Growing Herbs
Making your own herbal remedies saves money,
but growing herbs for your home herbal chest saves even more money!
If you enjoy gardening you will find that growing herbal plants is actually quite simple.
Given the right conditions, herbs are easy to grow, whether it be
in pots,
a formal herbal garden, or even a pot or two indoors over the winter. Getting the kids involved in growing a few medicinal plants is also a great learning experience for them! My two little boys can recognize some herbal plants and even know what they can be used for.
Choosing the right herbs to grow is the first thing to do. I like growing herbs that are low on maintenance and
dry and freeze easily.
As well, I like growing herbs that can have a few different uses.
Here are a few of my favorites...
How to Grow Aloe
Zones 9-10 or indoors. Height 2 feet. This perennial loves the sun and well-drained soil. Great as an indoor plant in a northern hemisphere.
How To Grow Anise Hyssop
Zones 4-9. Grows 2 feet tall. This perennial is the first to come up in the spring and its flowers attract lots of bees! This plant enjoys average to poor soil as long as it is well-drained. Plant in the full sun.
How to Grow Calendula
All zones. This beautiful annual flower was my introduction to growing herbs - it is a must! Calendula is a very easy to grow herb from seed. Plant 4-6 weeks before the last frost directly into the soil. It will continue to bloom well past the first frosts in the fall. Grows 20 inches high.
Leave a few heads of flowers to turn to seed for planting next year.
How to Grow Catnip
Zones 4-9. Grows up to 3 feet. Catnip prefers average to well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Another self-sower, make sure to shear the plant back to prevent unwanted seedlings. Cats will be flocking to this plant! One early spring my catnip was rolled upon by barn cats so much it died!
How to Grow Chamomile
Zones 4-8. Another beautiful perennial flower to have in the garden! Chamomile grows in most types of soils in full sun to light shade. Look for a division from a friend or if you are really ambitious start from seed. Chamomile will reseed itself. Stems grow along the ground and rise up a foot or so with white daisy-like flowers on top.
How to Grow Comfrey
Zones 3-8. This perennial grows up to 4 feet! It enjoys full sun to partial shade and average well-drained, moist soil. Take care to plant comfrey in its own spot, it has a tendency to grow rampant on a gardener! Also, unwanted parts of the plant can be added to your compost bin as it is a good fertilizer!
How to grow Echinacea
Zones 3-9 Height up to 4 feet. Yet another beautiful perennial flower! Also known as purple coneflower, Echinacea loves most types of soils and full sun. Look for plants or start from seed. However, Echinacea roots need to be 3 years old before harvesting. Attracts butterflies!
How To Grow Feverfew
Zones 4-9. This perennial grows up to 3 feet. Feverfew enjoys well-drained soil and full sun. Pretty white flowers will turn to seed and self-sow if not dead headed.
How to Grow Garlic
Zones 4-9. Garlic is beneficial for so many illnesses our families may face. Garlic likes light, well-drained soil and the full sun. Plant the individual cloves 1 inch deep and a few inches apart.
How to Grow Lavender
Zones 5-8. Grows up to 3.5 feet tall. Beautiful purple flowers on stately stems. Lavender loves the full sun and average to dry, well-drained soil. However, one year I managed to over winter my lavender in zone 2-3 with nothing more than a deep covering of snow!
How to Grow Lemon Balm
Zones 4-9. This perennial grows up to 5 feet tall. Lemon Balm prefers well-drained, moist soil and full sun to partial shade. Shear lemon balm to prevent unwanted seedlings next year. That shouldn't be a problem as you'll be wanting to harvest this herb all through the summer.
How to Grow Peppermint
Zones 5-9. Grows up to 3 feet tall. Prefers rich, moist soil and full sun to partial shade. The mints are invasive so plant in a confined area such as a pot submersed in the ground.
How to Grow St. John's Wort
Zones 3-8. Grows up to 3 feet. This beautiful, yellow flowered perennial shrub loves the full sun and can be grown in average to poor soil.
How to Grow Thyme
Zones 4-8. This perennial enjoys light, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Thyme is low growing.
How to Grow Yarrow
Zones 3-9. Grows up to 3 feet. This hardy perennial can be found in the wild as well as grown in the garden. I find my yarrow in the cow pasture! Prefers full sun and moderately fertile soil.
Have fun growing herbs for remedies!
A green thumb isn't one of your things? All hope is not lost!
Simple Green Living is full
of help to kick start your "green" lifestyle with information on growing vegetables,
cooking from scratch and other motivational ideas for people seeking to live their lives
with less of an impact on the environment.
For additional tips on using herbs for health as wellness,
as well as healthy diet and green living information, visit Healthy Green Lifestyle.
Discover the easiest and most useful methods for growing
herbs indoors or outdoors at Growing Raw Health. Learn how to create
your own attractive and useful herb garden.
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