When you decide to get healthy and eat right, you look for things that help you meet those goals. Herbs are great ways to improve your health, especially if they’re grown natural. The best herbs are found in health or natural food stores. But growing your own saves you money and time. There are types of herbs to garden throughout the year. These herbs are beneficial to your health, adds great flavor to foods and easy to grow.
Basil
Basil adds flavor to all types of dishes such as soups, salads and pastas. It’s usually used as fresh herb or dried and comes in three kinds: sweet, purple and lemon. Sweet basil is used in cooking more often than purple or lemon. To grow basil, you need weed-free soil. Basil grows best during the late spring. The soil should be thoroughly watered the day before planting so that it’s moist. Also add organic compost to the soil. This helps the plants grow better and keep in moisture. Water your basil plants weekly and make sure to place the water at the plants base.
Oregano
Oregano is great for Italian dishes, meat and adding flavor to soups. It also has antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties that protect the body. Grow this herb in your garden during warm months or after the ground is frost-free. The soil should be dry and sandy. You’ll know the oregano is ready for harvesting when flowering begins.
Things to look out for in your garden: mildew, whitefly (insects that feed on plants) and spider mites. Oregano loves sunlight and doesn’t need watering every day.
Thyme
The fresh fragrant scent of thyme makes any dish taste and smell delicious. This herb isn’t too hard to grow and take care of. Thyme is a Mediterranean plant. This type of plant prefers sun and doesn’t need too much moisture or heavy soil to grow well. Plant them in March and harvest in June or July for the best flavor.
Health benefits of thyme are:
• Eases menstrual cramps
• Aids in digestion
• Good for respiratory problems
Garlic
Garlic’s health benefits are well-known. People use it to lower high cholesterol, fight infection and more. It’s also used in more dishes that any other herb. This universal herb can be grown in your garden with little to no problems. It grows best in October and needs good organic compost. Sand is even better than regular soil. You want to have good drainage and not too much moisture. Keep the area weed-free. If it’s in the rainy season, then water only when it’s too dry outside. Plant your garlic in plenty of sunlight for a faster and better bulb growth.
You know the garlic is ready for harvesting when the green foliage turns a yellow-brown color. When it’s ready, make sure to harvest the garlic. If left in the ground too long at this stage, it can rot. Also be aware of wet seasons. Soil that is too wet also makes garlic turn bad.