How To Grow Your Own Medicinal Herb Garden Step-By-Step
You've been feeling under the weather for a while now and have tried everything to get rid of it, but nothing seems to be working. You've even gone to the doctor, but they can't seem to find anything wrong with you. Frustrated and tired, you decide to do a little research on your own and come across some information on medicinal herbs. After reading about all of the benefits of growing your own herb garden, you decide to give it a try.
So, you ask, how do I grow my own medicinal herb garden? To start, choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Herbs need at least six hours of sunlight per day, so make sure to pick a spot that gets plenty of sun. You'll also want to make sure the soil is loose and fertile so the herbs can grow well. Then, choose the herbs you want to grow. Finally, plant the herbs in well-drained soil and water them regularly.
Growing your own medicinal herb garden is a great way to get rid of pesky illnesses and to have fresh herbs on hand for teas, tinctures, and other remedies. By reading on, you will learn about the different herbs that can be used for medicinal purposes and the benefits of growing your own herb garden.
How To Choose Plants for Your Medicinal Herb Garden
A medicinal herb garden is a great way to have access to fresh herbs for teas, tinctures, and other remedies. You can grow your own medicinal herb garden right in your backyard, or you can grow it indoors if you don't have enough space.
What To Consider When Choosing Plants for Your Medicinal Herb Garden
1. Space: How much space do you have to work with? If you're limited on space, you can still grow a medicinal herb garden, but you'll need to be more selective about the herbs you choose.
2. Light: Most herbs need at least six hours of sunlight each day. If you're growing your herbs indoors, make sure they have access to a sunny window.
3. Soil: Herbs prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. If you're not sure about the quality of your soil, have it tested by your local cooperative extension office.
4. Climate: Some herbs are only hardy in certain climates. Make sure to choose herbs that will be able to survive in your area.
5. Water: Herbs need to be watered regularly, especially during the hot summer months. Make sure you have a watering schedule that works for you and your herb garden.
Planting Your Medicinal Herb Garden Directly Into The Ground vs Containers
When it comes to planting your medicinal herb garden, you have two main options:
you can use containers
There are pros and cons to both options.
If you plant the herbs directly into the ground, they will have plenty of space to grow and will be less likely to become overcrowded. The soil will also be rich in nutrients, which is good for the herbs.
However, if you live in a cold climate, you may need to cover the plants in the wintertime to prevent them from getting damaged.
If you use containers to grow your herbs, you can move the plants inside if it gets too cold outside, or if you want to protect them from pests.
However, the soil in containers will not be as nutrient-rich as the soil in the ground, and the plants may become overcrowded more quickly in a small container.
The following is a short list of the best plants to grow for each option.
Best Herbs for Medicinal Herb Garden In Ground:
Calendula
Chamomile
Echinacea
Feverfew
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Peppermint
Rosemary
Sage
Best Herbs for Medicinal Herb Garden In Containers:
Chamomile
Feverfew
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Peppermint
Rosemary
Sage
Choosing A Soil Amendment When Growing Medicinal Herbs
When it comes to gardening, amendments are an important part of the process. They help to improve the quality of the soil and make sure that your plants have everything they need to grow big and strong.
What Is a Soil Amendment?
A soil amendment is any material that you add to the soil to improve its quality. This can be anything from compost to sand to perlite. Amendments help to improve drainage, aeration, and nutrients in the soil.
There are many different types of amendments, but one of the most important is organic matter.
Organic matter helps to retain moisture in the soil, which is essential for plants in hot climates. It also helps to improve drainage, nutrient retention, and aeration.
As a result, it's important to choose a soil amendment that contains organic matter if you want your garden to thrive.
How To Make Sure Your Medicinal Herb Garden Has Good Drainage
One of the most important things you need to consider when growing a medicinal herb garden is drainage. Make sure your chosen spot has well-drained soil, or you could end up with soggy herbs that are prone to disease. You can test the drainage by digging a small hole and filling it with water. If the water drains away within a few hours, you're good to go!
What To Do If Your Medicinal Herb Garden Has Drainage Problems
If you don't have well-drained soil, there are a few things you can do to improve it. One option is to add organic matter such as compost or manure. Another option is to build raised beds for your herbs. This will allow the water to drain away from the roots of your plants.
The Benefits of Having a Well-drained Medicinal Herb Garden
Herbs that are grown in well-drained soil are less likely to succumb to diseases. They're also more drought-tolerant and can handle heavy rains better than plants that are grown in soggy soil. Overall, well-drained soil is just better for plant growth!
