to be on at least 6-8 hours a day and withing a couple of weeks you should start seeing the plants sprouting. After a few more weeks, or until they get about 4 inches high, the plants will be ready for use in your kitchen. Another method that is gaining in popularity is hydroponics. If you have the patience and know how, you can build your own hydroponic unit, or an even easier way is to purchase one of the many tabletop hydroponic units on the market today. The most popular being the Aerogarden which comes in many varieties of plant options.

Either way you will be assured of fresh herbs for all your winter dishes, and that makes it worth it.

For more tips and advice on home herb gardening please visit: http://thehomeherbgarden.com

Benefits of Growing an Indoor Herb Garden

Even if you live in an apartment or condo, or just don’t have available space or a big backyard, you can still get your fresh herbs by growing an indoor herb garden. There’s nothing better for a home cook than to have fresh herbs at their fingertips. Plus indoor herb gardens can be grown year around since they won’t be affected by inclement weather or rapid temperature changes.

You can traditionally plant (or buy) your indoor herbs in containers, or you can choose hydroponic gardening. Planting in containers is usually less expensive but takes a little more time and effort, and needs to be in a location that gets at least 4-6 hours of sunshine daily – usually at a south and/or west facing window if you live in the northern hemisphere. If you do not have a location where your plants can get sufficient sunlight, you might consider grow lights which have a larger light spectrum than incandescent light that plants need to survive and grow. Containers can be anything from a purchased pot (be sure the pot is suitable for live plants) to buckets, even old boots or discarded toilets (cleaned of course). Hydroponics is getting more and more popular and is a method of growing plants without soil and has been around for thousands of years. The growth rate is considerably quicker than planting in soil, up to 50 percent in some cases and the yield is usually greater too. Plants in a hydroponic system derive their water and nutrients directly to the roots several times a day instead of having to search the soil for them. These plants also have fewer problems with bugs, fungi and disease and are generally healthier and happier, plus they use much less water. Whichever way you choose you’re sure to have fresh herbs.

There are several advantages (and some disadvantages) to growing an indoor herb garden.

Some of the advantages include:

* Plants are protected from inclement weather
* Easily accessible and convenient
* Can be grown all year long regardless of season
* The plants help keep the indoor air cleaner
* Easy to move to shaded area if sun gets too hot
* Insects and fungus are easier to keep under control
* Requires less fertilizer, if any
* No need for bird netting
* No need for weeding
* No need for gardening tools like hoes, rakes, shovels, etc.

Disadvantages include:

* Less productive yields, however hydroponics will provide you with greater yields.
* Must provide adequate lighting either from sunlight or HID grow lights if sunlight is not sufficient
* Less growing space which, depending on your indoor accommodations, might mean less selection
* More difficult to maintain proper fertilization which often results in over fertilizing
* Proper watering can be more difficult since soil indoors doesn’t adjust or dry out as well which can result in over watering and root rot.
* I’ve heard some say there’s less flavor, but I haven’t noticed it myself.

For more information on growing and/or maintaining a home herb garden please visit us at: http://thehomeherbgarden.com

Grow a Mint Garden for Scent and Use

If you have or are planning a home herb garden, don't forget mint. Mint is quite the versatile herb. It comes in dozens of varieties, from the well known peppermint and spearmint to the exotic flowering alpine mint bush to the unusual chocolate mint. You can use it in cooking, for jellies, seasoning or teas. You can use it for skin care and treatment of indigestion. Fresh mint rubbed between the fingers smells heavenly!

Mint has long been a favorite herb, rich in folklore and history. A cookbook from the first century lists mint in many recipes. The Greeks believed mint was an aphrodisiac and would not permit their soldiers to eat it in any form. In the 17th century, scholars were advised to wear a crown of mint to aid them in concentrating on their studies.

Mint is an easy plant to grow. It enjoys partial shade and moist ground, but will thrive almost anywhere. In fact, mint grows so well it will soon take over a garden or small yard, choking out all other plants. So it is best to plan carefully when deciding to cultivate a mint garden. Use a container when planting mint to keep it from spreading. A large coffee can or milk carton with the bottom cut out will work just fine. Mint will also thrive in terra cotta pots or any type of container garden.

The best mint gardens are small and include only a few species of mint. It’s possible for mint to cross-pollinate, so choose similar types when planting close together. You can plant several small mint gardens, of different varieties, in choice locations throughout the yard. Mint will grow well under trees where many ornamental plants don’t thrive.

Mint can be low growing or it can grow up to two feet in height, depending on the type. The small flowers are white. If you want to encourage your mint to grow thick and bushy, pinch the flowers off when they appear. You can harvest mint at any time, but don’t strip the plants of leaves. Use scissors or your finger tips to nip the leaves next to the stem. Harvest from the top of the stalk first to encourage new shoots to grow.

If you have a paving stone walkway that is inlaid in soil, you can plant Spanish mint between the stones. This type of mint is low growing and will spread between the stepping stones. Not only does it look pretty but when you walk on the mint and crush the leaves, it smells wonderful and will soothe your senses.

There are many ways to utilize mint plants. A mint garden is a no fuss, easy way to fill the empty spots in your yard. Their stimulating, sweet fragrance will lift your mood and bring enjoyment for many years.

Reference: http://thehomeherbgarden.com/articles/