St. John's Wort
In medieval times, people thought St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) protected them from demonic possession. Maybe they were right. Today, it is widely used to treat mild depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and its antiviral properties are ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Mint Mania
Once you've harvesting your herbs for tea, here's how to blend and brew up a healthy pot of tea. In "merry olde England," a tea with one ingredient was called a simple. By all means, start by sampling some simples and get familiar with the ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Greek oregano
How to Grow Herbs Indoors Growing Herbs Under Lights In recent years, many new varieties of herbs have been introduced, some of which do better indoors than the traditional varieties. Here are 10 herbs notable for their consistent, compact growth ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
How to Grow Herbs Indoors
Herbs are sun worshipers for the most part. As expatriates of the Mediterranean region, most flavorful herbs don't thrive in the un-Mediterranean environment and inadequate light our houses provide. Herbs don't tolerate north-facing windows, or ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Best Herbs for Tea
Here are my picks for the most flavorful and widely adapted "tea" plants for home gardens, along with tips for harvesting and my favorite recipes. All of these plants grow well throughout the United States. They are hardy perennials (up to -20 [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Growing Herbs Under Lights
Even with a bright sunroom, sun-loving herbs will need 12 to 16 hours a day of supplemental light. You have two choices: fluorescent or high-intensity discharge (HID). The brightness of a light is measured in either lumens or foot candles. Lumens ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Asparagus Essentials
Plant crowns in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Plants will take three growing seasons to become established. Allow ten to twenty plants per person (15 to 30 feet of row). Asparagus will thrive in slightly acid soil (pH of about ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
How to Grow Rosemary
Rosemary and its cultivars are best started from plants. When grown from seed, germination is slow with variable results. Plants can be set out in the spring when the weather has warmed in zones 1 through 9, and in spring or fall in zone 10. All ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Codling Moth on Pears
The codling moth ("codling" is an old name for a tiny apple) is a key pear and apple pest. The first adults appear at the time blossom petals fall. The adult insects lay eggs on young fruit, twigs, and leaves. Trichogramma wasp parasites will .. [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Planting Citrus
Citrus can be planted any time of year. Spring is the best time to set out container grown trees from a nursery. Select strong and healthy trees for planting. Citrus trees will grow in most soils except salty ones. Add organic matter to very ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Blackberry Care & Harvesting
Berries will ripen over a period of several weeks and should be harvested every 2 to 4 days. Pick berries in the cool of early morning and avoid bruising them. Refrigerate the berries immediately; they'll keep for 4 to 5 days at 35° F if picked ... [... more]
National Gardening Association |
Growing Marjoram
Shakespeare knew his herbs, and characterized them in his work. In All's Well that Ends Well, someone gives a compliment, describing another as, "the sweet marjoram of the salad, or rather the herb of grace." It is a delightful herb, at once ... [... more]
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