Herbs there is so much more to them that meets the eye. With my experience growing herbs, this blog just gives you lots of articles on herbs and what they can do for you in terms of health, cures, aromatherapy, and many other alternatives uses for the versatile plants.
Growing herbs in containers is an excellent way of saving space. They are transportable so can be brought inside for winter and easily maintained. You will also have much more control over their growth and boundaries. Container herbs are available for use for cooking if they are situated close to your kitchen door. Not all herbs take to containers, but many will absolutely thrive. Some herbs, like mint, it actually make more sense to use them.
The best herbs to use are probably the one you use most often so I have taken five different herbs that would be ideal in containers.
Thyme just loves a container environment and will absolutely when planted in one. It needs hardly any watering and a very small amount of maintenance.
Sage needs to be pinched and cut to keep it from turning woody too soon and replanted after 3-4 years as the quantity and quality of the leaves will not be as good.
Rosemary doesn't like too much water and occasionally likes to 'dry out' a little, again ideal when in a container controlled environment. I personally have been growing rosemary successfully in containers for years.
Mint needs its growth to be controlled so this is the biggest advantage for growing mint in containers making. It can be used more often if it is handy. It has to be the first choice for container systems.
Basil likes lots of water to feed its stems and tender leaves, but can be infected with mildew it too much is given. In a container, you can avoid mildew by giving it an airy position.
There are many other herbs you can grow in containers, in fact some people I know love this way of gardening and have all their herbs in containers. I can clearly see the appeal, but I still like to see a mix of 'free range herbs' in borders and on the main vegetable growing areas.
Growing herb in containers is ideal for kids to start off their lifetime of gardening. Being so manageable is it a great way to educate and on top of this, the containers can be decorated to the children?s own personal design including giving the plant a name, like ?Sammy the Sage? or ?Mandy the Mint?. What a fantastic pastime you will be giving them.
Whatever methods you use to grow herbs, they will benefit your health, your environment and your cooking efforts with fresh and home dried herbs all year round.
I found a very knowledgeable Auntie Beryl who gives some good ideas on a few recipes dishes where the use of herbs is just as important as the main ingredients. The site is basically as online shop, but the information and general tips on herbs is very good. Well worth a visit to the Plantbox site if you want a quick guide to a particular herb.
It also gives brief, but exacting information on gardening tips for herbs. Again very simple and very easy to understand and take on board.
To give you a taste of some of the recipe ideas, there are three recipes from the site are given here below:
BAKED CHEESE WITH HERBS
Bake a whole soft cheese with rind, in it's box (discard any wrapping) in a medium oven for 15 minutes. Take off lift and cut a large cross through the top. Peel back the quarters of rind and sprinkle over a handful of chopped CHIVES, THYME & PARSLEY. Serve with pitta or breadsticks.
CHICKEN WITH COCONUT TARRAGON CREAM
Fry chicken breasts or thighs in 1 tbsp of chopped TARRAGON with large knob of butter. Cook for 5 minutes each side until golden. Add small carton of coconut cream and cook, covered over a moderate heat for 5 - 10 minutes (or until cooked), turning once and basting occasionally. Season and add another 1 tbsp of chopped TARRAGON for garnish.
PANCETTA AND SAGE WRAPPED CHICKEN
Lay out 2/3 slices of smoked pancetta, slightly overlapping, top with a few SAGE leaves and season. Lie the chicken breast at one end and wrap in the pancetta tightly. Saute in a hot pan until pancetta crispy and chicken cooked in middle.
Lobelia is a pretty annual or with some varieties a biennial herb that grows to a height of one metre. Lobelia is also known as the Indian tobacco. It has a hairy stem that branches out at the top. The colour is usually green with a hint of violet. The leaves are pale green or yellowish with a sharp taste and a slightly unpleasant smell. The flowers are coloured pale violet-blue on the outside and a pale yellow colour inside.
Lobelia is basically an expectorant, so it is commonly to use in cough syrups. It is also called asthma weed. It is prominent in remedies for treating asthma and bronchial disorders. The herb can be used externally in the form of a hot compress for sprains or swelling ailments.
Going back in time, it has a history of being used as herbal remedy for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and coughs for centuries. As with many herbs the Native Americans Indians used to use countless herbs before commercialism took over. The Lobelia herb was smoked and was found very effective as a treatment for asthma.
American doctors in the 19th century used lobelia to bring on vomiting, this was to remove toxins from the body. The nickname 'puke weed' came form this. Lobelia helps clear mucus from the respiratory system with some herbalists now incorporating lobelia to treat asthma.
