Gardening Tips

Grow Herbs from Seeds
Most herbs can be grown very successfully from seed.

lovely Lemon balm awaiting to be picked .

There are of course certain varieties that require vegetative propagation. Examples include most of the mint varieties and French tarragon, for which you have to split the original plant and remove some of it with roots attached, or make cuttings which have to be rooted first, preferably in shrp sand and then planted out once established.

Most herbs do prefer to be planted in full sun in well-drained soil to which lots of organic material has been added. They also like to be kept well watered. Though, it is has to make possible to grow your herb garden as close to the kitchen as practical to make it quick and easy to pop out and pick the appropriate herbs.

Harvest only what you need.
Only pick what you need or will use that day, as herbs tend to lose their aromatic qualities when stored for too long. Do not strip the entire plant of its leaves at any one time - leave enough to sustain the plant until you harvest again. Also try to pick herbs early in he fay as that is when they have the most aroma in their leaves.

Herbs as insects repellents.
Apart from their many culinary uses, some herbs and related plants make excellent insect repellents. Examples include garlic, chives, basil and rue. These gives off odours that are disliked by insects and are an ideal way to cut down on the amount of chemical insecticide used in the garden-especially in the vegetable plot, where some of these chemicals could be harmful to human health. You can also make your own insecticide by using herbs like garlic to deter sucking and chewing insects. The list of herbs that are useful as insect repellents and in companion planting is vast, so it is worth investing in a specialized book on this subject.

KEEP MINT UNDER CONTROL
To prevent mint taking over your entire herb garden, sink it in a pot in the ground-watch that the pot is not too deep or the mint will merely send runners over the top, defeating the point. Mint is also less aggressive in the shade.

CUT DOWN ON FERTILIZER
Keep fertilizer to a minimum in the herb garden. Over-fertilizing promotes lush foliage at the expense of taste and aroma.

PRUNE EVERGREEN HERBS
Cut back perennials herbs like thyme, marjoram, chives, borage, basil, rosemary and all the mints in early spring to encourage new growth. Save the cut leaves for use either by placing them in small packets and freezing or by drying in the shade and storing in airtight containers.

Quantity as required.
A herb such as rosemary is not used that frequently or in great quantities, so you will probably need only one plant for the average household. Basil, parsley, chives and others you might need in large quantities can then be given the extra space

A trailing Rosemary at right

Mix fine seeds with sharp sand
When sowing extremely fine seeds, mix them with something that is easy to see on the surface of the compost as you sprinkle the seeds. In this way you can tell where the mixture you are sprinkling has landed and you won't sow too many seeds in one place in the tray and so cause overcrowding of the plants.

Bathe rather than spray fresh seed trays
Stand the tray of sown seeds in a shallow dish of water and allow the water to rise to the surface of the compost.As you see the top of the compost becoming moist,remove the tray immediately to prevent the seeds from floating up to the surface.This method of watering will prevent the seeds being washed into the corners. You can also use a watering Can that has a very fine nozzle, but extremely careful not to cause the compost to wash to one side, taking all the freshly sown seed with it.

Sterilize compost in your Microwave
If you are using a small quantities of compost to sow your seeds in, simply microwave it to kill off any disease-causing pathogens or weed seeds that might be present. Make sure that the compost is slightly damp; place it in a sealed container and microwave on high for three minutes per 1 kg.

Those who do not have green hand or thumb but eager to start to own a garden, love to view bed of flowers, to yield a healthy vegetables and herbs, I advise that you get a Gardening Basics For Dummies.

You're now officially out of excuses for not planting the garden of your dreams. Even if you've never sowed a seed or pulled a weed, Gardening Basics For Dummies contains everything you need to know about flowers, beds, borders, trees, shrubs, and lawns to create your own private paradise. This friendly and informative guide also covers all of the tools and additives available to make gardening easier.

Even though you may not be an expert after readig the book, you should be well on your own way taking most gardening tasks with new confidence. Gardening is part of science and part of art, and how you mix up is a very personal thing.

The objective of the whole chapter of this book is to provide all the information you need to go out and create a garden, or at least plant something, no matter what level of experience. In this book, you will discover;

*Clear definitions and descriptions of the different types of plants

*Tips on choosing the type of garden you want

*How to create a garden plan

*Easy-to-follow instructions for soil preparation

*Advice on planting, growing and caring for annuals and perennials

*Step-by-step plans for organic and edible gardens

*Plans for butterfly and children's gardens

Packed with helpful tips on controlling pests safely, managing weeds, and correcting common gardening problems, Gardening Basic for Dummies turns your brown thumb green in a hurry.

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