All You Ever Wanted To Know About Home Herb Gardening

Home herb gardening is becoming more and more popular, thanks in part to its flexibility when it comes to space. You don’t need a large plot of land to be able to enjoy this hobby. Even if you live in a one-room apartment, caring for an herb garden is still possible.


Aside from this characteristic, keeping an herb garden doesn’t demand that much attention from the home gardener. Mature plants can survive on lots of sunshine and a two to three times a week watering schedule. And if you’ve ever watched a celebrity chef cook on TV, you’d probably noticed that they used fresh herbs picked from pots placed in their kitchen.


The variety of herbs to choose from is breathtaking and can be overwhelming, especially for beginner herb gardeners. How do you begin to choose? There are many ways to measure your choices against.

Obviously, weather and climate is an important consideration. You wouldn’t want a tropical herb when you live in a region that has winter cold months (although it is still possible to care for them with sufficient skill and paraphernalia). Another important consideration is your interests – do you want herbs that you can use for cooking, for soothing, or simply for beauty?


Knowing the requirements of each herb is really helpful when deciding which ones to grow. Finally, your skill level will also impact your choice. While herbs are hardy plants, there are some varieties that can challenge the expertise and patience of master gardeners.


Starting this rewarding hobby can be easy. Of course, like with anything else, preparation goes a long way. If you are ready and you feel confident that you know what you are doing, then your plants will have a better chance of thriving and you will also find yourself enjoying the hobby even more.


If you are serious about it, I recommend Jeannie Wood’s “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening”. It’s a great guide written specifically for beginner herb gardeners, no gardening background necessary. It’s written in a language that is easy to understand and easy to read.


In this book, she talks about the things you need to know when it comes to choosing, caring, watering, and harvesting your herbs. She also talks about how to avoid herb illnesses and pests and what to do in case your plants get infected. And if you are into organic herb gardening, which I absolutely recommend, this book advocates it and will teach you how you can raise your herbs 100% in the organic method.

This book is available electronically, which means you can enjoy it immediately once you download it. It’s only available at the book’s website. You can check it out here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com

Herb Planting – Starting an Herb Garden

Any person who says the words “herb planting” to me, and I instantly conjure up images of my mother. I would see her mulling over books to know what herbs to plant (we didn’t have the internet when I was young, and now she sees no reason to learn how to do so), checking out the containers or pots she’d be using, plotting her little piece of land that she fondly calls her haven.
My mom who has a green thumb said that some herbs can be a bit tedious to grow, but most aren’t. Through time and experience, she suggested the following herbs as simple enough to grow that even a child can do so:

• Basil. It grows to about 18 inches, basil is very good for flavoring tomato juice and tomato-based dishes (which worked well with the family’s tummies as her harvest would always lead to flavorful cooking).

• Chervil. It grows to about 2 feet and should be spaced 8 inches apart from the next plant. This is usually mature and ready for harvesting in 6 weeks time. Do not transplant, as this will eventually cause the plant to wilt and die. Good in flavoring egg dishes.

• Chives. This bulblet plant can germinate in 10 days. Mature plants grow to about 12 inches, preferably with a 6-inch space in between other plants. Perfect for salads, sauces and egg dishes. Can also be put on a window sill, all potted up.

• Dill. The blossoms of this herb are tiny and in pale yellow. Grows up to 2 ½ feet tall, and may be spaced 4 inches apart. Good for pickling and preserving, and for flavoring or marinating meats.

• Lavender. This has a variety of uses as aside from being an herb. Its leaves can also be used to make soothing and calming tea, and the leaves can be used to leave a nice scent in a chest of drawers or a cabinet.

• Marjoram. Sweet marjoram can grow to about 12 inches in height, to be spaced 6 inches from the next plant.  This flavor favors lamb, fish, soups and salads.

• Mint. This herb is at its best in good rich soil. It grows to 2 feet in height, and should be spaced 12 inches apart. Best used for mint jelly, lemonade and other fruit drinks.

• Sage. If planted indoors, it will germinate for 14 days. It grows up to 2 feet high and should be spaced at least 6 inches apart. This herb is specifically used for dressings for chicken, pork, turkey, sometimes beef (although the taste is sometimes less desirable), and is used to flavor sausages.

