Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Growing Your Own Culinary Herbs

By Melba Hardy


One thing you would want to have inside your kitchen would be one or two culinary herbs in Alaska. Such ingredients are a must have among many people's kitchens since it is needed for making dishes more flavorful. Each herb contains a unique flavor or aroma that does wonderful things to any food it is placed in. Herbs are also important because they can be used as ornament or medicine.

You can easily find these ingredients from your grocery or from your local produce. However, if you are fond of using them, it is better if you will consider growing them in right at home. There are so many advantages to having an herb garden. For one, you get to save a lot of money. You will also have a steady supply of fresh herb without worrying that these will run out.

The good thing about such plants is that these are usually small and would not take up a lot of space. For this reason, they are more versatile in terms of location. You can plant them outside, on your windowsill, or even have a pot on your table and countertops. However, just make sure that they are somewhere with a lot of sunlight.

Before planting anything, you have to get all the information you need first. This is needed so a good plan will be created. Study each herb that you want to plant so you will be more aware of the needs of each one. In gardening, each of the plants in a garden does not grow in the same manner.

For the seedlings, there are now so many options available for you. A classic method is to have a small box and plants the seeds there. These days, some markets now have kits that already have seeds, soil, and fertilizer inside. There are also boxes that already contain seedlings that are ready to transfer.

Your herbs should be planted in a well draining soil. It is not advisable to use a soil that absorbs and retains water because of the problems it can give to the plants. When there is constant moisture in the soil, the roots will rot. A good soil will be one that is a bit dry since an herb can become more flavorful when grown in dry soil.

When using fertilizer, you should only put the needed amount and not go overboard with it. You also have to remind yourself that you are growing something you will use for cooking. The fertilizer you should use has to be safe and organic. For the pesticide, choose a product that does not contain anything toxic.

Your herbs also need some trimming every once in a while for this will help make them grow fuller. If you are always cooking, this would be no problem. Be very careful when trimming your plants. Only use sharp shears and scissors to make each cut clean. Rugged cuts look bad and can even prevent the growth of new leaves.

Growing culinary herbs in Alaska is a very useful thing to. It is always convenient to have access to fresh ingredients anytime of the day. It is always great to have a garden especially if you love food and your health.




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