The aromas of a steaming cup of fresh mint tea, the waft of newly plucked rosemary stalks roasting with your organic hen in the oven… herbs can do a lot to change the taste of what we eat and drink, are unfailingly pleasing to the senses, and better yet, are easy to grow.

In fact, maintaining your own organic herbs and spice patch should be a new year’s plan worth considering. Not only are they expensive, commercially grown, non-organic ones could be absorbing harmful chemical pesticides and herbicides. Growing your own garden of delights gives you a healthful, bountiful supply on hand at all times.

Herb History

Herbs – any plant or plant part valued for its aromatic, savoury or even medicinal benefits – have been part of mankind’s history for a long while. From its initial use as medicine in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to its natural cosmetic and toiletry uses, even to its ornamental appeal, these plants – roots, leaves or seeds – are used everywhere around the world.

The Organic Gardening To-Do Checklist

1. Soil

Originally harvested from the wild, many herbs and spices have taken to domestication fairly well. The essential starting point of any garden is rich, fertile soil – make your own organic material with a store-bought compost bin kit, throw your kitchen scraps into it and let it transform into gardening “gold”. Full of nutritional growth essentials, compost also lends the critical factor to ensuring your plant has sufficient drainage, while retaining enough water.

Next, keep in check the pH level of your soil through the addition or deduction of clay, sand, silt, or peat. A soil-testing pH indicator is your friend in this endeavour – something you can easily pick up from any gardening centre. Herbs tend to do best at the slightly acidic to neutral pH levels of 6 to 7, with a pH of 6.5 as the ideal. A pH of 6.5 is considered the ideal balance – where your herbs are concerned – where nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and essential trace minerals are at the right levels for optimal growth.

2. Seeds

To get your herb garden started, begin with only organic seeds. Plant your seeds indoors in shallow containers for a month before transferring them to larger trench containers or pots. Use well-drained soil to encourage seedling growth and make sure not to plant the seeds too deeply. As a general rule, the bigger the seed, the deeper you should sow them. Some herbs such as coriander and fennel don’t transplant well, so it’s best to sow them directly in sufficiently deep and large containers.

3. Fertilisers

To keep your organic container or tray garden in good shape, invest in organic fertilisers (akin to a supplement boost) to maintain plant health and growth. Don’t drown the fragile seedlings, water with a mist spray until growth is stronger and roots take firmer hold in the soil.

4. Herbicides

Herbs are also, thankfully, largely resistant – and repellent – to pests and bugs. If you do find aphids or flies on some of the herbs, stick with organic all the way. A little neem oil or a slight amount of soap with water in a spray water will rid the pests with regular work.

5. Growth

Finally, regular re-potting to refresh the soil and to loosen the herbs’ roots will benefit your growing garden.

Source: www.herbgardeningtips.com