• Sesame. This needs warmth for germination (hence, the proliferation of sesame seeds in Asian and tropical countries) which would take place in 3 to 7 days. They grow up to almost 3 feet in height and would need 9 to 10 inches of space in between plants. The seeds are used to flavor breads and cookies. Can also be made into sesame oil.

Herb growing is a delightful activity. To ensure that you cultivate a thriving garden, consult fellow herb gardeners or use a guide like “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide to
Herbs and Herb Gardening” to know the merits and the requirements of each herb. With the proper knowledge and armed with the right equipment, you will be well on your way to becoming the culinary gardener you’ve always dreamed of.
If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.

Common Natural Healing Herbs

Before the advent of medicine and pharmaceutical drugs as we know it now, herbs have been used as remedies or treatment for a lot of illnesses. What we do not know is that we have herbs growing in our gardens that are natural healing herbs. In some cases, these herbs may be so common, we mistake them to be weeds sprouting everywhere. Here are some common natural healing herbs and their uses:

• St. John’s Wort is a very popular herb used as a remedy for depression because of its soothing properties. It can also be used to soothe burns while extracts from its flowers can be used as an antiviral agent, a sedative or as an astringent. It can also be used to remedy varicose veins, hemorrhoids and cuts.
  
• Lawn Daisy. The sap from its stem can be used to clear skin spots. The flower can also be made into an infusion consisting of 1 teaspoon dried flower to 1 cup water, boiled for 5 minutes and strained. This can then be used as a skin wash to treat eczema. However, caution should be taken because lawn daisy can aggravate allergies in some people.
  
• White Cedar can be found in many of our yards as a decorative evergreen but its various parts have a lot of uses. Its twigs are used as an anti-viral and anti-fungal agent. Its leaves and twigs can also be used as remedy for rheumatism, urinary problems, bronchial problems, vaginal infections and coughs.
  
• Dandelion leaves are effective as a diuretic and as treatment for urinary disorders especially those dealing with fluid retention. Its stem contains a sap that can be used to treat warts and corns while its roots can be used to lessen inflammation and promote liver health. This is one example of a plant that we usually dismiss as a mere weed but actually has a lot of hidden virtues.
  
• Cornflower with its beautiful flowers and color is often used in dried flower arrangements because it does not lose its color when dried. Its flowers can be used as an antibiotic and has stimulant properties. Its leaves or flowers can be used to infuse water and this infused liquid can be used to treat rheumatism and as an aid in digestion.
  
• Houseleek leaves can be eaten as a salad and can be made into a tea that can help speed the recovery of mouth sores. Sap from its leaves can sooth burns, skin abrasions and insect bites.
  
• Morning Glory seeds, in fact the whole plant, can be used as a purgative to get rid of intestinal parasites and treat constipation. Its dried seeds however, is toxic and can be harmful.
  
• Queen Anne’s Lace seeds are used as treatment for hangover while its roots contain carotene and are rich in vitamin C. A herbal tea can also be made from the plant which can be used as a urinary antiseptic and diuretic.
  
• French Marigold flowers are made into condiments while secretions from its roots are used to repel harmful organisms in organic farms and gardens. In early times, ancient Aztecs used the French Marigold’s leaves as a hallucinogen to calm victims of human sacrifice.
  
• Raspberry fruits are used to treat anemia and they can also be used to treat bed wetting and kidney problems. Its leaves can be made into tea to relieve menstrual discomfort.
  

These herbs can be helpful in providing immediate remedies for very common illnesses. But before you apply the medicinal properties of these herbs, it is best to consult with a naturopathic doctor or a medical doctor to asses their suitability to your specific condition.

For beginner herb gardeners, choosing natural healing herbs is a popular way to select which herbs to plant. Consulting a guide such as “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide to Herbs and Herb Gardening” can help you further fine tune the selection process by giving you information on what the herb plant needs in oder to thrive and to asses your lifestyle if the amount of care and attention you can give will be sufficient.
If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthhappyherbs.com.

An Herb Garden Design to Suit your Needs

When starting an herb garden, one of the things you need to decide on is your herb garden design. This means selecting the herbs you will be planting and how you will locate them in your garden.

