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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
When you think of an herb garden you may picture a summertime patch of colorful plants, but not all herbs exist just for summer harvest. Some of the most common herbs grown in the United States are evergreen. What are evergreen herbs? They hold their leaves through the winter, giving you a ready source of fresh flavorings and medicinal tea all year around. An evergreen herb garden may slow down production through the coldest of the winter months, but there will always be a good supply of herbs until the spring buds burst open.
Types of Evergreen Herb Plants for the Garden The types of evergreen herb plants vary from area to area, but most of them are viable in most climates with some care during extreme weather. Some of the popular varieties of evergreen herbs to plant are: Sage – Sage is known as a healing plant and experiments are being done with it being used for Alzheimer’s patients. For the rest of us, sage is a tasty addition to holiday meals or any dish with a meat base. Rosemary – This fragrant herb keeps its tiny needles on its branches all year long. There is no need to dry rosemary sprigs when you can simply clip off a fresh stem whenever you want to use it in a dish. Lavender – Long known for its soothing, relaxing fragrance, lavender flowers are popular edible items for gourmet salads and other dishes. Juniper – Although most people may view juniper as simply a landscaping plant, its pungent needles are used in culinary dishes as well as medicinal applications.
Caring for Evergreen Herbs Growing evergreen herbs requires a little more care than raising annual varieties, but the rewards are worth the effort. Watch the weather and give these plants some protection during the worst of winter weather by piling leaf mold around the base and covering the plants with fleece or other warm fabrics. Provide shade and extra water during the worst of the summer heat, especially if you live in a southern state. Prune the herbs in the spring before the buds swell. You’ll have a healthier plant plus clippings to sprout for a new collection of herb plants.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
Herb growing problems tend to be relatively few as long as you pay attention to a few golden rules. Most herbs are sun loving and require at least six hours each day. Herbs also like well drained soil with a pH of 6 to 7 and amended with some good organic compost. Regular pruning and by virtue of that, removal of any weak or infested growth are the final components to protecting herbs from pests and diseases. That said, there are some common pests and diseases of herbs that may afflict the herb garden.
Protecting Herbs from Pests The essential fragrant oils of most herbs are a natural repellent to many insects. Despite this, at some time pests like slugs encroach the herb garden and ravage your plants. The good news is that most of these pests are really just that; they do not usually cause severe damage and are mostly a nuisance. Aphids – Aphids love the tender new leaves of herbs and, in large numbers, may cause curling of the foliage. The resulting honeydew secretion may promote sooty mold as well as attract ants. Aphids are most commonly found among crowded and rapidly growing herbs. Horticultural soaps and neem oil may aid in exterminating these pests. Spider mites – Spider mites prefer hot, dry conditions and are often spotted on the underside of the herb leaves. Protecting the herb garden from these pests is as simple as a strong stream of water aimed at the foliage and regular irrigation. Whiteflies – Whiteflies will also appear on the underside of the leaves.
Leafhoppers – Leafhoppers rarely do much damage but do feed on basil, oregano, and parsley. Leaf miners – Leaf miners will also attack succulent basil, leaving tunneling trails between the upper and lower leaf surfaces. Parsley worms – Black swallowtail caterpillars morph into spectacular butterflies. Hence, many gardeners refrain from eliminating them and simply plant plenty of the parsley, dill and fennel these guy love to munch on. Flea beetles – Yet another pest, the flea beetle is again just that, chewing pinprick holes in the leaves of herbs but sustaining no serious damage. Weevils – Weevils, such as the carrot weevil, will feed on parsley roots but inflict no lasting damage. Spittle bugs – And finally, spittle bugs while leaving a rather unsightly spit-like froth on foliage, can easily be washed off with water and cause little damage.