Where To Get Plants for The Medicinal Herb Garden
One of the best places to get plants for your medicinal herb garden is from an online nursery. An online nursery will have a wide variety of herbs that you can choose from, and they will also have helpful information on how to care for your plants. Another great place to get plants is from a local nursery or garden center.
When choosing plants for your medicinal herb garden, it is important to choose herbs that are known for their medicinal properties. Some popular medicinal herbs include chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, peppermint, rosemary, and thyme. You can also find many other medicinal herbs at your local nursery or online.
Where To Get Plant Seeds for The Medicinal Herb Garden
If you want to save money on your medicinal herb garden, you can get plant seeds instead of plants. You can find plant seeds at your local nursery or online. When buying plant seeds, it is important to make sure that they are organic and non-GMO.
How To Grow Your Own Medicinal Herb Garden Step-By-Step
If you have been discouraged by Western Medicine's failure to solve your health conditions, then you know that the health disparities we face are real. From access to healthcare to the quality of care we receive, we often experience inequality and discrimination.
A medicinal herb garden is a great way to have access to fresh herbs for teas, tinctures, and other remedies. In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to set up a thriving medicinal herb garden, know when to harvest, and how to store your herbs for use.
1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil
To create a sunny spot for your medicinal herb garden, you will need to find a location that receives plenty of sunlight. The soil should be well-drained to prevent any waterlogging, which can damage the plants.
Some examples of locations that receive plenty of sunlight are on the south side of your house or in a garden bed that gets direct sun for most of the day.
To prepare the soil for your medicinal herb garden, add organic matter to the soil to improve drainage. You can do this by adding compost, mulch, or sand. If the soil is clayey or compacted, you can also till in some organic matter to help improve drainage and aeration.
2. Get plants from an online nursery or local nursery
To get plants for your medicinal herb garden, you can either buy them from an online nursery or a local nursery. Make sure to choose plants that are suited to your climate and growing conditions.
When choosing plants, you should consider the following:
The plant's height and width when fully grown
How much sun the plant needs
The soil type the plant prefers
If the plant is drought or frost tolerant
When buying medicinal herb plants online, it is important to consider the climate where you live. Most medicinal herbs need at least six hours of sunlight each day and prefer cooler climates. Make sure to research the specific needs of the medicinal herbs you are interested in before making a purchase.
How Many Plants Should I Buy?
When planting a medicinal herb garden, you will need at least six. However, you can grow more or fewer plants depending on your needs.
If you are interested in growing a variety of medicinal herbs, you can choose a variety of plants that have different needs in terms of sunlight and soil type.
For instance, if you have a sunny spot in your garden, you could grow herbs like lavender, thyme, and chamomile. If your soil is poor or clayey, you could grow mint, rosemary, and sage.
3. Choose the Medicinal herbs you want to grow
The next step is to choose the medicinal herbs you want to grow. There are many different herbs that have medicinal properties, so you can choose based on your needs or interests.
Some popular medicinal herbs to grow include lavender, chamomile, ginger, and peppermint.
Here is a list of my favorite medicinal herbs to grow:
Calendula
Stinging Nettles
Spearmint
Echinacea
Tarragon
Tulsi Basil
Sage
Marjoram
Clary Sage
Lavender
Lemongrass
Parsley
Yarrow
Pro Tips for Growing Medicinal Herbs
Growing medicinal herbs is an incredible gift to give yourself and your family. By getting to know just one or two plants in the garden, you can feel like you have an entire first-aid kit living in your backyard, or on your windowsill. We recommend starting with one perennial herb, and one annual herb.
Calendula is a great first annual herb because it is so carefree and easy to grow in a garden or pot. By planting one calendula plant in the spring and keeping it harvested, you may have all the calendula your family needs until the fall. It dries easily on the counter and has so many uses for internal and external healing.
Yarrow is a great perennial herb to start with because it is drought tolerant, beautiful, and very forgiving in the worst soil conditions (although it won’t survive in clay soil). It is a clumping plant, so it becomes bigger in diameter as it grows, giving you more and more medicine to work with and learn from.
When we are working or playing outside, yarrow is our number one plant for cuts, scrapes, and stings as a ‘plant bandaid’. Simply ask the plant to harvest a leaf, thank it, and roll the leaf between your palms. It will turn a bright green color and get somewhat juicy.
Apply that crushed leaf to the site of the scrape to stop bleeding, or to the sting to reduce swelling and pain. Then when you go inside, wash it and bandage it as normal.
Yarrow also works wonders as a fever-breaker and is great to have on hand for this use. It works mostly for adults this way since it is so bitter, children aren’t likely to want to drink the tea.
