Herb Garden Plants

In this article we will look at the general overview of the different herb garden plants and help you to understand the different varieties there are and how they are used.

Like other plants herbs can be annual, perennial or biennial. Each one is different. Before you begin herb gardening we recommend that if you are really interested in one or two particular herbs then you research the individual herb to get a better understanding of how to plant and look after it correctly.

First let’s take the annuals. These are the herbs that need to be planted either by seed or seedlings each year. Generally these herbs to do survive frosts. Examples are basil, cilantro, chamomile and dill. Perennial herbs such as sage, chives, marjoram and mint come back year after year. These plants can also survive the colder weather. Last we have the biennials. There are not so many of these but include parsley, angelica and evening primrose. These herbs have their leaves in the first season, flower in the second then die off. It’s best to sow these ones straight into the garden in late spring.

For all of them you will need to prepare the soil turning it over until it is fine, then dampen it down. Plant your seeds in rows, making sure they are shallow and cover with soil. If the seeds are fine then it can be helpful if you add sand to the soil. During the germination period you need to keep the soil moist which you can do by covering it with either wet paper or burlap.

There are different uses for different herbs:

Culinary Herbs: These herbs are the most popular ones to grow and they have a large range of uses in cooking. They add flavor to all meals. Herbs like basil, thyme sage, marjoram and oregano are quite strong so smaller amounts add to the flavor of different foods. Herbs such as parsley and angelica are used a lot for garnishing.

Aromatic Herbs: These herbs are grown for the wonderful aroma of their foliage or flowers. Different types of perfumes are made from the oil taken from herbs such as mint, rosemary and lavender. Potpourri, which is a great way to prolong the aroma, is another use for dried aromatic herbs as is toilet water. The scent from these and other herbs can also be used for home fragrance and linen cupboards.

Medicinal Herbs: Herbs have been used for centuries for their healing properties in fact some of our modern medicines are based on herbs. However, a good knowledge of what to use and when is necessary as some do more harm than good even to the extent that some can be quite disastrous when ingested.

Of course not all herbs are used for their culinary, aromatic or medicinal benefits. Some are just plain gorgeous in the garden. These are more the ornamental herbs (even though they still have one or all of the above attributes) and are grown for the beauty of their foliage and flowers. The lovely crimson blossom of valerian and the beautiful blue flowers of chicory are two such examples, not to mention the all time favorite, lavender.

All herbs can be categorized into the different types depending on their use, however, most do have multiple purposes. We all know that mint can be used as a culinary herb for cooking and tea, but did you know that it also can be used as a pest control? No matter what your reason is for growing herbs if you have an understanding of them it will give you a much clearing idea on which herbs you will want to plant.