Diseases of Herbs Very few herbs (mints and lemon grass) thrive in wet soil. Waterlogged soils encourage fungal diseases such as fusarium root rot. Symptoms appear as brown streaks on the herb stems with an end result often of the general collapse of the plant. Rust plagues many members of the mint family and presents itself as rusty orange lesions on the underside of the leaves. Defenses against diseases of herbs are proper growing conditions, sanitation, removal of weak or otherwise infested foliage and regular pruning. Raised beds will foster good drainage and watering in the morning to give the herb plenty of time to dry out will also retard the spread of fungal spores which could result in disease.
Troubleshooting the Herb Garden The best defense, as they say, is a good offense, so when troubleshooting the herb garden, remember to follow the golden rules as outlined below: Choose healthy herbs to plant. Plant the healthy herb in the correct environment, either moist and humid or sunny and dry. Do your research and find out the best spot for each type of herb. Do not overcrowd your herb plants. Allow for growth, spread and general aeration between plants. Practice proper irrigation and fertilization. Irrigate and fertilize (preferably with an organic food like compost tea) on a schedule and allow to dry between watering. Also, weed between plants to discourage pests and encourage healthy foliage and root systems. Prune, prune, prune. Prune your herb, or in other words, harvest the herb plant frequently. This will not only automatically prod you to remove any sick foliage and observe any marauding insects for removal, but promote a lusher, bushier specimen. Harvesting will also remove blossoms, which will keep the plant producing since flowering is a signal to the plant that it’s about time to die back for the season. Follow these rules and you will be less likely to resort to chemical controls for your herb garden which in turn would mean you are ingesting chemicals.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
A simple, quick and fun project that will add not only a decorative touch but doubles as a useful culinary staple is a Mason jar herb garden. Most herbs are extremely easy to grow and growing them in a jar is a straightforward endeavor as long as you provide plenty of light and proper drainage. A couple of herb garden Mason jars tucked into a bookshelf or resting in a sunny windowsill add a splash of outdoor color to the kitchen. Plus, the added benefit is you can easily snip off a sprig from your jar of herbs for your latest culinary masterpiece. Suitable plants for herb jars include: Basil Parsley Cilantro Chives Thyme Rosemary
How to Grow Herbs in a Mason Jar The first step to creating a Mason jar herb garden is obtaining the jars. Used for canning foods since 1858, Mason jars are still available today. However, searching for them at flea markets, thrift stores or Grandma’s basement or attic is a fun, inexpensive way of getting your jars and you can pat yourself on the back for recycling and repurposing! You may even use recycled pasta or pickle jars with the labels soaked and the jars thoroughly washed. Starting your jar of herbs from seeds in the Mason jar is not a recommended course of action. Using transplants is a surer recipe for success when planting herbs in canning jars, such as the plants for herb jars listed above. Herbs have roots that are a little larger than their top growth so be sure to use a jar that allows for the root growth. It is helpful to select drought friendly herbs in case of missed watering, and trailing herbs like some thyme look lovely in the glass jar.
Adequate drainage is essential for your herbs in canning jars, so the next step is to drill a few holes in the Mason jar. This step can be dangerous, so be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves. Use a diamond cutting drill bit and cover the jar with cutting oil. Use even pressure and drill slowly to prevent breakage. Make several 1/8 to ¼ inch holes in the Mason jar. Fill the bottom of the jar with broken pottery shards, colored stones or the like to improve drainage and add visual interest to your Mason jar herb garden. Conversely, if you do not have a drill or are timid about using it on glass, you may simply fill the bottom with an inch or so of stones, marbles, pottery bit, etc. to keep the roots from becoming too wet and rotting. Fill the jar with a bagged potting mix or your own mix of equal part sphagnum peat, compost and sand to about 1 inch below the jar’s edge. Fertilizer can be added into the soil medium at this point or use a soluble fertilizer after planting.
