Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

Oregano is such an easy herb! The benefit is that is can be used for such a wide variety of things, and it is a perennial so it will come back every year!
Other no brainers (and I know this from my own personal experience) is lemon verbena, thyme (lemon thyme as well) rosemary, mint, and lavender, and basil.
I have had some troubles with sage, but maybe it doesn’t like Ohio weather, so the humid/hot might be good for it! Pretty much any herb is workable, just buy from a good source (preferably a farmer’s market) and read any labels. I know having them indoors vs. Outdoors makes a difference as well, so what I share is just from having outdoor herbs. (I just dug up the ground, plopped them in, and they lived!)
Good luck!

GardenersCardiff answers:

Herbs are fairly easy to grow. Take a look at what spices you use in cooking and where you live. No need to grow what you won’t eat. Many herbs can be grown indoors in pots and set outside when the weather is appropriate. For the first time Gardner, I would suggest pick your favorite three herbs. Go to your local garden center or plant market and buy small plants rather than starting with seed.(Farmers markets are great places for this.) Get some small pots (appropriate size for the plants you have purchased) and some potting soil. Put a few rocks in the bottom of your pot for drainage, then put your plant in the pot and cover with dirt to just above the dirt on the plant. Give it a little water and a sunny window and wala you should have herbs. Water about once a week. This is a great starting point that should get you familiar with plants and move you on to a larger herb garden.

There are lots of great herb growing books out there to help you expand your garden. My suggestion is start with the pots, find a good book and make a plan for your garden. Many herbs such as oregano, mint, Thyme and sage, all spread, so thought needs to go into your space allotment for each. Spices like cilantro and basil are annuals in some regions and have to be brought indoors for the winter or planted new each year. So a lot to learn and think about. Hope this helps.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Tons of good sites. Here are a few I keep bookmarked for such questions. You might also check YA! For more questions like yours, I’m sure not everyone answers the same ones all the time, you might pick up a gem or two looking back at old ones.

Http://www.altnature.com/
http://www.herbs2000.com/
http://www.herbaleducator.com/index.html
http://www.vitaminstuff.com/herbs.html
http://www.localharvest.org/ (not as much about herbs, but more local network stuff, could be useful to you)

Something else to consider – you may not have to grow your own so much as locate natural sources. My favorite, and wild growing, http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulgre63.html
You just need to find and protect the source and process properly.

My mother-in-law used to collect and process her own chamomile, and a good friend and herbalist found St. John’s Wort growing freely on her property and did that same, making salves and other products with it.

That should get you started. Best to you in a very healthful, herbal education!