An excellent herb garden design has a lot of benefits. For one, it is essential to making sure that the herbs you plant are given the right conditions to thrive. Another benefit is you create a garden that is pleasing to look at and easy to care for. And lastly, having a design from the outset will prevent you from making mistakes in placing your herbs.


Designing an herb garden to suit your needs can be daunting for a beginner herb gardener. To help with this crucial first step, consulting veteran herb gardeners and guides like “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide to Herbs and Herb Gardening” will really go a long way in making sure you get to enjoy a thriving garden as well as a rewarding hobby.


Designing your own herb garden depends on several factors: lifestyle, needs, overall purposes and personal preferences. Let’s take a look at some of these factors.


Designing and creating your herb garden based on your lifestyle means finding herbs that you have uses for. It also means choosing herbs that you will be able to easily care for given the amount of attention that you can actually give your garden.


For example, you decide that you want an herb garden that will provide you fresh and flavorful herbs for cooking. In this case, your choice of herbs would be those that are used most often in cooking. You may want to plant these herbs in movable containers so that you can put them in your kitchen, where it will be convenient for you to use them.

Some people want to grow herbs for aromatherapy or as raw material for various crafts. In this case, their hobby will influence the types of herbs that they will want to grow in their garden. For aromatherapy, popular herbs are camomile and lavender.

Let’s say you decide that you want an herb garden design that’s great for entertaining guests. In this case, you may choose herbs depending on how big they grow or if they bear flowers or not. You may also decide to allot a bigger space for your garden and build an outdoor patio for full effect.

If you have limited space available for your garden, then you need to choose herbs that don’t grow to big. Herbs that can thrive indoors or in container gardens are excellent choices. Container herb gardening is specially great for those who live in apartments but still want to engage in gardening.
There are also herb plants that you will need to pay special attention to. Take note that chives, lavender and mint are invasive herbs - they tend to spread easily and overrun your garden. So when growing these, putting them in containers and away from your other herbs is important.

Some plants that are grown next to each other tend to influence each other’s properties. For example, tomatoes when planted beside basil or thyme will acquire the flavor of the herb.

You can also choose an herb garden design based on various themes. For example, you can have an Italian theme and plant herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary, oregano, sage and other herbs mostly used in Italian dishes. Or you can also to make a theme out of a certain herb and plant different varieties of it in your garden.

More formal herb garden designs usually involve designing around geometrical shapes with paths, walkways or kiosks. Herbs of various heights are selected for their pleasing and complementary appearance. 

If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.

7 Best Herbs for an Italian Herb Garden

Italians are famous not only for their cuisine but also for the herbs they use in preparing their food. Growing these Italian herbs in your herb garden is a good idea because of the wonderful scents they can bring to your kitchen. Here are the seven (7) best herbs for an Italian herb garden which will truly bring unique flavors to your food.

• Basil. A popular herb that is used in many Italian recipes, basil does not only add flavor to your Italian cuisine but it is also a valuable addition to any garden. Basil when planted and grown beside tomatoes and peppers will improve their distinctive flavor. It is also an effective repellant against mosquitoes and flies.
  
• Oregano. An herb which is most flavorful when it is harvested with its purple flowers. When dried, this flavor is enhanced even more.
  
• Parsley. An herb which was usually eaten raw and originally used as a breath freshener. It was traditionally served after meals to get rid of bad breath from eating flavor-rich foods. Parsley is one herb that is hard to grow. Parsley nowadays is commonly used as garnishing for many different Italian and non-Italian dishes.
  
• Garlic. The most popular and most used herb in the world, garlic is easy to grow and will prosper in any kind of soil. Plus, it does not need a lot of attention. Garlic can be kept for a long time by freezing or pickling.
  
• Sage. Used in Italian cuisines from salads to meats, sage shoots are the most flavorful part of the herb plant. It can be harvested after blooming. To bring out new shoots, the sage plant need to be trimmed often.
  
• Rosemary. An evergreen perennial, rosemary just like basil is very helpful in the garden. It can grow into a large shrub with petite blue flowers which helps to attract bees. Although it is large and looks tough, rosemary is susceptible to frost.
  
