We all love herbs; they add flavor and diversity to our dishes and are easy to grow. Herbs require little attention and are amazing as pollinator plants that add color and interest to your landscape. One thing that many of us run into is what to do with all the herbs we grow and how to harness the power of the herb gardening secrets. What are these herb gardening secrets?
Save money by propagating stem cuttings
Did you realize that you wish you had purchased more than just one or two basil plants? Don’t rush back to the store halfway through the season, instead propagate via stem cuttings. Cut a stem at least 4 inches that isn’t flowering and remove the leaves from the bottom two inches. Take the cutting and place it into a glass of water in the sun and wait for the roots to appear in two to four weeks and then plant it in the garden.
Save time by buying starter plants
Seeds may be inexpensive, but they can be more of a hassle when it comes to germinating and hardening off before planting. You can purchase starter plants for the basic herbs such as basil, sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley and more for around the same price as a packet of seeds. Once you have grown them for a season or two you can explore other varieties from seed.
Save yourself from waste by selecting what you’ll use
There are so many varieties of different herbs, and they all have differences in flavor. Think about what you and your family like to cook and grow the ones that you will use the most. Herbs grow quickly and can be prolific, so make sure you know that you will use them.
Save your herbs from the wrong soil
Herbs aren’t overly picky about their soil, other than being well-drained, but they are also pretty basic. Don’t waste your money on expensive compost rich potting mix, because herbs don’t like it rich and heavy.
Save the health of your plants by pruning
Trimming or pruning your herbs may be hard to do as you feel you’re harming a healthy growth, but in reality, trimming encourages growth and that cutting will not produce more foliage anyway. Herb blooms attract pollinators and add color to your garden. You can leave some as blooms but be sure to prune some for use and growth. You can have full and bushy herbs if you take the time to trim.
Taking the time to harness these herb gardening secrets will help you to become an herb gardening superhero and grow the healthiest and best tasting herbs around. If you have any questions about how to grow the healthiest herbs or which varieties to choose please stop on by!
