A hundred years ago almost every household had a home medicinal and/or culinary herb garden. Many herbs are “weedy” by nature and are easy to grow. Herbs can have their own spot in the garden or be woven in among flower and vegetable beds. You can also grow many in containers.
There are benefits to establishing a distinct separate herb garden. Here are some of the benefits of creating a separate planting:
- It's best not to have herbs where you might need to apply an organic pesticide or fungicide.
- Some herbs are perennials, oregano, thyme, and mints need a permanent spot in the garden.
- Herbs allowed to flower are a great way to attract native pollinators.
- There are unique, beautiful designs specifically for herb gardens.
Location:
It's beneficial to have an herb garden near your vegetable garden because it makes a good habitat for native pollinators and beneficial insects. Herb gardens can be a raised bed devoted to herbs or have a unique shape and design of there own. Herbs need full sun 6-8 hours, and a soil rich in organic matter. Of course you need a water source preferably not an overhead system. And since it will contain culinary herbs, the garden should be near the kitchen so you can easily cut fresh herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Basil
I prefer to start basil seeds indoors and transplant in the garden after all danger of frost is gone. You can direct seed basil in the garden as well in warmer planting zones.
Pruning and harvesting are important to encourage proper growth. As the plants grow, pinch off the tops as the flower bud form to encourage a bushier plant. Cut the plant down to the second pair of leaves when the flower bud begins to form.
Sweet Basil is the culinary and medicinal herb. There are many cultivars of basil that are fun to grow.
Dark Opal is a decorative dark purple variety with a slightly gingery taste. It is a beautiful ornamental flowering plant.
Lemon and Lime Basils are wonderful used fresh but do not dry well. These are some of my favorite herbs to use on chicken, fish, and vegetables.
Cinnamon Basil is used in desserts and sweet dishes. Try it on rhubarb. It is a beautiful ornamental plants also.
Holy Basil or Tulsi is use as an medicinal herb. Sweet basils also have medicinal properties useful for digestive issues.
Basils can be preserved in vinegar or oil. Bruise the leaves and cover with your oil of choice such as olive or avocado oil. Put it in a dark area for 3-4 weeks. Strain the oil and use in cooking.
You can also freeze the leaves in ice cube trays with oil, butter, or a soup base. The leaves can be frozen on trays and stored in freezer bags.
Drying is OK but the flavor deteriorates in the process. Freeze drying basil is a great options.
Home apothecary Uses: Basil is used in traditional tinctures, cider vinegar tinctures, infused oils and infused honey.
Harvest basil early in the morning when the concentration of plant oils is highest. The flavor deteriorates when allowed to flower. Try picking when the flower spikes just begin to appear then pinch back any remaining flower stalks.
Basil Poultice for Bites & Stings
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs
To make the poultice mash a handful of fresh leaves. Place the leaves directly on the insect bite or sting. Wrap and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat as necessary to relieve itching and stinging.
Variations: For a more effective remedy prepare the poultice with basil and plantain leaves.
Basil Tea for Headache and Stress
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs
1 part basil leaf
1 part lemon balm leaf
1/4 part chamomile and/or lavender flower
To make the tea:
Combine the herbs and mix well.
Use 1 tsp (if dried) or 2 tsp (if fresh) of the herb mixture per 1 cup of water.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the herbs, let it infuse for 10-15 minutes, then strain.
Sweeten with honey or stevia if desired
To Use:
Drink warm or at room temperature.
Headaches are also helped by soaking your feet in hot water with a couple drops of lavender EO. Also having your shoulders and neck gently rubbed. Sit back soaking your feet, drinking your tea, and having a massage and hopefully that headache fades away.
This sunny flower will brighten any garden and is both edible and used medicinally. It is sometimes called pot marigold. The officials is the variety used medicinally. Direct seed in the garden after danger of frost.
Calendula flower is beneficial in healing wounds. It is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. It is a common ingredient in creams, salves and ointments in treating wounds, bruises, burns and rashes. It is gentle enough and often used to treat diaper rash and cradle cap.
Caledndula Oil
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs
Harvesting:
Pick the calendula buds when they are just opening. Pick on a dry sunny day when the resin will be stronger. Your fingers will become stick from the resin with is a good sign. You can use fresh or dry or freeze dry the flowers for use.
To make the oil: fill a quart jar 3/4 full with calendula buds. Add to within an 1” of the top of the jar olive oil (for medicinal purposes) or grapeseed, almond or apricot kernel oil (for cosmetic purposes) Let the herbs and oil infuse for 3-4 weeks. Strain and store in an amber colored glass bottle or store in a dark place. Keep in a cool dark place or in the refrigerator where oil will keep for up to a year.
To make double strength calendula oil add fresh buds to strained oil and infuse for another 3-4 weeks.
To Use:
Apply calendula oil topically to skin rashes, eczema, and swollen lymph nodes. It is a wonderful massage oil and great for cosmetic recipes.
Calendula Salve
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs
1 cup calendula oil
1/4 cup grated beeswax
4-6 drops lavender essential oil
To make the salve:
Warm the oil over low heat. Add all but 1 Tbs of the beeswax stirring until melted. As soon as the mixture has melted put a Tbsp on a small plate in the freezer for a minute or two. Test the consistency. If you want a firmer salve add the rest of the beeswax. If you want a softer salve add more oil. Add the essential oil. Pour into small tins or small glass jars. Store in a cool dark place.
To use:Apply salve topically to treat wounds, cuts, rashes, diaper rash or cradle cap. The Lavender essential oil is not just a scent but antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti fungal.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Dill is a hardy annual that can be grown for the leaves, flowers or seed. Warning! It will self sow abundantly throughout the garden if allowed to go to seed. It is a good companion herb with cabbage.
Dill leaves can be picked fresh at anytime. Add to cooking at the end so you don't destroy the flavor. Dill is good fresh in sour cream sauces, on vegetables, and potatoes.
For pickling, harvest the flower-heads when they have both flowers and unripe seeds.
The flower-heads can be used to flavor vinegar's and of course for dill pickles.
Harvest seeds as they begin to turn brown. Cut the whole head and hang the heads upside down in a dry place with something under them to catch the seeds. I use dill seed to flavor dilly beans and dill pickles.
The oil from the leaves and especially the seeds is a gentle sedative and soothing digestive aid. Sucking on dill seeds calms digestive issues.
Dill water has long been used to calm colicky babies. To make your own dill water, steep a teaspoonful of bruised seeds in a glass of hot water for 20-30 minutes. Strain, then sweeten the mixture if desired. Adults can take 1 Tbs and children 1 tsp. (The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices)
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