Container Herb Gardens: Enjoy the Fresh Taste of Herbs in an Urban Setting

Container herb gardens are one of the best ways to enjoy having the fresh taste of herbs in your dishes no matter where you are. There are many people who enjoy the taste of fresh herbs in their dishes or for medical purposes but they may live in an apartment or in an area, which does not allowing gardening such as a rented house. In that case, container herb gardens can provide the perfect solution for individuals who do not have a lot of space or have restrictions on the use of their yards and who want the enjoyment that comes from fresh herbs.

How to Create Container Herb Gardens

Creating container herb gardens are not as difficult as they may sound. The first thing to do is research the type of herbs that you want to grow. Herbs have a number of properties. Some of them can help with headaches, stomachaches and other various medical conditions as well as tasting great in food.

Instructions and Supplies for Container Herb Gardens

The first thing you need to do when creating a container garden is to decide on the location and the amount of space you want to use. This will determine the size of the containers or container that you will need to use. You will also need to determine the type of herbs you are going to be growing.

This is important because there are a variety of different growing conditions. Depending on the type of herbs you want to grow, you may want to consider several different containers so that they can be placed in different areas. Once you have determined the type of herbs group them together based on the lighting and growing conditions. This will allow you to place the herbs together in similar groupings.

The next step is to determine if you are going to you already grown plants or start from seeds. Usually container gardens are created using already grown plants. It is also a good idea to have fertilizer prepared and to use a prepared top soil. This will help to reduce the shock of already living plants that you transplant and help to increase the chances of having seeds grow.

Once you have transplanted everything, place the containers in locations around your house that meet the lighting and exposure requirements for the plants. It is also a good idea to label the herbs so that you know where everything is located within the containers.

Crisp Citrus Herbs: Add the Refreshing Taste of Citrus to Your Dishes

There are a number of ways to give a crisp citrus herb flavor to any number of dishes. Quite a few could benefit from having this crisp citrus herb flavor. The first thing to do when looking into various herbs that can provide the crisp citrus herb flavor you are looking for is to identify which herbs actually have a citrus component to them. This does not mean that they have orange, lemon or lime in them but that they can simulate the taste of these various fruits or provide a similar alteration in flavor.

If you do not know how to get started, looking for crisp citrus herb the best place to start is to look on the internet. If you look for crisp citrus herb itself, you may find yourself looking at a variety of bath washes and body lotions so you may have to dig a little deeper to find exactly what you are looking for.

Some of the Herbs That Will Give a Citrus Flavor

You may have heard of herbs like lemon grass and lemon pepper. These are two of the main spices that will provide a citrus flavor to your dishes; in fact, these are the best ones to provide this type of flavor. There are also other combinations and other spices, which can help to provide citrus flavor. Lemon Verbena, Lemon Balm, Lemon Basil, lemon thyme and Thai lime are also herbs that can provide a citrus flavor to the dishes that you prepare.

There are certain types of dishes that are going to work better with a citrus flavor than other dishes and it is important to note which dishes work the best with these types of herbs. Fish dishes are the best when it comes to using citrus. The herbs that provide the citrus flavor compliment most of the methods of cooking fish, baked, grilled or even pan fried there is no way that these herbs would not provide a great addition and flavor to any of these dishes.

Poultry is another dish that works well with citrus herbs. Chicken is especially good with the various lemon-flavored herbs. There are varieties of ways to make chicken that will definitely receive benefit from using citrus especially lemon based herbs. Lemon and chicken have always gone great together in either roasted or baked styles. Of course, there are also vegetable and dessert dishes that work with citrus flavored herbs as well.

A Fresh Herb Keeper Keep Your Herbs Fresher Longer

One of the things about having fresh vegetables is keeping them fresh. Often times they can go bad or lose much of their fresh taste as they sit in the refrigerator over time. There are many cultures like the Japanese that believe that freshness is the key to excellent cooking. It is also true that freshness usually lends itself to subtler flavors in foods. This is why keeping everything as fresh as possible is essential.

For herbs, there is the fresh herb keeper. The fresh herb keeper is designed to keep herbs fresher longer. Not everyone has the time or space in order to be able to enjoy fresh herbs by growing them. This is why fresh herbs are available for purchase in a store. Unfortunately, often times these herbs do not last long and many times go bad before they can be completely used, this is a waste of not only money but also great herbs.