Plant the transplanted herbs so the root ball is level or slightly below the surface of the potting media. Moisten the potting media first with a bit of warm water, then add the mix, covering the tallest transplant root ball so it sits with its top surface ¾ inch below the rim of the jar. Water the Mason jar herb garden thoroughly. Allow any excess water to drain in the sink or in a shallow tray and then place the herbs in canning jars in a sunny area where they get at least six hours of sun per day. Keep the jar of herbs moist but not sodden. As the plants outgrow the jars, replace them with new transplants and move the bigger herbs into larger pots.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
The autumn frost signals the end to the garden for the year, as well as the end of fresh-grown herbs picked from outdoors and brought in for food and teas. Creative gardeners are asking, “Can you grow herbs in water?” Instead of dealing with potting soil and planters, why not find some herbs that can grow in water and set up a row of attractive vases on your windowsill? Stems of perennial herbs will grow roots in glasses or jars of plain water, adding to your kitchen décor as well as producing new leaves and buds for use in fresh dishes through the cold winter months.
Herbs That Root in Water Herbs that root in water and grow through the winter months are perennial herbs. Annual herbs are designed by nature to grow one season, produce seeds, and then die. Perennials will keep coming back and producing more leaves as long as you keep pinching off the older leaves as they grow to full size. Some of the easiest and most popular herbs grown in water are: Sage Stevia Thyme Mint Basil Oregano Lemon balm The basic rule is if you like to use it and it’s a perennial, it will likely grow in water over the winter.
How to Grow Herb Plants in Water This project is simple enough that you can teach your children how to grow herb plants in water and use this as an educational bit of entertainment. Begin with stems of herb plants from your garden, or even some perennial herbs from the grocery store. Clip stems about 6 inches long and remove the leaves from the bottom 4 inches of the stems. If you’re using grocery store herbs, cut off the bottom of each stem to allow it to absorb the most water. Fill a large-mouthed jar or glass with clear water from the tap or bottle, but avoid distilled water. Distilling removes some essential minerals that allow the herbs to grow. If you use a clear glass container, you’ll have to change the water more frequently, as algae will form more rapidly in a clear glass. Opaque glass is best. If you are determined to use that great-looking clear jar, tape construction paper to one side of the jar to keep sunlight from the water.
Herbs that root in water do so partly by absorbing moisture through the bottom of the stem, so clip each stem end at an angle to increase the area for the stem to use. Place the herb stems in the jars filled with water and place them in a spot where they get at least six hours of sunlight each day. Growing herbs in water will give you a small but steady supply through the winter. Clip each leaf as it grows to full size. This will encourage the stem to produce more leaves at the top. The stem will grow for months in this way, long enough to keep your kitchen in fresh herbs until the next generation of plants grows in the spring.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
Is there anything more satisfying than stepping out into your garden after a day of hard work and plucking delicious herbs for your dinner menu? The herbs are fresh, pungent and delicious. You grew them yourself too! Growing herbs for cocktail drinks is equally enjoyable. It is especially satisfying when you have friends and family over for happy hour.
Garden Inspired Cocktails There are a number of good herbs for mixed drinks. Here are some of the most common: Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the mint of choice for mint julips. Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is terrific in vodka or gin gimlets. Shiso (Perilla frutescens) can replace mint and add a snazzy zip to mojitos. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) will enlighten your average gin and tonic. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla) is yummy in sangria. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) pairs well with sparkling wine. If you are a Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) lover, experiment with a placing dried cilantro and sea salt on the rim of your Bloody Mary glass.
Making Cocktails with Fresh Herbs Making cocktails with fresh herbs is easy but requires a few extra steps. One of the most basic techniques is to muddle the herbs prior to putting them in the shaker. Muddling is where you crush the herb leaves in a mortar and pestle to release flavor. The herbs are then added to the shaker with all the other ingredients. You can make simple herbal syrup by combining the fresh or dried herbs with boiled and cooled sugar water. Infused simple syrup typically keeps a few weeks in the fridge and is ready to go when making cocktails with fresh herbs. Some herbs can be added whole to a drink to add visual flourish. Consider adding a sprig of lavender or rosemary to sparkling wine or gin and tonic. Float a shiso leaf in your mojito.