• Fennel. A perennial plant that loses its flavor as it attains maturity, fennel is known for. Caring for fennel involves separating and replanted every few years.
  

Each herb requires a different level of care and attention. To learn more about what a particular herb needs, proper research is always a good idea. Talk to other growers or consult a guide like “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” before you choose the herbs to plant in your garden.
If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.

Herbs to Plant – and Why You Should Consider Planting Them

If you’re thinking about cultivating a garden herb to start you off on container gardening, then one way to choose what herbs to plant is to select those that you use often. With a garden herb that you use often, you’ll appreciate your work much more and enjoy the fruits of your labor, too!

But sometimes, what you think is the simplest, easy-to-grow herb turns out to be quite the opposite. So how do you decide on what to plant in the first place?
Know your herbs. Doing some research into what herbs to plant always pays off. You can scour the internet for information, ask friends, garden tools suppliers, or even consult books like “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening”. When you know how each herb behaves, then you can choose and plan your herb garden much better.

To start you off, here are some information on common herbs that are easy to plant and that don’t require much maintenance to thrive:


Oregano. Also known as the pizza herb, the oregano is one of the easiest herbs to plant. It complements almost all tomato based dishes known to man, and is indispensable in Italian, Spanish and Mexican kitchens. Oregano does well in partial shade, and should not be kept moist for so long. A perfect place for the oregano herb would be an indoor windowsill garden.


Mint. It is excellent with vegetables (such as carrots and peas). It cools the palate when combined with dairy products such as yogurt. Some even say that it complements lamb perfectly. But the best thing about is it that it is an easy herb to plant and cultivate. Peppermint and spearmint are the two most common kinds of mint grown. It grows fast and wild though, so mint must have its own spot in the garden or its own container. Small mint cuttings are the easiest to grow – it needs only a little water and partial shade for growth.


Thyme. Often paired with the bay leaf, thyme is one of the easiest and loveliest herbs to have in the garden. It has many uses, including medicinal uses (said to be helpful in treating sore throats and other minor respiratory infections). Due to its strong flavor, it is used sparingly except for dishes that requires its full taste, such as creamed onions.
Growing thyme is best done using clay-based soil. Use a large container so that the herb will have room to grow. From seeds, it can take up to a year for the plant to develop and it is not even recommended to harvest in the first year of growth. If you want to grow it fast, the best way is to use root division so you’ll have a mature plant in just a couple of months. Full sun is best for this plant, but it will grow under shade as well.


Basil. Like the oregano, the basil herb is used a lot in tomato based dishes. You cannot grow basil indoors since it needs a lot of sunlight to thrive. Do not over-water. The soil should be kept dry in between waterings.

Basil can be grown from transplants or seeds – cheaper if you start from seeds, but faster if you use transplants. You can pick your poison, so to speak, and still be able to start your basil garden. Sweet basil is usually the easiest to grow of all basil varieties, and Genovese (which is considered as the Italian basil) grows well in pots with an exceptional flavor amongst them all. When harvesting, get the larger and darker leaves as these will have the most flavor.

Most herbs don’t need excessive amounts of water so remember to have sufficient holes and drainage at the bottom of your container for it not to store more water than necessary.
If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.

Herb Planting – Oregano in a Mini-Garden

If you are just about to set out creating your own mini garden, you may be thinking of what plants and herbs to cultivate. It might help you in making your selection to have a handy guide such as the one by Jeannie Woods called “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herb and Herb Gardening”. When you know the various properties of each herb plant, you’ll be able to plan your garden quickly and more efficiently.

Now, one popular herb that all beginner gardeners should consider is oregano. The name oregano connotes Italian origins. In fact, Italians even have their own spelling for it - origano.

Used mainly in Mediterranean dishes and also known as wild or pot marjoram (although culinary enthusiasts will attest that oregano has an entirely different flavor from marjoram), the humble oregano is at the forefront of herb popularity. This herb, which can grow up to 2 feet tall, is frequently used in making pizza, spaghetti and tomato-based sauces.

