20 Most Beneficial Herb Plants for Your Garden

By Dueep Jyot Singh and John Davidson

20 Most Beneficial Herb Plants for Your Garden
Popular Herbs for Health and Cuisine

Table of Contents
Introduction
Knowing More about John Innes Compost
How to Make Leaf Compost
A Little Rant about Outdated Agricultural Practices
Growing Herbs in Pots.
Marjoram- Origamum omites- leaves
Mint – Mentha spicata
Basil -Oscimum basilicum– leaves.
Basil Vinegar
Thyme – Thymus vulgaris-Leaves
Thyme Vinegar
Chives –Allium choenoprasum –leaves
Tarragon - Artemisia dracunculus – leaves.
Fennel -Foeniculum vulgare–F.officinale – Leaves, Stem And Seed
Shrub Permanents for Your Garden
Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis
Sage – Salvia officinalis
Roses
Rue –Ruta graveolens
Artemisias –Artemisia pontica – the Roman wormwood.
Hair Growth Recipe
Bay – The Roman Laurel –Laurus nobilis
Winter Savory – Satureja Montana
Medieval Sciatica Remedy
Other Herb Garden Favorites
Sorrel – Rumex acetosa
Traditional Sorrel Sauce
Tansy – Tanacetum vulgare
Poppy – Papaver Orientale
Clove Carnation – Dianthus caryophyllus
Borage – Borago officinalis – leaves, flowers and stems
Conclusion
Author Bio
Introduction
Someone once asked me what was the logic behind the choices of plants which I grew in my herb garden? Why did one plant grow profusely while the other was completely absent from the beds or borders?
Well, the answer is – the choice of plants in my herbal garden depend on these things – how useful and beneficial they are as natural and curative herbs. How often can I use them while preparing natural, healthy meals in the kitchen? How often can I harvest them? And last but not the least, how much trouble will I have to take, while growing them?
This last should show you that I am more of an herbalist and cook than I am a gardener! In fact, sometimes the mere thought of going out in the garden, and getting soil under my nails makes me want to make childish faces and whine like an un-oiled machine.
Also, rain in the face and midges are all very tolerable, when you are young, but as you grow older, you prefer sitting down in an easy chair, and in a warm room, instead of kneeling outdoors and weeding.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JD-Biz Corp Publishing
• Release date: May 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310163456

Book preview

Introduction

Someone once asked me what was the logic behind the choices of plants which I grew in my herb garden? Why did one plant grow profusely while the other was completely absent from the beds or borders?

Well, the answer is – the choice of plants in my herbal garden depend on these things – how useful and beneficial they are as natural and curative herbs. How often can I use them while preparing natural, healthy meals in the kitchen? How often can I harvest them? And last but not the least, how much trouble will I have to take, while growing them?

This last should show you that I am more of an herbalist and cook than I am a gardener! In fact, sometimes the mere thought of going out in the garden, and getting soil under my nails makes me want to make childish faces and whine like an un-oiled machine.

Also, rain in the face and midges are all very tolerable, when you are young, but as you grow older, you prefer sitting down in an easy chair, and in a warm room, instead of kneeling outdoors and weeding.

Gardening is such a relaxing occupation. Unlike this keen gardener, I use a stain and waterproof kitchen apron instead of a professional looking gardening apron. Or castaway and shabby T-shirts and jeans!

So for all those who are reluctant gardeners like me, invest in a pair of sturdy gardening gloves. If they are not readily available make sure that you wash your hands with soap before you go out and garden. Allow the pieces of solid soap to remain under your nails. This is going to prevent any dirt particles from accumulating under those long talons.

After you have done your gardening, just come in and wash your hands. The soap washes away, its duty of preventing dirt and soil under your nails accomplished.

Remember, you do not need to have huge gardens in order to appreciate and grow herbs. Herbs can be grown very easily in pots in indoor windowsills.

Knowing More about John Innes Compost

If you were an herbalist, gardener, or agriculturalist 2000 years ago and were asked to plant plants in your garden, you would immediately break the soil sow the seeds and leave everything else to nature. Thankfully, man began to know all about proper growing of plants and traditional agricultural methods with fertilizer, water, sun, and air, began to be noted, followed and implemented down the generations. Even so, after the 20th century, the real and proper combination of essential nutrients necessary for proper plant growth was largely a matter of trial and error.

However, in the early 20th century, two research workers in John Innes Horticultural Institute in London decided to concentrate on combinations of soil content, which could prevent parasite attacks, encourage plant growth and help in an increased yield of produce. It took six years for them to get the right proportions together for the best plant growth rates and yield.

Thanks to their painstaking work, this compost is available all over the world, but if you want, you can make it right at home.

The main popular standard composts available in the market till date are potting composts and seed sowing composts.

The basic formula for both of them is the same. It is only the proportions which are different.

Basic formula ingredients are –

Organic fertilizers, coarse grit and sand, moss peat/Spagnum and topsoil or loam , depending on the plant variety.

Enthusiastic gardeners are going to find this URL very useful –

http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.in/2011/03/how-to-make-john-innes-compost.html

Now, if anybody asked me whether I use this potting compost or this seed sowing compost in my garden, the answer is ummm well no, not really. But that is because I am using traditional gardening methods to make my garden grow.

The soil is rich, well fertilized with farm manure and leaf compost , and with sand, grit, gravel and pieces of brick and small stones.