Tips on Growing Herbs for Cocktail Drinks Growing an herbal cocktail garden depends on where you live. If you live in Coastal California or other warmer climates, you can depend on your rosemary, lemon verbena, lavender and mint to be available almost year round. All of these plants can be installed in your ornamental planting beds too. Note that spearmint should be placed in a pot, as it can be invasive. Sweet basil, shiso and cilantro are annuals. Put them in your raised beds or in pots each summer and you will be rewarded with some delightful garden cocktail ingredients. If you live in a cold winter area, you might consider putting all your herbs in pots near the kitchen door so you can access them easily and possibly even bring them indoors for winter. Make sure your herbs get full sun and sufficient water. Lavender and rosemary are water-wise plants, but all the other herbs need regular water and benefit from organic fertilizers once a month.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
Without bees, there would likely be none of us. Bees are valuable pollinators and without them the cycle of nature would come to a screeching halt. Lately you may have heard of a decline in the honeybee population due to colony collapse disorder. So what can you do for the bees since they work so hard for you? How about creating a bee friendly herb garden?
Best Plants for Bees Bees need flowers but not just any flowers. Bees are attracted to some blooms more than others. They tend to be attracted to plants that flower in full sun conditions. When planting a garden to entice these tiny pollinators, the best plants for bees are those that prefer full sun and that, obviously, bloom. Honeybees, for some reason, are also attracted to tiny flowers of which many herbs have in abundance. Many flowering herbs fall into these categories for attracting bees. So what are some herbs that attract bees?
Herbs for Honeybees Most herbs are adaptable to a wide range of soil and growing conditions and, for the most part, pretty easy to grow. They do not, however, do well in poorly drained soil and most of them prefer full sun, at least six to eight hours a day, as do most bees. When creating a bee friendly herb garden, select sun-loving flowering herbs for bees as well as other pollinators. Luckily, there are quite a few herbs that attract bees to choose from. As with any herb garden that is designed for attracting bees, you should include a variety. To keep them from getting too much shade, separate tall growing plants, like bee balm, from the low growing spreaders such as thyme. Perennials will give you more bang for your buck since they will return every year, but you can also include some annuals like sweet basil or cilantro.
There are a number of herbs recommended for honeybee gardens. Some of the more common include: Basil Bee balm Borage Catnip Chamomile Coriander/cilantro Fennel Lavender Mint Rosemary Sage Thyme The following herbs also make excellent choices for an herb garden for honeybees: Anise hyssop Arnica Angelica Calendula Feverfew Motherwort Nasturtium Solomon’s seal Lemon balm Germander Savory Betony Black cohosh European meadowsweet Greek mullein Echinacea (coneflower)
To benefit honeybees, plant in groups with a variety of herb species so the bees don’t have to fly so far and use precious energy. Also, I would think by now that everyone knows this, but don’t use any pesticides in your honeybee garden. It’s a bit counter-productive to entice the bees into the garden and then kill them off, don’t you think?
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
How to overwinter herbs? This is a difficult question because herb plants vary widely in their cold hardiness. Some perennial herbs will survive very cold winters with minimal protection, while tender perennials may not survive the first hard frost. If you’re concerned about winterizing your herb garden, the first step is to use your favorite Internet search engine and determine your plant’s cold hardiness, and be sure you know your USDA growing zone. Armed with that basic information, you can easily learn how to overwinter herbs.
Winterize Home Herb Gardens Below are some general steps you can take in preparing herbs for winter. Fertilizer – Never fertilize your herb garden after August. Fertilizing herbs late in the season will encourage tender new growth that may not survive the winter. Watering – Water plants throughout late summer and autumn, as drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to cold weather damage. If the winter is dry, the plants benefit from an occasional irrigation (when the ground isn’t frozen). Overwintering herbs that are perennial – Many perennial herbs are winter hardy. Some of these include: Chives Thyme Mint Fennel Oregano Lavender In most climates, these plants just need a good pruning – down to a height of 4 to 6 inches, after the first few hard freezes. However, even sturdy plants benefit from a layer of mulch in climates below USDA plant hardiness zone 5. Apply a 3- to 6-inch layer of mulch, such as chopped leaves, straw, pine needles or bark mulch, but don’t apply the mulch until after the first hard freeze because you may damage the plant. Be sure to remove the mulch shortly after new growth appears in spring. Some perennial herbs, such as rosemary, bay laurel and lemon verbena, need a little extra help during the winter months. Cut the plants nearly to the ground after the first hard frost, then cover the plants with soil and top the soil with 4 to 6 inches of mulch. A layer of evergreen boughs will also protect perennial herbs from harsh, drying winds.
