8 Herbs To Have In Your Herb Garden

Any one who knows me well, knows how much I enjoy herb gardening. I must confess that I'm a work in progress. The Lord has continues to use gardening to teach me many practical lessons. One of which is to have flexibility and to be thankful for what I have learned. Perhaps you can relate, instead of expending ones energy being disappointed if certain plants do this or they die. I say to nuts to that mindset! Instead, say this out loud, "At I know more than I did when I first began herb gardening." There is great consolation and sheer joy in that reality.

I recently read an article on herbs that help us. Much of what I read, I had seen in my herb books. So if you are thinking to yourself, "What herbs would be good to grow in an herb garden?" Before I list these herbs, always take in consideration any medications that yo may be on before ingesting these herbs. That is a MUST. If you have any doubts, check with your health care provider or professional herbalist.

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

1. Rosemary - has certain properties that help increase brain alertness and can spice up your energy level. I must confess that at first I didn't n

ot like the scent of this herb. However, now its one of my most favorite herbs.

Growing tips: Needs to live in a very sunny area and is sensitive to over watering.

2. Mint - Peppermint, spearmint and other mint-family plants help with the digestive system. Peppermint is rich in antioxidants and can work as a cleaner for ones liver.

Growing tips: Mint is an easy-to-grow herb that is invasive. Plant it in its own pot. If you plant in your flower bed, it will take over. I have Lemon Balm that has literally gone wild. The upside, I am able to share with others.

3. Oregano - can be useful if one is suffering from congestion issues; helps to settle digestion and prevents bloating.

Growing tips: It needs a lot of light to grow. If inside, find a window with direct sunlight or grow out-of-doors.

4. Sage - I've read several articles that support the notion that this herb helps improve concentration. It is easily digested. I use it in my soups and poultry dishes.

Growing tips: Sage can at times be difficult to grow and is very sensitive to over watering. Out of all the other herbs, it is more susceptible to mildew. I think I've found the right place for my safe and it's seems to be happy.

5. Chives - a member of the garlic/onion family. Believe it or not, it has a substantial amount of Vitamin C. Isn't that amazing? Our Heavenly Father designed it that way. It also has essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron and folic acid. There are many benefits to utilizing this herb. Can be used in stir-fries and with ground poultry. Google it and see all the possibilities.

Growing tips: I've found them easy to grow because they don't need as much light as other herbs. In fact, during the winter, I had my chives covered and now they're doing fine. Which reminds me, I need to start using them more.

6. Basil - Perhaps one of the most favorite herb in Italian cooking. It's one of my favorites as well. I've read that it helps perk up ones energy level and is filled with luteolin, a bioflavonoid that provides protection for a cell of DNA.

Growing tips: Ah . . . Basil, yes I can testify that it can be more difficult to grow. It's one of those herbs that you cannot put out too early. It grows best during the warm and bright summer months. Note there are many varieties of Basil.

7. Cilantro - Being a gal from Texas, I so enjoy Cilantro. Even before I learned of its benefits. It's an energy tonic that boost your immune system and give aid to your digestion.

Growing tips: I know by personal experience that this herb can be hard to grow. Some seasons, it seems that the plants from the local nurseries are healthy but weather can be a contributing factor to their growth. Cilantro, the name for the stems and leaves of the coriander plant. Sow the coriander seeds in a thick concentration in a shallow tray.

8. Parsley -Another favorite of mine. I prefer the Italian Parsley over the Curly Parsley. Both are good. It too has luteolin and has been known to help protect the eye from UV radiation damage. Advice, Google and read up on this herb.

Growing tips: Parsley doesn't need a lot of sun. Guess what I need to go move my Parsley. You see I learned something new as I'm writing this entry to my blog. Another thing I just learned is that I need not expect a high yield because it's slow growing. Who knew?

Now that you know this information, are you ready to herb garden with me? Let's see what we can grow. Who knows the lessons, our Heavenly Father will teach us in the process. One more thing, the more you use your herbs, the more they will produce. I have filled many Ziploc bags, written the type of herb on the bag and shared with my friends.

Happy gardening!

Kathy