| Starting from seeds can be a little tedious, but I | | | | - Caraway: You can plant caraway straight from |
| love giving my annuals a jump on the growing | | | | the spice jar, which I believe is wonderful and |
| season by starting them from either the seeds I | | | | simple. All you have to do is add a few seeds to |
| collected the previous summer or from seeds I | | | | a pot and cover with a thin layer of sod and a |
| order online. | | | | small bit of water. Caraway only takes a few |
| If you're interested in starting your garden from | | | | days to grow. Then you can transfer your herb |
| seeds keep in mind that some herb plants work | | | | to a larger container or garden bed. Use caraway |
| better than others when you grow them at | | | | to add something extra to your Octoberfest |
| home from seeds. | | | | meals and also your curries. |
| First, soak your seeds for at least three hours | | | | - Lavender: For the fastest and best outcomes, |
| before planting them so that they will have an | | | | use the Lady kind of Lavender or it can take |
| extra advantage. You can also pre-sprout your | | | | forever to raise your lavender herb-and why |
| herbs by soaking them, folding them up in a moist | | | | waste time waiting for seeds to develop when |
| paper towel and then sealing them in a freezer | | | | you could already be enjoying this most sublime |
| bag. If you go this route, be sure to keep the | | | | plant. |
| sealed bag away from heat and check back often | | | | - Nasturtium: These brilliant and edible herbs are |
| to see if the seeds have started germinating yet. | | | | so simple to raise from seeds that you will |
| Once your seeds have started to sprout, you are | | | | wonder why you didn't start it sooner. If you |
| ready to plant them in some rich, moist sod. | | | | decide to try these out, begin by soaking the |
| I've said it before and I'll say it again, read up on | | | | seeds for at least 8 hours and then plant them in |
| your herb plants before you get the seeds or | | | | rich, well-drained dirt. Nasturtiums like living indoors, |
| begin the sprouting process, because that might | | | | so you don't have to move them out once spring |
| not be enough. Some varieties of seeds need to | | | | comes. Just lop off a couple of blooms when you |
| be scratched up before they can grow. Other | | | | need them to add color to your salads. |
| types will need to be heated up (from light, not | | | | - Shepherd's Purse: Even though many folks think |
| the microwave, stove or oven) before you | | | | shepherd's purse is a weed, this tasty plant has a |
| cultivate them. Good examples of these include | | | | delicate peppery smell and the taste is a great |
| the chili pepper and citronella herbs. | | | | addition to any salad. Because the leaves are rich |
| It is important to control your seeds' growing | | | | in vitamins C and A you will get health benefits |
| environment once the sprouting process begins. | | | | while you eat this mouth-watering herb. To |
| How long it will take your seeds to germinate | | | | cultivate shepherd's purse, simply sow the seeds |
| depends on the seed. Some can take only 5 or 6 | | | | on top of the earth, water it and watch it grow. |
| days while others can take over a month. | | | | If you want to really experiment with growing |
| Go purchase one of the soil mixes designed for | | | | herb plants from seeds, experiment with these |
| growing seeds-the best ones usually contain | | | | herb plants too: bee balm, borage, catnip, chives, |
| vermiculite and sphagnum moss. | | | | and dill. |
| I grow plenty of herbs from seeds each year. | | | | Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let |
| Some of my favorite ones are: | | | | me know how your herb garden grows. |