Overwintering tender perennials or annual herbs – Some perennials may not survive cold winters, depending on your particular growing zone. For example, rosemary tolerates winters in USDA hardiness zone 7, and possibly zone 6 with good protection. Rosemary is relatively difficult to grow indoors, but you might want to pot it up and give it a try. Rosemary needs cool temperatures, bright sunlight and soil kept lightly moist. Annual herbs, such as dill and coriander, survive for a single season and will be killed with the first frost. There isn’t much you can do about this, but be sure to pull the dead herbs and clear the area of plant debris. Otherwise, you’re providing a handy hiding place for pests that will make an appearance in spring.
Overwintering herbs indoors – If you’re concerned that your tender perennial herbs may not survive the winter, or if you want to continue using annual herbs year round, many herbs do well indoors. For example, you can pot up herbs like parsley or basil in autumn, then move them back outdoors in spring. Some container herbs can also be given winter protection outside.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
Herbs are some of the most useful plants you can grow. They can be kept compact in containers, even in a sunny window in your kitchen. Anyone who’s used them knows that homegrown herbs taste better and are much cheaper than store bought herbs, and they usually only need to be used in small amounts. But sometimes your herbs can get away from you, and if you’re growing them outside, they can get beaten back by fall frost. In these cases, the best thing to do is to cut and preserve them. What are some of the best ways to do that? Keep reading to learn more about preserving herbs from the garden.
Preserving Herbs from the Garden There are a few herb preservation methods, but two of the easiest and most successful are freezing and drying. These methods usually preserve the herbs’ color and flavor well. Freezing herbs When freezing fresh herbs, you can either blanch them first or not. Blanching can dampen the flavor a little, but it helps preserve the color better. To blanch, simply place your herbs in a colander and dump boiling water over them for a second – it doesn’t take much. Basil really benefits from blanching and will turn black if frozen without it. Herbs can be frozen whole or cut into smaller pieces. Whatever you decide to do, lay your herbs out on a cookie sheet and freeze the whole thing overnight. The next morning combine it all in a plastic bag and store it in the freezer – this keeps the herbs from freezing together as a solid, hard to use mass. Freezing fresh herbs can also be done using an ice cube tray. Cut up your herbs and press them into an ice cube tray, about a tablespoon per cube. Freeze it overnight. The next morning, fill the tray the rest of the way up with water. This will give you easy to use portions of frozen herbs.
Drying herbs Another method for storing garden herbs is drying. Drying herbs can be done in the oven, the microwave, or by air. Lay your herbs on a cookie sheet and bake them on the lowest possible setting in the oven until they’re dry and brittle. Note, they will lose some flavor this way. You can also microwave them between paper towels for a few minutes for the same effect. A very popular and decorative way of drying herbs is to hang them upside down and allow them to air dry. Store them in a warm but, preferably, dark place to prevent the loss of flavor. Tie them in small bundles to allow for good air circulation. Now you’re ready to continue using and enjoying fresh herbs year round.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Dummer. ゛☀
The kitchen herb garden, or potager, as it’s known in France, is traditionally a small section of the garden, or even a separate garden, where culinary and healing herb plants are grown along with fruits, veggies and ornamentals. Usually, these herb gardens are carefully laid out to provide easy access, but also aesthetic value. Read more to learn about plants with healing effects and designing a medicinal herb garden.
