HYDROPONIC herb garden
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Any garden can find herbs that compliment and enhance it. They are pretty versatile and cope with most types of conditions. Whether you have a herb garden, a pot full at the back door or a few at the bottom of the garden they really are a welcome addition. One of the nicest things you can ever experience is to pick and use herbs from the garden; there’s a real sense of achieveHment, satisfaction and joy. It’s so easy to go outside and pick herbs for cooking or decoration.
Venturing out to pick a lovely fresh herb salad to eat with supper or lunch; or even to pop into a sandwich is fantastic. It also serves many more functions on a much more practical level. Why so? I’ll explain. Whilst I am collecting my herbs I am handling my plants, I can see first hand if they are well watered, healthy, well nourished, free of bugs or if something is bothering them. By actively collecting herbs for supper from the garden you are learning more about your plant. You unwittingly assess each plant and subconsciously if something is needed, wrong or has started to eat your plant you will see it. Pinching out plants also encourages new growth, a more active plant meaning benefits all round, more leaves, more flowers, leaving me very happy with a full bowl of herb salad for supper. It’s a bit like all of these other little extra things we do, that really enhance our life.Hydroponic Gardens, Gardens, Vegetables, Self Watering, Growing Systems, Build Your Culinary Herbs.
Next comes rocket which grows so fast in the pots both the garden and wild rocket; the wild has a more peppery taste but has the advantage of being a perennial too. Chervil is next on the list, fine feathery foliage and delicate aniseedflavour its wonderful in fresh salads I ave a nibble. Now I am getting hungry….. Finally I reach into the little row of salad leaves I have been growing, all of which are of the kind that you can just take a few leaves as you feel like it and growing a mixture means that the colours, textures and tastes of each compliment each other. Varieties like ‘Salad bowl’, both greenV and red, ‘Cerise’, ‘Lollo rosso’, ‘Endive’, Cos types and many others lend themselves to this type of cropping and the beauty of it is you only need a few different plants to keep you in lettuce most of the season.
Hydroponic Gardens, Gardens, Vegetables, Self Watering, Growing Systems, Build Your Own, Dirtless .
The final inspection is for the dill and fennel, the sorrel with its lemony zingy leaves.
SMART VALVE .
You can attach up to six pots to one of thesevalves and it will 'self water' them for weeks....more if you have a larger nutrient water holding tank.
You can go on holiday knowing that your plants are being cared for.
No problems.
Growing Chives
A member of the Allium family, most gardeners are growing chives for the mild, onion-flavored leaves, although the plants also produce attractive and edible purple flowers in the spring. They are easy to grow and make attractive borders around herb gardens. Plants grow up to 1-1/2 feet tall and self-sow readily. Perennial in zones 3-9.
Site Preparation:
Each spring, work aged compost into your growing area. Chives grow well in full sun, ample water and rich, sandy soil. The plant will tolerate frost but not prolonged freezing temperatures. They are frequently grown as annuals in climates with winter temperatures below 32 degrees F.
How to Plant:
Chives grow easily from seed planted directly in the ground or from divisions. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in early spring. Seed germinates best at 70 degrees F. with germination usually occurring in 14 days. Chive plants are usually not thinned, but left to grow in bunches. Divide every three years to keep clumps vigorous. Liquid fertilizer applications are not necessary. However, a light feeding early in the spring will promote plant vigor.
Tip: Practice organic weed control. Chives do not compete well with other plants, so weed diligently.
Harvesting:
Most culinary herbs are best picked early in the morning just as the dew evaporates. Harvest chives as soon as the spears are a few inches long. Snipping out entire spears, to 2 inches above the ground, will encourage new growth. Do not wash the cuttings or aromatic oils will be lost. Chives are best fresh or frozen but can also be dried. To dry, tie them in small bunches upside down in a dark, dry, well ventilated room.
Insects and Disease:
Chives are susceptible to infestations of aphids. Use insecticidal soap or other natural pest control method, if necessary.
Seed Saving Instructions:
Plants will flower and form seed-heads. When these heads begin to dry, clip off and allow to dry further in a well protected area. There are many seeds in each flower.
Note: It make take 2 seasons before the seed is produced.
Site Preparation:
Each spring, work aged compost into your growing area. Chives grow well in full sun, ample water and rich, sandy soil. The plant will tolerate frost but not prolonged freezing temperatures. They are frequently grown as annuals in climates with winter temperatures below 32 degrees F.
How to Plant:
Chives grow easily from seed planted directly in the ground or from divisions. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in early spring. Seed germinates best at 70 degrees F. with germination usually occurring in 14 days. Chive plants are usually not thinned, but left to grow in bunches. Divide every three years to keep clumps vigorous. Liquid fertilizer applications are not necessary. However, a light feeding early in the spring will promote plant vigor.
Tip: Practice organic weed control. Chives do not compete well with other plants, so weed diligently.
Harvesting:
Most culinary herbs are best picked early in the morning just as the dew evaporates. Harvest chives as soon as the spears are a few inches long. Snipping out entire spears, to 2 inches above the ground, will encourage new growth. Do not wash the cuttings or aromatic oils will be lost. Chives are best fresh or frozen but can also be dried. To dry, tie them in small bunches upside down in a dark, dry, well ventilated room.
Insects and Disease:
Chives are susceptible to infestations of aphids. Use insecticidal soap or other natural pest control method, if necessary.
Seed Saving Instructions:
Plants will flower and form seed-heads. When these heads begin to dry, clip off and allow to dry further in a well protected area. There are many seeds in each flower.
Note: It make take 2 seasons before the seed is produced.
MORE ON HERB GARDENING
Herbs have been around since time immemorial and served different kinds of purposes. They have been used to treat illness and flavour cooking; they were even believed to have magical powers.
Do you want to have your own herb garden?
Here are a few ideas on how to establish an herb garden.
Plan your garden.
Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials?
How much space will they occupy in your garden? If you want, you can purchase a book that can give you the right information on what specific plants you are planning to grow.
List or draw your garden on paper first.
Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won't be in danger of getting dug up.
Another thing to remember is that you have to plant the tall ones at the back and the shorter ones in front. Also, provide your plants with enough space to grow.
Proper position shall help you in this area.
If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole.
Some Design Ideas
You can consider having a square herb bed. You can have your square bed divided into four by two paths crossing at mid point measuring 3 feet. You can border it with stone or brick. A wooden ladder may also do the trick. You can lay it down on your garden and plant your herbs between its rungs. You can also choose to have a wagon wheel bed. Planting here is like planting with the wooden ladders. Plant your herbs in between the wagon wheel's wedges.
Get Your Plants Growing
Of course, different plants have different needs, but many of them require alkaline soil. This is the reason why you have to determine the herbs you want to plant in the planning stage. This can more or less help you find out how you should care for your plants. If you germinate your herbs from seeds, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature.
Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow.
You just have to provide them with an effective drainage, sunlight, enough humidity or moisture and fertile soil. Even with just minimally meeting these requirements they will be bound produce a good harvest.
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