Ways of Keeping Herbs Fresh

Using a fresh herb keeper is one way to keep the herbs you purchase at the store or even left over herbs that you harvest fresher longer. A fresh herb keeper works by providing an environment that the herbs can be preserved in for a longer period of time than just leaving them in the supermarket bag or package. A fresh herb keeper is similar to the types of products that have recently appeared on the market that provide the ability to keep vegetables such as lettuce fresh for a significantly longer period of time than using the supermarket bags or any packages that the vegetables come in.

What is the benefit of having fresh herbs or keeping herbs for longer periods? After all, the majority of individuals are usually only purchased fresh herbs for a specific dish and do not use them for any other usually tossing the rest. This is usually because they know that the herbs will start to wilt and fade within a few days.

If, however, they are using something that will help to keep the herbs fresher longer then the likelihood of those herbs being used in other dishes increases dramatically. This is great for individuals who do not like to waste or who may want to enjoy keeping an array of fresh herbs on hand without having to purchase them every few days from the store (an expensive undertaking) or care for them in a kitchen or container garden.

The Key to Preserving Fresh Herb Plants

It has been said that all good things must come to an end, and this is especially true of our summer gardens. Most plants will not survive the cold, frosty days of winter, which is why harvesting and preserving our crops becomes imperative as the cold weather begins to loom. This is also true of our fresh herb plants, but don't wait until there's a nip in the air to begin harvesting this crop. When herbs are dried properly, they can bring you months of delicious flavors throughout the fall and winter.

When to Harvest Fresh Herb Plants
The best time to harvest your fresh herb plants is prior to flowering, which will frequently occur when the weather begins to cool in the fall. Therefore, harvesting in late summer will ensure the best flavor and freshness to your herbs, but you can also harvest throughout the growing season to stimulate additional growth and get a jump start on your stock. Cut your stems in the mid-morning hours when possible, since the morning dew has dried out by then but the fresh herb plants have not yet begun to wilt in the afternoon sun.

Air Drying Herbs
The air drying process works best with fresh herb plants that have a lower moisture content like oregano, summer savory, thyme, rosemary and dill. Herbs with a higher moisture content will dry better using a dehydrator or microwave. To air dry fresh herb plants, cut the stems and remove any unhealthy leaves. If it is necessary, rinse your stems with some cool water, and pat dry completely. Drying wet herb stems will only result in moldy leaves that are unusable. Bundle together in batches of four to six stems, and hold them together with a rubber band or piece of string. Keep in mind that the stems will shrink as they dry so you will need to check them periodically and retighten as necessary.

Once your herbs are bundled, place your bunches upside down into brown paper bags that have a number of holes punched in them and are labeled with the type of fresh herb plant on the front. Tie the bags closed and hang them up in a warm, airy room and check them every week or two. Once your fresh herb plants are sufficiently dried, store your herbs in airtight containers like canning jars or Ziploc bags. Keep the containers away from direct sunlight and use within one year.

Using this process for drying and preserving your fresh herb plants, you will be able to enjoy the savory aroma and flavor of home grown herbs year round. Happy harvest!

Tips and Hints for Successful Herb Planting

An herb garden can be a fantastic addition to any garden, especially if you plan it carefully beforehand. Every single one has its own charm and range of uses, which means you can pick the exact range and selection that you will put to the most use in your garden. Every herb is available to buy separately, which means that it is easy to create your ideal herb garden within easy reach of your kitchen.

The Ideal Place to Create a Miniature Kitchen Garden

The problem with the typical herb is that it tends to spread out if given the chance. That’s why it’s a good idea to use other methods of finding a good spot to plant them, in order that you can maintain control over how well and how far they spread.

If you have a patio or veranda, why not add an herb or two to the plant pots you probably already have dotted about? You could build or buy a wooden trough especially for growing them in, and paint or stain it to match in with your existing décor. Even placing a selection of gravel or decorative pebbles around each herb can help to add a certain degree of charm to the finished result.

Making the Most of the Aromas

Every herb has its own wonderful smell to enjoy, which is why placing them close to any seating area you might have is such a great idea. Try putting mint near to your back door and you’ll see what an effect it can have each time the breeze picks up! It’s a strong yet attractive aroma that really smells good when it’s growing.

