Nature and me

       With just a few weeks of summer left, it’s not too late to start an herb garden.  Simply plant your herbs in pots and place them on your patio or balcony.  Even a sunny location in your home can be an ideal place to grow your herbs.  Here are some helpful tips when starting your herb garden.      

Plant What You Know

Plant herbs that you normally cook with.  Basil, oregano, cilantro, parsley, and dill are the most popular herbs to plant. 

Reuse               

Why spend additional money on flower pots when you can perfectly reuse candle jars or empty coffee and soup cans.  If you are unable to poke holes in the bottom of your jar for drainage, you can add pebbles inside the jar so that the plant’s roots are lifted and not sitting in a puddle of water.      

Harvest

When you’re ready to harvest your herbs, you want to make sure your plant is tall enough, about 5 to 6 inches to trim. 

Basil– If you need a few leaves to top a pasta dish, pick the leaves from the top and sides of the plant.  Another tip is that you want to avoid your basil plant from producing flowers since it can change the flavor of the plant.  Prune every two weeks so that the leaves can grow big and lush.      

Oregano– Trim the top portion of the plant since that is where the leaves are the most fragrant.  Oregano can grow wild so be sure to prune regularly.

Parsley– Snip the outer stems of the plant by cutting just a few inches near the base of the plant.  Place your cuttings inside a cup of water so that your parsley stays fresh.

     Whether you just recently got inspired to start gardening or you’re in need of some fresh grown herbs, it’s never too late to start an herb garden.  If you can, take advantage of the warm weather and place your herbs outside.  When the temperature starts to drop, bring your herbs indoors.  Make sure that your herbs are pet friendly.  Invest in a tablet-top greenhouse in order to create a humid environment for your herbs, plus it will keep your feline friend away from your leafy greens.  And remember to prune correctly in order to ensure that your herbs continue to grow.

                                                       Happy Gardening!