Herb Garden Kits
Now don’t mind me, but I’m not a huge advocate of herb garden kits, mostly because they seem kind of like a rip off. I have seen some really nice ones in the last few years, mostly at up-scale stores, that I’ve liked, but they have certainly been the exception.
Most of the better ones involve a bulb or rhizome herb. The ones with seeds are a little more suspicious. Make sure that the seeds are fresh (many times the seeds are old and just don’t do so well or even germinate). You’re going to want to make sure that the seeds you get in your seeds will actually grow well. Some herbs don’t grow well or fast when planted as seeds. Be sure to do your homework before you buy.
Obviously, I’m biased here (just a little bit), but garden kits really aren’t the best way to get started as an avid herb gardener. I’d start at the nursery, greenhouse or home improvement store. But for someone you don’t know very well or someone who has expressed an interest in herb gardening and isn’t sure how to get started, it may be just the thing.
Another good thing about herb garden kits is that you usually get cute little pots or at least a nicely-shaped terra cotta pot that can be used for years to come. I’ve oftentimes bought an herb garden kit on clearance just for the neat pot that came in the set!
Here are some of my favorite herbs that will do pretty well in herb garden kits:
• Dill: This quick-growing herb has umbrella-like heads with yellow flowers that will work wonderfully in cut arrangements. The plant has that familiar smell of dill and its fine, ferny leaves do well in full-sun with well-drained soil. Use your dill in about a million different recipes. My favorite is to add the dried seeds to my homemade chicken salad. There’s such a strong dill flavor without all the pickles. The flowers are also pretty enough to put in a vase.
• Flax: Flax has been gaining in popularity in the last few years for its medicinal and weight-loss uses, but it’s been around and in use for thousands of years. It is quite easy to grow from seeds. It has pretty, purple flowers that bloom in the morning, but it’s the seeds that are most important for health purposes. Commercial applications of flax include linseed oil, which is used in animal feed, and cloth fiber for linen clothing. In additions to the weight-loss uses of flax, I add flax to my herbal (especially good with lemon balm) to help with coughs and colds. Collect your ripe seeds from the seed heads and let them dry out for a least a week and you’re ready some hot and beneficial tea!
• German Chamomile: You’ll notice a slight hint of apple in the smell of your German chamomile, but don’t think it’ll taste like apples. It has its own unique flavor that is delicate, like its feathery leaves. It’s easy to grow from seeds and appreciates full-sun and well drained soil. Brew the flowers into a delightful tea that will calm your nerves and actually help you unwind by reducing muscle tension and nervous anxiety. To harvest your German chamomile, just clip off the heads while they are in full bloom, dry and store in a tighly sealed glass jar—you can also brew your tea from fresh German chamomile, just use more flowers.
• Lemon Balm: Lemon balm doesn’t grow in hot climates because it needs the cold to complete its annual growth cycle. You can add it to drinks and meat dishes for extra flavor. It can grow in light shade or full sun. It will take your seeds a while to get going, but be patient because once they do get going, they’ll take off. Beyond the wonderful teas and culinary applications, you can also use lemon balm in aromatherapy. If you need to clear your head, sharpen your memory (and who doesn’t?), relieve headaches and stem depression, just bruise a few lemon balm leaves and inhale. Before you know it, you’ll be right as rain.
I hope I haven’t completely put you off from trying your hand at an herb growing kit. They really aren’t so bad. It’s a good way to try out herb gardening without a huge commitment. Just mind my words on doing your homework in advance. That and checking the clearance table for the interesting pots.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
