MARCH/APRIL 2014
Growing Herbs
by Doris Settles, Staff Writer
Dress up your gardening space, indoors or out, with the workhorses
of the plant world – herbs. Herbs
have been prized since ancient
times as medicine; for cooking and
deodorizing; as insect repellants;
and more. Herbs were so valued in
Biblical times they were often used
to pay taxes, preserve food and to
make ointments for every imaginable ailment. Everyone from monk
to kings to the poor grew and used
herbs every day.
Today, every big-box store, every
nursery, every seed catalog has
herbs for sale. But before you
spend your hard-earned cash,
check with your friends and see
if they have any plants to share.
Perennial herbs need frequent division to stay healthy and productive;
annual herbs, such as such as basil
and cilantro, can become troublesome by reseeding themselves.
Gardeners are only too happy to
give away what they were going to
dig up anyway.
According to the American Herb
Society, these 10 herbs are at the
top of the list for home gardeners
and cooks:
• Sweet basil
(Ocimum basilicum)
• Common thyme
(Thymus vulgaris)
• Bay
(Laurus nobilis)
• Common sage
11
(Salvia officinalis)
• Greek oregano
(Origanum vulgare)
• Chives
(Alliums schoenoprasum)
• Dill
(Anethum graveolens)
• Parsley
(Petroselinum crispum)
• Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Lavender
(Lavandula spp.)
Provide good drainage, water frequently (but don’t let them stand
in water), use good-quality potting
mix and add a slow-release fertilizer
once a month.
Herbs tuck easily in among your
more ornamental plants and have
few pest or disease problems.
When they are planted as companions to your vegetables, they
may actually increase your harvest.
Thyme and German chamomile
make wonderful ground covers,
replacing lawn turf to reduce mowing, maintenance and watering.
Basil, cilantro, fennel and rosemary
add flavor and scent to cooking,
potpourri and floral arrangements.
Herbs grow well in pots, and a
sunny windowsill is the perfect
spot for basil, thyme and oregano.
To grow herbs successfully in the
ground, amend your clay soil with
compost and cover with one or two
inches of organic mulch to reduce
weed growth and retain moisture
in warmer weather. Raised beds are
much easier to create optimal soils
but they will require more water.
Herbs can help you reduce fat,
sugar and salt in your diet if used
regularly. Recipes using herbs
abound on the Internet. Be creative
and sprinkle some into a favorite
recipe. Savory or sweet, you can’t
beat the economy and taste of
home-grown herbs.
Savory or sweet, you
can’t beat the economy
and taste of homegrown herbs.
L IBERTYR IDGE
Senior Living Community
A Non-Profit Faith-Based Community
WE OFFER:
• Independent Garden Homes
• Assisted Living Apartments
• Memory Care Neighborhood Apartments
859.543.9449
www.libertyridge.com
Final Phase of Garden Homes
currently under construction.
CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY
LUNCH AND TOUR. LOCATED IN LEXINGTON NEAR HAMBURG PLACE 701 Liberty Ridge Lane Lexington Ky 40509