In a time when financial options are becoming increasingly limited and the cost of living is relentlessly
rising, many people are forced to tighten their belts. Even a visit to the doctor is no longer free of charge, let alone the purchase of medication.
Herbs and plants as home remedies
Since more and more people are reacting allergically to certain ingredients in medical preparations, herbal medicine is being consulted more and more frequently. Various herbs and plants have a similar or the same effect as pharmaceutical products. However, since some herbal compositions are very complex and also require appropriate training in herbalism and healing, a trip to the pharmacy is essential. Other remedies, on the other hand, can simply be produced at home in our own kitchens. Culinary herbs are also experiencing a real comeback. Since frozen products and fresh herbs cannot do justice to the true taste of home-grown plants, this is also a good reason for a herb garden. For the responsible cultivation of plants, a herb garden in your own yard or smaller yields in balcony boxes are therefore an advantage.
Your own herb garden
Depending on the plant, a suitable place in the garden or in a flower box should be found. How the individual herbs are to be planted and whether they prefer it bright, semi-shaded or shady can be found either on the seed packet, the flower pot or by obtaining specific tips on care and cultivation in a professional florist shop. Since most medicinal herbs come from the Mediterranean region, sunny spots and loose soil are often required for optimal herb cultivation. For this purpose, it is advisable to enrich the soil with compost or humus before planting. Native culinary herbs such as wild garlic, on the other hand, require a semi-shaded location. Lovage, rosemary, chives and lemon balm, for example, require a lot of water and need intensive care. Anyone who pays attention to the individual factors and adheres to them will certainly have long-lasting joy in their garden.
Whether you finally decide on a herb garden next to your flowers, a raised herb bed or even a herb spiral is up to you. It is only important that the herbs receive just as much care as all other plants and that weeds are removed regularly, as these would otherwise take important nutrients from the plants and possibly even overgrow them. Regular watering and fertilizing will provide the gardener with a rich and flourishing herb garden in no time at all.
Furthermore, when buying the various herbs and plants, attention should be paid to the composition. A lavender bush, for example, becomes very bushy over time and takes up a lot of space. So that it does not overgrow other herbs or even cause them to die, appropriate space should be planned for it and other cuttings. Plants with the same location or care requirements can of course be planted in one place.
Culinary herbs can be planted near the kitchen. Nothing enriches a meal more than fresh, aromatic, unsprayed spices. Anyone who wants to season their food with home-grown herbs even in winter can dry various spices in the summer. The harvest should take place on a warm and dry day. The herbs should only be cleaned dry and not washed in order to preserve the aromas and prevent mold formation. Leaves and shoots can be dried on a kitchen towel in the oven at low heat or hung in bundles in a dark place.
Image by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
Read also: Tips on using herbs