A substance similar to nicotine is found in lobelia and it effects on the body just like nicotine. The central nerve system is stimulated from this. The substance, which is called ?lobeline? was previously used as a nicotine substitute in anti-smoking products and deterrents. This faded out as after a time, it was reported as an in affective method of reducing or stopping smoking in the latter part of the 20th century.
Lobelia is a potentially toxic herb, but safe to use in very small doses. In combination with other herbs that treat the respiratory system is considered safe.
Finally, it is not recommended that you try to make you own herbal remedies from this herb, but take advice from professional herbalist to protect you from the potential toxins that this herb can present. That does not preclude you from growing lobelia as an ornamental plant, as it is a very pretty herbal species that will enhance any garden.
The bergamot herb plant is native to America but is now very popular worldwide due to a number of uses in food, scent and alternative medicine. It is also know as Oswego Tea or Bee Balm.
Bergamot is related to the aromatic mint family and it well know for the leave to give citrus or lemon flavour and smell. It can grow to over 1 metre high with a variety of flowers that bloom with colours ranging from a light pink to dark scarlet. Both the leaves and flowers have many uses.
With a savoury and fruity flavour mingled with a fine aroma it proves to be very effective as a stimulant aiding and improving digestion. Bergamot has proven a good remedy in the curing of skin infections.
Internal use of bergamot is used to relieve symptoms of colds, chest or throat problems and also for digestive complaints. Native American Indians made a type of herb tea from bergamot leaves for these particular ailments. The bergamot herb you may be interested to know is not the source used to flavour Earl Grey tea. This comes from the bergamot orange, a different plant that is a Mediterranean citrus fruit.
The bergamot leaves are used externally and found extensively in commercially produced fruit drinks. The very pretty petals are often used for food decorations, namely salads. Both the bergamot leaves and petals are put into baths and is said to revitalise the body.
Aromatherapy and use of essential oil is another side to the Bergamot. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety or nervous tension. It also aids the urinary and respiratory systems.
Skin problems, especially those that are linked to stress, typically eczema, psoriasis and acne benefit from bergamot treatment. It is also effective for varicose veins, wounds and seborrhoea.
The properties of bergamot are beneficial to many ailments and compounds and potions have the following properties:
anti-depressant
antiseptic
carminative
deodorant
digestive
expectorant
insecticide
sedative
tonic
The natural source of the antiseptic Thymol mentioned above is the main active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas.
Finally, the bergamot herb plant can be grown successfully throughout Europe and Asia. It is great as an ornamental plant and grows best in full sun and will enjoy any soil that moist and well drained.
Somehow these have gone out of fashion recently, many people not so long ago used them. As well as the aromatherapy they were a very pretty piece of furnishing with fancy designs knitted or crochet work on the material. There are many herb mixtures used to fill pillows such as geranium, rosemary, lavender, rose and lemon balm. The main reason for these pillows and cushions aside from their decorative attraction is their sweet aroma claims by thousands to relieve their insomnia.
There are many herb pillow that you can buy and I have given just one here, but you can make your own by just placing some fragrant herbs in a sachet within the leaves of an ordinary pillow. It has just the same effect at a fraction of the cost with dried herbs that have been grown in your own garden.
You may want to visit a few websites including this one given, not to buy, but just get some ideas of the types of mixes you can make up at home yourself.
Can I remind readers that I am not an affiliate to any firm, company or third party website on this post.
Herb Cushions and Pillows from Silvermoon
Herbal Cushions to help you Relax & Sleep
Aromo-Pillows with Aromatherapy Oils, to help promote deep and refreshing sleep. from Silvermoon. With oils and herbs of Lavender, Geranium, Petitgrain and Rose.
Aromo-pillows have a gorgeous soothing smell! place on your bed, or under the pillow (except for very young children) for maximum effect. otherwise place anywhere in the bedroom. Makes a lovely and caring gift.
Small Herbal cushion With a pink background and colourful cats owls & boats very unusual! Approx cushion size is:- 7.5 inches square.
Pillow is infused with Aromatherapy oils of Lavender, Geranium, Ylang-Ylang and Rose With Lavender budsand Rose buds. A lovely gift for anyone who has difficulty relaxing!
Small Herbal cushion With a gold background gold highlights with beautiful red & gold Angels Approx cushion size is:- 7.5 inches square. toning back of cushion as shown.
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Aromo-Pillows 
