All About Herb Garden Plants
Herb garden plants, like any other kind of plants, come as annuals, perennials and biennials. There are various types of herbs and each one is different. If you are interested in a specific kind of herb you should know its proper use and the care it needs. This article will get you started in understanding different general types of herb plants and what they are used for.
Annuals like basil, cilantro and summer savory will not survive snow. They need to be planted from a seed or a small plant every year. Herb plants called perennials like sage and winter savory can survive the harshest of winters. Biennial herbs are herb garden plants that form leaves in their first growing season, flowers and seed in the second season, then die.
Biennial herb garden plants like parsley, angelica, or caraway should be sown in late spring. You should first prepare the soil by making it into a fine texture and making it slightly wet. Plant the seeds in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. Fine seeds can be planted in a mixture of sand which will allow them to spread more evenly. You can also cover the bed with wet burlap or paper to keep the soil moist during germination.
Herbs are also classified into the categories for which they are specifically used. Culinary herb garden plants are probably the most useful to herb gardeners. They have a huge range of different uses in cooking. Strong-flavored herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities. A very well-known herb that is used mostly as embellishment is parsley.
Aromatic herbs have pleasant smelling flowers or foliage. Oils from aromatic herbs like loyage, mint, and rosemary can be used to make different types of perfumes, toilet water, or other various scents. Parts of aromatic herb garden plants used intact can also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. They can also be dried and made into potpourri which will enable them to be able to retain their aroma for a long period of time. Lavender and lemon verbena are great herbs to use for potpourri.
Some herbs are also used for medicinal purposes. For centuries herbs have been thought to have the ability to cure the body. The field of medicine acknowledges the fact that some herb garden plants are really useful but some are also overrated. You should be careful in using herbs as medicines. Some herbs are safe to eat but there are also poisonous ones.
Some herbs are not used for their flavor, power to heal or fragrance. Some herbs are also used for their beauty. Herb garden plants used as embellishments usually have brightly-colored flowers and foliage. Many have whitish or various light colored flowers like valerian which has crimson blossoms, and borage and chicory which grow gorgeous blue flowers.
Herbs fall under many different types of uses but many of them have multiple purposes, too. For example, mint may be used for cooking, tea, and pest control. Whatever the reason for your interest in herb garden plants, you should be able to choose the herbs that is most useful to you.