Unbeknownst to others though, this herb not only makes food taste and smell good, but it also has centuries-old medicinal benefits as well. It is said that even Hippocrates – the father of medicine – saw its potential and used it as an antiseptic. The oil that the herb contains has antibacterial properties that inhibit the growth of some kinds of bacteria. Oregano is also sometimes being given as a treatment for giardiasis (an infection of the small intestine caused by the giardia lamblia organism).

Oregano is also rich in antioxidants. In fact, compared to other fruits and vegetables sources, oregano may actually have more of the antioxidant properties we so desire. Fresh oregano is a good source of fiber. And, it is loaded with vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese vitamin C, vitamin A and essential omega-3 fatty acids. However, since oregano is used sparingly as a spice in food, we only consume a little of it at a time.

An an herb plant, oregano is pretty easy to grow and care for. You have the option to grow it outdoors in a garden or in a container. You can start your plant from the cutting of an existing one. Choose an existing plant with a strong flavor to ensure the quality of your own plant.

Should you decide to start from seed, that would be fine too. The seed germinates for about 8 to 14 days. It also just needs moderately fertile soil for it to thrive in. Alternatively, you can also grow it in soil-less potting mixes, perlite, vermiculite, rock wool, coco peat and Oasis form – all of which can be easily found in gardening supply stores in your area.
It is suggested that it be planted a foot to about 15 inches (about 30 to 38 cm) apart from each other. Plant only once winter has passed. Within 6 weeks of planting it, trim the shoots to stimulate lush growth.

Oregano is ready to be harvested as soon as flowers appear. However, some mini-gardeners tend to pick leaves constantly during growth which prevents flowering. If grown outdoors, it would prefer the power of the full sunlight. If grown indoors, it will also grow well under high output fluorescent, compact fluorescent or high intensity discharge (metal halide or high pressure sodium) plant growing lights – all of which are available in hardware stores (and sometimes, even in gardening shops or DIY stores).

Standard lamps should be placed 2 to 4 inches away from the tops of plants; high output and compact fluorescent lamps should be about a foot away. High intensity discharge lights should be 2 to 4 feet above the plant, depending on the wattage.

Lastly, do not overwater – oregano is sturdy and durable enough to withstand drought.

With the benefits and ease of maintenance, who wouldn’t want to have oregano in their garden? Plant one now.
If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.

Mint – A Garden Herb for Many

When considering which herbs to plant, the mint herb is probably one of the herbs that come to mind. And why not? Mint can be used for many dishes in the kitchen – for soups (especially that with carrots, peas and potatoes), roast lamb and other meats, salads, etc.
But unlike other herbs, the flavorful mint has a tendency to seek garden domination. It is a rapid grower, and if not kept in check, it can choke and kill other herbs grown with it.

Now before you decide to forget about planting mint, I should tell you that you can still enjoy growing this garden herb as long as you observe certain precautions. And when you grow them properly, mint can be a rewarding herb to plant. The are easy to care for and can grow in any type of soil. Whether you put them under either full sunlight or full shade, it will still grow.

There are 3 types of mints usually grown by the herb gardener:

• Pennyroyal mint – the most common mint.
  
• Spearmint – traditionally the one used for cooking, with mint sauces.
  
• Peppermint – with the usual peppermint flavor we associate with candies.
  

It can easily be grown from seeds or seedlings and should be planted a foot to 15 inches apart from one another. Although it can actually thrive under any type of soil, its all-time favorite would be a fertile, well-drained soil (just like most herbs in your garden).

It is advisable though, to plant it in a container or pot first, before transferring the pot into the ground. This would prevent the roots from spreading on to other herbs and plants and will lessen the likelihood of unconscious plant murder. As long as the roots are contained, it will never be able to grow beyond the pot and will stay so for as long as the pot holds it.

Mint takes to container growing well. Water it regularly (but not too much, even though mint plants love moisture) and try to feed with organic liquid plant food (found in gardening stores in your area) at least once a month during growing season.

Like other plants, mint can be affected by bugs and pests. Unfortunately, they are more prone to a particular plant disease called rust. Always check your leaves, especially the undersides. If there are orange, rust-colored blobs on the leaf itself, immediately cut it to avoid the disease from spreading.