Rosemary is another good bet if you want to grow an herb which produces a wonderful smell that you will notice every time you walk past it. If you love lamb you will definitely want to grow it since it really brings out the flavors every time you cook it.

You will find that as you become more adept at growing various types, you will start to think about growing from seed as well as using seedlings, and trying your hand at growing different ones too. Try and do some research on the internet to get the best out of each herb, to ensure each one lasts as long as possible and always looks at its best. In short, every herb has its benefits and once you start growing them, you will probably never stop.

Grow Tasty and Healthy Fresh Herbs in your Kitchen with Herb Bags

There's nothing better than cooking with fresh ingredients. Plucking the fruit of your gardening labors from your own plants is an incredibly satisfying feeling. Using those plants in your meals can save you money, increase your nutrition, and make your home a nicer place to be.

Some of the most popular plants to grow for home cooking are herbs. Most herbs are easy to grow and require little care other than faithful watering and occasional pruning. Once you taste fresh herbs in your home cooking, you'll never want to go back to using dried herbs!

Bring the Garden Indoors

Do you love the idea of growing an herb garden, but you just don't have the room or the time to devote to a large garden? If so, herb bags may be just the solution for you. Herb bags are waterproof foil bags that contain everything you need to grow a complete plant.

In order to grow plants in herb bags, all you need to do is tear open the bag, add water, and set the bag in an area where it can receive adequate sunshine. You can grow just one or an entire kitchen full of fresh, green, flavorful herbs.

Even people who aren't blessed with a natural green thumb can be successful with herb bags. There isn't much upkeep required, and since herb bags are self-contained growing setups there is no need to invest in costly gardening equipment.

Herb bags are especially useful if you live in a climate where gardening is difficult, or if you have very little indoor and outdoor space to grow plants. Even if you have an outdoor garden, keeping your herbs growing indoors ensures that they will always be close at hand whenever you need them for cooking.

Herb bags come in many varieties to match all of your cooking needs. Oregano, thyme, parsley, and basil are some of the best basic herbs to grow in your home, and you can get all of them in herb bags.

If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, why not try growing lavender or mint herb bags? These herbs are very handy to have around for seasoning food, making delicious teas, and making your home smell fantastic at all times.

Every home could benefit from the addition of fresh plants, and herbs are the perfect choice to grow indoors. Whether or not you plan to use them for cooking, fresh herbs can add a wholesome feeling to your home while increasing the beauty of your living space and providing natural air freshening.

Using an Herb Drying Rack

If you are an herb gardener who dreads the end of the growing season, you should invest in an herb drying rack to extend the period of time during which you can enjoy your herb harvest. One of the best things about cooking with herbs that have been dried on an herb drying rack is that dried herbs are extremely concentrated compared to fresh herbs. If you are accustomed to cooking with fresh herbs, you will find that you need less than one-half the amount of the same herb when you use it in its dried form.

Dried Herbs Last Longer Than Fresh Herbs

Drying herbs on an herb drying rack is the most effective way to preserve them. While fresh herbs wilt after a few hours, dried herbs can be stored in the freezer or in glass jars in a dark cupboard. If dried herbs seem to have lost their essence, you can refresh them by rubbing them between your fingers before adding them to your favorite recipe. The fresh aroma will convince you that there is plenty of seasoning power remaining in the shriveled leaves that once were a part of your herb garden.

Hang Herbs Upside Down on the Herb Drying Rack

To dry herbs, use sharp shears or clippers to harvest herb stems early in the day. Remove the leaves that are within one inch of the cut end of the stem, and fasten ten to twenty stems of the herb together with a rubber band.

Hang the bundle of herbs upside down on the herb drying rack. Gravity will pull the essential oils in the stems of the herbs downward into the leaf tips. As the moisture evaporates and the stems of the herbs grow smaller, the rubber bands will tighten around the stem ends, keeping them securely bundled together.

Bundles of herbs and flowers hung upside down on an herb drying rack are actually quite attractive. If you do not have an herb drying rack, try screwing hooks around the frame of a door and hanging bundles of herbs upside down on the hooks. As you dry lavender, Echinacea, yarrow, and other herbs, the colorful bundles will add a beautiful and natural element to your interior décor.

An herb drying rack should be made of natural material that encourages air flow, like wood, twine, or fiber board. The flow of air around the herbs is essential to preserving their essential oils. Herbs need not be in the dark to dry, but they should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent fading and leaching of the natural oils.