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Month: April 2021
Growing Garden Herbs As a Hobby
“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” If you are an herbalist, “healthy” might be your answer. There are all kinds of hobbies a person can pursue; skydiving, goat roping, bungee jumping, and the list goes on. If you are more in mind of developing one that is safer, growing garden herbs might be for you.
A hobby should be safe on the one hand, and produce something that is pleasing or constructive on the other. Herbal gardening gets the nod on both these fronts. It’s also a relatively inexpensive way to spend time. If you have the space to plant, and it doesn’t require a lot of space, you can become a gardener with a purpose.
The only really important tools you must have to grow herbs are your patience and determination. Sure it is nice to have a tiller to break up the ground before planting, and hoes and other tools are needed to tend the garden, but your attitude and love for what you are doing is what makes the experience special. It should never be looked at as though it were a job.
As with any hobby, you must find a starting point, then grow and improve as time goes by. Start modestly with a few herbs that you can use and, if all works well, you can add more the next growing season. There is no race to run or required achievement level. Gardening of any kind should be relaxing and comforting. Go at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Herbs supply at least four things:
* They are medicinal, as is documented through clinical research.
* They are aromatic, as with lavender and mint, to mention a few.
* They are pretty, as many varieties rival flowers for beauty.
* They are culinary, as in all the different varieties of seasonings and garnishments.
Is there anything else that could be planted that yields so many different attributes?
If the herb garden is to be your new hobby, or continuing one, you need to plan for the present planting as well as the future. Place your garden in an area that can be a focal point and is also easy to access. Herbs need sunlight for a good portion of the day, and they need to be elevated enough that water will flow away.
The same way that you plant flower gardens, place the plants that grow tallest behind the shorter ones. Leave room to access each plant. If there are only two rows, this is fairly simple. Allow for the spreading of the plant, because some will have runners and need more space.
Hobbies are good only if you enjoy them. If one gets to be too much work, it is no longer a hobby. Growing garden herbs is a pleasant hobby for the person who loves nature. It can be right for you; just give it a chance. Happy herb gardening!
Garden Decor Ideas That You Cannot Get Enough Of
With most of us living in concrete jungles, having a garden in your home can be considered nothing short of lucky! From a small flowerbed to a large lush green space, there is a lot you can do with your garden that helps put your own personal stamp on it. From installing garden ornaments to adding outdoor lighting, you are only limited by your imagination.
Plants of various colors and shapes add to the beauty of your garden. Think green holly, ivy or fuchsia. Consider enhancing the place further by creating live ornaments from plants. Prune them into columns and craft hedges that have everyone in awe. In fact you can enhance the look of the garden by creating an archway with plants such as draped wisteria vines. Alternately consider flanking the garden gates with bougainvillea. There will be many people wanting to get a sneak peek into this haven!
You could also consider a whole lot of other ornaments as a garden decor idea. A wrought-iron gate, a lantern or an iron bell hung on a tree, a bench are great outdoor accessories that add to the appeal. You can also repurpose old items such as those metal watering cans that make for lovely planters or those antique dresser drawers that add oodles of style. Pro tip-Ensure that all the decor elements are subtly placed though, so the garden doesn’t look too contrived or overdone.
Add charm to regular terracotta pots by doing them up in vibrant paint. You can also create a mosaic on those pots with broken ceramic pieces. They add loads of color and texture to your garden. If you run out of space, you can also look at creating a vertical garden with spray painted cans hung on a fence with lovely blooms.
Give your creativity free reign as you think of the garden furniture. You can turn a workbench into a place to display greenery as also a great venue for those potluck parties. Opt for a small table that adds a dash of color with a corner flower vase and just enough space to enjoy that morning cuppa.
Outdoor lighting is another aspect that lends oodles of style to your garden. Go in for those bistro lights and savor their warm glow. Alternately you can also hang outdoor lanterns or those spring lights. The romance that they add to the garden is indescribable.With a garden as charming as this, you certainly would want some privacy to be able to enjoy this calm haven. Opt for artificial plant wall coverings that are awfully easy to install and yet look like real foliage. That it is low on maintenance, is an added perk. You can also add to the charm with other artificial plant decor. Tree ferns and other colorful buds kept in beautiful pots create one enchanting space. Whoever said you need a green thumb to maintain a garden, hadn’t heard of these artificial plants.
Thai and African Blue Basil Love the Sun
All varieties of basil love warm weather and moisture and are perennials in the right climates. In northern or colder climates, basil is an annual due to the shorter growing season, but is truly a perennial. Thai and African Blue basil can be raised year around, even in colder climates by bringing the plants inside for the colder months and providing plenty of light and moisture. By extending the growing season for basil, cooks can delight the palates of their guests or families year around with fresh basil.
Areas with plenty of sunshine enjoy fresh perennial basil such as Thai and African Blue basil year around. Colder climates present some obstacles, but no obstacle that cannot be overcome. By bringing the plants indoors during cold weather and giving the perennial basil plenty of warmth, moisture and light, raising perennial basil becomes a doable project. Basil raised outside in colder climates need to be replanted each year, but under warmer conditions, basil is perennial.
Thai basil is easy to get started from seed. After the seed is sown, baby plants appear in about one to two weeks. The seedlings need to be thinned out to space each little plant about six to twelve inches apart. African Blue basil is a cross breed and the seeds from this cross is sterile. To grow African Blue, starters are taken from a parent plant and raised as individual plants.
Basil of all kinds needs six to eight hours of continual sunlight each day. Warmer climates provide this type of light, while colder climates need some help with the lighting requirements. An artificial light makes the difference for raising Thai and African Blue basil indoors. The light requirement with artificial light is upped to ten to twelve hours a day. In the summer in colder climates, a south facing garden bed or window sill will give plenty of light to keep the basil healthy.
Well drained soil is a must for basil. Letting too much water accumulate will cause the roots to rot and ruin your plant. Container planting requires that a regular watering schedule is kept. Basil likes lots of moisture, but not excessive moisture. Mulching helps retain the proper amount of moisture for Thai and African Blue basil between watering.
Thai and African Blue perennial basil reaches heights of two to three feet. Once full leaves are on the plant, harvesting can begin. Pinching the leaves and removing flowers helps strengthen the plant and retain the flavor of the basil. Regular harvest improves the health of the plant
Giving perennial basil the right amount of light, moisture and balanced pH in the soil is the secret to raising beautiful plants that produce year around. The pH level should be kept at a neutral level for optimum growing conditions. A small amount of liquid organic fertilizer helps the plants stay strong and healthy.
For a culinary delight, Thai and African blue perennial basil is the secret ingredient for great tasting dishes. The beauty of each variety of basil is immeasurable and will add that touch of elegance to any garden or home.