However, if a lot of leaves have been affected, the best option is to cut the plant down and burn it to avoid the rust from spreading to not just mint, but to other plants as well. Discard the soil and clean the pot or container with disinfectant before putting new soil in it and replanting.

When harvesting mint leaves, don’t remove all the leaves at once - doing so will hamper its growth. Try to cut the leaves at the top of the plant (to encourage the leaves to grow at the sides). Cut only what you need, using a pair of scissors.

Mint is a pretty reliable herb once you get to know it. Mastering the ways of containment for the mint is the key to completing your perfect home herb garden.
If you would like to learn more about growing mints and other herbs that are perfect for beginners, I recommend a guide like “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening”. Following a comprehensive guide can make growing easier and more rewarding for you. It can help minimize mistakes when you have everything you need from just one source.
If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.

Herb to Plant -- Rosemary

In planting herb garden, knowing all you can about the herb that you are growing is important to making sure you care for it properly. Finding out the conditions the herb needs to thrive, when and how to harvest it, and its particular uses can make this hobby much more enjoyable. And for those who like to entertain and show off their herb gardens, knowing a bit about the history and the folklore surrounding the herb makes for good conversation.


If you are not sure where to start, a good book for home herb gardening is certainly a good idea. One such book is “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herb and Herb Gardening”. Books like these can help you get started, and teach you how to grow different kinds of herbs. More importantly, it can help you avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that frustrate most beginner herb gardeners.


One of the most popular, and easy herb to plant is rosemary. Did you know that this herb was named Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association in 2000? Rosemary is said to be one of the oldest herbs in history. Early records of it dates back to when cuneiform writing on storm tablets were still the norm, which is around 5th millenium B.C. It’s Latin name, rosmarinus, means “dew of the sea” and is associated with the story of the birth of Venus, the Greek goddess of beauty.
In Christianity, there’s a popular story involving the rosemary herb. In this story, it is believed that rosemary’s flowers were originally white. It became blue when Mary (mother of Jesus) once placed her coat to dry on a rosemary bush.


Nowadays, rosemary is popularly known as a kitchen herb, used best when flavoring lamb and chicken, and widely used in Mediterranean cooking. Several varieties of the herb exists, including Miss Jessup, Tuscan Blue, Spice Island (these three are the ones usually used and recommended for cooking; the plant grows 4 to 6 feet from the ground and have fragrant, large leaves), White, Benenden Blue, Golden Rain and Ingram.


Rosemary is actually one of the easiest herbs to grow, requiring little or even no attention at all once firmly established. In fact, fussing over it too much can actually be detrimental to its growth.


It is usually propagated by cuttings, but starting with a nursery-grown plant would be your best bet. Seeds are not recommended to beginners as they have a hard time germinating. A 2-inch cutting from a rosemary plant would be more than enough for you to start. A dry, well-drained soil and about 8 hours of sunlight are all that your rosemary plant needs for it to survive and thrive.


It is better to put rosemary in a container or pot so that during winter, you will be able to easily transfer it indoors. Terra cotta pots are a good choice. When kept indoors during winter, artificial light can substitute for sunlight. But, when the weather permits it, allowing your rosemary it’s quota of sunlight is best.


If the air is humid, then be on the lookout for powdery mildew – a kind of fungus that is white and powdery and thrives in humid environments. While it won’t kill the rosemary, it will definitely weaken it. As much as possible, allow the soil to dry in-between waterings. Make sure that there’s enough air to dry excess water (if there’s no breeze, you can bring out an electric fan). And leaving the plant in sunlight will also help dry the soil.


Aphids and spider mites are two more pests that usually attack during winter. They don’t just attack the rosemary, but other plants as well. Spray plants with natural or organic insecticides to repel these pests.


Rosemary is a perfect herb as a container plant if you are looking for a low maintenance plant. All it needs is sunshine, air, water and a bit of tender loving care.

If you are serious about cultivating an organic herb garden, be sure to check out “Healthy Happy Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide To Herbs and Herb Gardening” by Jeannie Woods. It’s a book packed with all the information you need to be able to successful start and keep a thriving organic herb garden. You can read more about it here: http://healthyhappyherbs.com.