Growing Herbs – Legal Ones that is!
By: Elena Kennedy
“There is something very special about putting seeds in dirt and getting something out of it. Watering the seeds, watching the first little hint of green peer out from the dirt is exciting when you know after awhile, you can eat what you are watering, nurturing and growing.”…Elena Kennedy-Kunneke
Getting Started!
✓ You can buy seedlings that already started from your neighborhood box store (Lowe’s or Home Depot, ACE Hardware) and replant them in larger pots.
Can I Plant Indoors?
✓ Of course you can do it indoors, on a windowsill, or on a patio table, so long as your seeds get 6-7 hours of sunlight every day. You will need 4-6 inch clay pots, and seeds that will cost approximately 1.99 – 2.99 per packet and a bag of potting soil. You only need one packet (unless you are trying to grow enough to start an herb business.) Some people grow herbs in their kitchen windows. You are going to be hands on when it comes to watering. Stick your finger in the dirt about 1 inch and see if the soil is wet beneath the surface. That’s right get dirty with it. If it is moist, then check again tomorrow to see if it needs watering.
My favorite herb is Spanish Oregano and the leaves are large and a little furry. Oregano will grow out to the sides and onto the ground if your pot is outdoors. This ok and it is normal. Oregano has many different varieties. Once you have picked the leaves, you can let them air dry on a paper towel on your kitchen counter or you can lay them on some tin foil and dry them in a low temperature oven like 250 degree oven to dry up the moisture. You don’t have to dry out the leaves in a hurry. The fresh leaves can be put in sauces or soups or stews.
What’s Wrong With the Herbs They Sell in the Grocery Store?
- There is nothing wrong with the herbs in the store except you never really know how long they have been on the shelf.
- They are more expensive. Store bought herbs cost upwards of $3.99 – $5.99 depending on whether you are shopping at a low cost grocery store or a specialty market.
- Another option is to buy live plants Small plants to use as starter plants can run between $1.89 to 4.99 each.
- These small plants when re-potted into larger containers will grow and replace themselves even after you take cuttings.
I have been growing OREGANO now for two years and have given each of my co-workers a cutting from my plants to start their own. Three said their plants were growing and thriving. Two said their cuttings have been growing in water while they waited to get to the store to buy the potting soil.
Will I Save Money?
✓ Yes, definitely. The herbs you grow yourself keep growing and your supply is always fresh.
Will They Taste Better?
✓ Yes, free herbs will taste much better. I share my Oregano and Basil with the neighbors. They share their Rosemary with me. Just like other natural herbs, I hear it is better when you share.
Stay tuned for more information about herbs and natural healing from the herbal gal at Ealon Magazine. P.S. If you smell Lemon Balm you will want to rub it all over your body – it has a very heady, citrusy aroma that everyone men and women love.
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