Ideas for beginner

[Guest guest]

Hello All.....I am from Wisconsin-and currently it is starting to get cold and

of course Winter months are upon us....but I decided that come this spring I

would like to plant an herb garden and begin learning about growing, drying,

storing herbs in plans of also learning how to turn these herbs into teas,

baths, etc.

 

I was wondering if anyone has some ideas of what herbs to maybe start out with

in this type of garden...? Thanks any ideas are helpful.

 

Samantha

[Guest guest]

The suggestions of lavender, mints, and chamomile are great. Haven't grown soapwort, so can't comment on that. There are a number of varieties of each of these, so you can accumulate quite a range of colors, sizes and fragrances (note: flavored mints like chocolate, apple, pineapple, lime and so on have similar medicinal properties to spearmint and peppermint, but give you the opportunity to vary flavoring of your medicinal teas).Additions I would suggest that are almost too easy and undemanding to grow and are generally safe and useful for common ailments or as general immune boosters are lemon balm, yarrow, red clover, echinacea (buy rootlets or small plants - it's hard to grow from seed, but is hardy and easy to maintain once the plant is started), garlic and onions. Lemon balm, red clover, echinacea and yarrow, like

lavender and mints are invasive - either keep them in pots or in well separated garden spaces that you watch like a hawk. They will creep over and under plank or brick dividers - aggressively when you see strays and be sure you get any root runners. If you can't bear to throw out living plant (like me), pot it and give it away or accumulate a few and sell them at a local flea market or farmers market - that's how I started my herb plant business. You don't need to buy lots of seeds or starter plants (and beginners should really consider getting small starter plants usually available in 1" plugs or 3" pots). You only need two or three. I suggest putting them in large, shallow containers (I have round 18" pots that are about 3" deep for this purpose). It won't take but about a year to see a population explosion of plants you can begin spreading around a garden area or border.Like lavender, mints and chamomiles, these are

attractive plants, both in their foliage and in bloom, so you can use them as a decorative flower border around your house or in flower beds. I've seen gorgeous flower garden arrangements using these plants and echinacea, sage and rosemary (three other excellent medicinals, two of which are also great kitchen herbs), and stepping stone paths. Add a bench, maybe a small pond with a little fountain or waterfall and you have a retreat not just for medicine you must consume, but for the mind and spirit in need of the healing powers of peace and beauty.