4. Make sure to choose organic and non-GMO plant seeds.
Anyone who is interested in planting their own medicinal herb garden should consider using organic and non-GMO plant seeds. This is important because it will help ensure that the plants will be healthy and free of harmful chemicals.
To ensure that you are growing organic and non-GMO plants, it is important to choose the right seeds. There are many different reputable brands of organic and non-GMO seeds available, so do your research and find the best option for you.
Some popular brands of organic and non-GMO seeds include:
Organic Seeds
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
The Cook's Garden
Adaptive Seeds
Uprising Organics
5. Follow the instructions for planting that come with your plants or seeds
To plant a medicinal herb garden, you will need to follow the specific instructions that come with your plants or seeds. Make sure to read the instructions carefully so that you are planting the plants in the correct soil and location.
If you are using plant seeds, you will need to sow the seeds in late winter or early spring. The best time to plant most herbs is when the danger of frost has passed and the soil has begun to warm up.
When planting, be sure to bury the seeds just below the surface of the soil. Most seeds should be spaced about 1-2 inches apart. Water the seeds gently after planting and then keep the soil moist but not wet.
If you are using live plants, you will need to transplant them into your garden when they are big enough. Be sure to dig a hole that is big enough for the plant and add organic matter such as compost to the hole before planting. Water the plant well after planting and keep the soil moist but not wet.
6. Harvest Your Medicinal Herbs
Once your medicinal herb plants have grown to a size that is suitable for harvesting, it is time to start picking the leaves and flowers. Be sure to harvest the herbs regularly so that they do not take over your garden.
Most herbs can be harvested at different times throughout the year, so be sure to read up on the specific herb you are harvesting. Herbs that are harvested early in their growth cycle tend to have a milder flavor than those that are harvested later.
When harvesting, always use clean and sharp scissors or knives. Cut the herbs close to the ground so that new growth will occur.
7. How To Store Your Medicinal Herbs
After harvesting your medicinal herbs, you will need to store them properly. This is important so that the herbs will stay fresh and retain their medicinal properties.
The best way to store your herbs is by drying them. You can do this by hanging the herbs upside down in a dry, dark place. Another way to dry the herbs is by placing them in a dehydrator.
Once the herbs are dried, you can store them in airtight jars or containers. Make sure to label the containers with the name of the herb and the date it was harvested.
Some alternative ways to store your medicinal herbs include freezing them, canning them, and making tinctures or extracts.
8. Enjoy Your Fresh Medicinal Herbs
There are several ways to enjoy your fresh medicinal herbs. You can add them to recipes, make tea with them, or take them in pill form.
You can also use fresh herbs to make tinctures or extracts. Tinctures are liquids that are made by extracting the medicinal properties of herbs into alcohol or vinegar. Extracts are powders or pastes that are made by extracting the medicinal properties of herbs into a fat or oil.
Both tinctures and extracts are easy to take and have a long shelf life. They can be stored in airtight containers in cool, dark places.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed how to grow your own medicinal herb garden. We provided information on the different types of seeds and plants that can be used, as well as instructions on how to plant and harvest the herbs. Also, we provided tips on how to store the herbs properly.
Now that you know how to grow your own medicinal herb garden, why not consult with an herbal health specialist?
Kellan MacKay at Khela Herbs can help you learn more about the herbs in your garden and how to use them for optimum health.
Herbal Health consultations are a great way to get started using medicinal herbs in your everyday life. With the right information and guidance, you can enjoy all of the benefits that these plants have to offer.
Medicinal Herb Garden Related Questions
What are the most useful medicinal herbs in a garden?
There are many useful medicinal herbs that can be grown in a garden. However, some of the most popular and useful medicinal herbs include:
Lavender, Rosemary, Mint, Thyme
What are medicinal herb garden must-haves?
There are a few must-haves for any medicinal herb garden. These include:
• A sunny spot: most medicinal herbs need at least 6 hours of sunlight each day
• Good drainage: herbs will not do well in soggy, waterlogged soil
• Rich, loamy soil: adding compost or other organic matter to the soil will help provide nutrients for the plants
• A variety of herbs: growing a variety of medicinal herbs will give you the most options for using them medicinally
What medicinal herbs grow well together?
Many medicinal herbs grow well together. Some of the best companions for medicinal herbs include:
Basil,Chives,Cilantro,Dill,Marjoram,Oregano,Parsley,Sage,Thyme
What are the best medicinal herbs to grow indoors?
There are many medicinal herbs that can be successfully grown indoors. Some of the best include:
Aloe vera, Chamomile, Echinacea, Lavender, Lemon balm, Peppermint, Rosemary,Thyme