Using Medicinal Herbs in Gardens For centuries, in almost every culture, the herb garden has held a special place in the garden. Long before walk-in clinics and huge medical complexes, people had to grow and prepare their own medicines. Healing herb plants were often grown in sacred gardens that not only provided healing from the plants themselves, but also to be aesthetically pleasing to the senses. Herbs were arranged by size and texture, often in geometric patterns, along with fruit and vegetable espaliers. These ancient herb gardens ranged from simple cottage gardens to the formal knot gardens of England. Most home gardeners don’t have the room or the time to create and maintain a formal knot garden in their yard. However, you can incorporate healing herb plants into your existing landscape and flower beds. The next section will cover common healing herb uses, as well as the role they can play in the landscape.
Plants with Healing Effects Here are some commonly used healing herb plants: Lavender Who can resist the relaxing scent and quaint charm of a Lavender border? Hardy in zones 5-9, the bluish hue of Lavender’s leaves and pale purple flowers are an excellent candidate for defining the lines between lawn and garden. A lavender bordered sidewalk or path has an inviting feel and soothing scent. Lavender is used medicinally to cure headaches, insomnia, relieve tension and as a natural insect repellent. As a growing plant in the garden, it gives off a beautiful calming scent and can be trimmed to promote bushier growth or shaped to form knots or topiaries. Use leaves and flowers in teas and lemonade.
Thyme, Viola, Chamomile Use low growing common healing herbs like Thyme, Violas or Chamomile for useful and attractive ground over. Thyme looks and smells wondrous, cascading over retaining walls or nestled between pavers for a natural looking garden path in full sun to part shade. Hardy in zones 4-11, Thyme is used to treat coughs, colds, congestion, headaches, insomnia and cuts. Thyme is also used in oral and skin care. Violas are hardy in zones 2-9 and seem happy to grow anywhere from full sun-full shade. With most Violas only reaching 6” tall, they make excellent, consistently blooming ground overs. The leaves and flowers of Violas are used to treat eczema, acne, swollen glands, cold symptoms, migraines and headaches, asthma and arthritic pain. Chamomile is an annual that will reseed itself in most zones. The dainty white flowers and light green ferny foliage, make low growing chamomile a beautiful ground over or border for cottage gardens. Chamomile is used to treat insomnia, headaches, tension, anxiety, and also used for skin and hair care.
Lemon Balm, Feverfew, Sage If you are looking for medium height accent plants with medicinal value, look no further than Lemon Balm, Feverfew and Sage. Lemon Balm is hardy in zones 4-9 and is mound forming, growing to about 12”-18” high. Lemon Balm is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, cuts and bruises, insect bites and upset stomachs. Feverfew is a 2-foot tall perennial in zones 5-9 covered with dainty daisy-like flowers in full sun- part shade. Feverfew flowers are used for headaches and migraines, arthritis pain and skin irritations. Also growing about 2 feet tall and hardy in zones 4-9, Sage makes a lovely mid-sized landscape accent plant for full sun. Sage is used for colds and sore throats, dental problems, cuts, skin care, hair care and to relieve to symptoms of PMS and menopause. Sage is also a natural deodorant and insect repellent.
Dill and Rosemary For healing herb plants that add a splash of drama to the landscape, try Mammoth Dill or Rosemary. Mammoth Dill is a tall annual that will reseed itself profusely. The feathery foliage and lime green umbel flowers have quite a stunning effect at the back of a flower bed. Dill flowers and foliage are used to settle the stomach and treat muscle cramps. Rosemary comes in upright or creeping forms. In zones 8-10, it is a sun-loving evergreen. In any zone, its dark green, pine-like foliage makes a beautiful accent. Rosemary is used medicinally to treat headaches, arthritis, coughs, colds, congestion, bronchitis and baldness. Rosemary is also used to increase memory and focus, improve circulation and as a natural insect repellent. You will find Rosemary in many hair and skin care products due to its regenerative effects on hair and skin.
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