How to create herb gardens. Growing herbs on a windowsill

Spicy herbs can be successfully grown on a kitchen windowsill in winter time and significantly diversify the range of greenery available for sale. In addition to their aromatic qualities, many of them show different shades of foliage and are no less showy than established pets. If you want, grow them in separate pots, or if you want, make a fragrant mix in a wide bowl or a small balcony box. Special containers are also sold - "gardens" with pockets or holes. Occupation is very fashionable and not devoid of benefits. The growing process is generally simple, but some special conditions for fragrant herbs still need to be created. Let's talk about everything in order.

Take home from the garden

The easiest way to instantly get a spicy bed on the kitchen windowsill is to take a few plants in the garden before the autumn frosts come. Perennial spicy plants are suitable for this - Thyme, Sage, hyssop, oregano, mint, lemon balm, catnip, savory, and also annual. Select well-developed, healthy specimens, water them and transplant with a clod, being careful not to damage the root system, into pots with fresh potting mix. Large bushes can be divided or used for planting root offspring.

The pot in diameter should be only 2-5 cm wider than the size of the root ball of the plant, otherwise the roots, unable to cope with moisture, will rot. After transplantation, without regret, cut off the greens, leaving only 3 cm, just pinch the shoots of basil and hyssop.

Tarragon requires a dormant period before the onset of winter. Transplant the plant into a pot and leave it in the garden until the leaves die. Transfer to a cool room for a few days. Then put on the lightest window sill and feed with organic fertilizers.

Supplement with ready-made plants

To make fragrant compositions richer and more diverse, it is worth visiting garden centers and nurseries (discounts are announced there in autumn). From herbs it is possible to find varietal thyme - for example, t. ordinary Compactus, t. lemon-smelling Golden King and Silver Queen, oregano, including the yellow-leaved variety Aureum, medicinal sage, often its purple-leaved variety Purpurascens, narrow-leaved lavender, various mints. By the way, peppermint is the most common of the mints, but the aroma of its leaves is too mentholic, it is much softer and richer in other species, for example, a low and little creeping spearmint, which is an ideal candidate for growing on a windowsill.

From among indoor plants, noble laurel and rosemary can be attached to this fragrant community.

Planting cuttings

If there is not enough planting material, use cuttings. This is how oregano, thyme, mint, sage are propagated , hyssop . For rooting, top shoots 10 cm long are cut, the lower leaves are removed and rooted under the cut plastic bottle or transparent plastic bag . To speed up the process, you can powder the tips with Kornevin or soak in a Zircon solution (4 ml per 1 liter of water) for 14 hours. Good lighting, additional lighting with phytolamps significantly speeds up the rooting process. This method allows you to get young, well-leafy plants from mother plants, which have already become woody in the lower part and will give little fragrant greenery.

Distillation of root crops and bulbous crops

But what about without parsley? She, as well as Celery and Pasternak, are dug up in the fall, cut off the greens, and the root crops are placed, covered with sand, for storage in a basement with a low positive temperature (+1 ... + 3 o C). From November to March, they are planted in batches in deep pots at a slight slope, as the greenery grows, they are fed once. You can also use purchased root crops with an intact apical bud for planting. Greens grow within a month.

Onion. Small samples left after harvesting onions, or onions that begin to germinate during storage, can be driven out on a feather in water or in the soil until summer. Suitable for this and sevok, which is planted in shallow containers after pre-soaking. Each landing allows you to have green feather for several weeks.

Garlic. Garlic cloves are planted to a depth of 3-4 cm to obtain young greens, which will be ready in 3 weeks. You can even use wilted or spoiled ones, gradually planting them in pots with other greens.

Sowing seeds

Finally, some plants can be sown. Despite the fact that the most auspicious time for indoor crops comes in the spring, with an increase in the amount of light, there are many crops that germinate easily, develop well with room temperature and lack of light in winter. On sale, sometimes there are ready-made kits for growing greenery, including beautiful pots, substrate and seeds - a godsend for those who appreciate the aesthetic side of the process.

Use the period free from country cares to get acquainted with new spicy-tasting and green crops. Growing some of them can be real fun for children and adults! See for yourself.

Watercress is one of the easiest crops to grow on a windowsill. Cold-resistant, moisture-loving, content with a small amount of light (without additional illumination), does without soil, grows rapidly. Seeds are densely sown on the surface of gauze or paper napkin, laid in several layers in a shallow plastic tray and moistened (can be sown on soaked colorless hydrogel). Seedlings are ready for use in a few days - they are simply cut with scissors. For continuous production of watercress greens, sowing is done every week. You can grow it in the soil, then the greens are ready for use in 2-3 weeks. To make it tender and juicy, you need constant spraying with water.

sheet, or lettuce mustard is grown similarly to watercress. In autumn, it is better to sow on gauze or a napkin, and cut it off when the foliage reaches a height of 5 cm. salads, sandwiches and sauces. All three cultures are cold-resistant, grow well already at a temperature of +15 o C, without additional lighting.

Chervil. Sow every 2 weeks. It is cold-resistant, grows at +15+16 about C, needs high humidity air (spraying). A month later, cut off once, because it grows back badly, and sow again.

Watercress. Another plant that is not demanding on light, but constantly needs moisture. It is grown through seedlings, then planted at a distance of 15-20 cm or in separate pots. If you have grown it in the summer open ground, you can cut cuttings that are easily rooted in water.

borage, or borago. It is sown in the soil, thinned to a distance of 15 cm. Grows 3-4 weeks to a phase of 2-3 true leaves, then cut off. Before harvesting, it is necessary to dry the soil a little to increase the aromaticity of the greens.

Perilla. This is a plant with lacy leaves. chocolate color more often seen in flower beds than in vegetable gardens. But it is not inferior to the content of valuable substances of carrots! Easy to grow on a cool windowsill. Only one circumstance must be taken into account - so that the plants do not quickly go into the flowering phase in short autumn days, they need to extend the length of the day to 14 hours.

Valerianella, or field lettuce. No less rival of carrots in terms of the content of biologically active substances. It has a sweetish taste and a nutty aroma of greens, which goes well with meat dishes. Cold resistant and moisture-loving plant, easy to grow on a windowsill. In just a month, it forms beautiful rosettes of green oblong leaves. However, with a lack of light, it is more advisable to grow on a napkin, like watercress, or use healthy germinated seeds.

Now about growing

In winter, it can be very dry on the windowsill due to heating, so already at the stage of choosing pots, keep in mind that clay soil will dry faster than plastic ones, so they are more suitable for drought-resistant crops (thyme, sage, for example). However, regardless of the relationship of certain plants to moisture, they all need good drainage, for which you can use not only purchased expanded clay, but also small pebbles, brick fragments, sand, or pieces of foam.

Composition soil mixture . Purchased soils for vegetable plants consist mainly of peat and sand and do not retain moisture well. In order to get rid of this drawback, it is necessary to add garden loam or compost to it. It is also a good idea to mix 1 g of dry hydrogel (1/4 teaspoon) for every liter of substrate. It is more convenient to use the hydrogel dry - after watering it will swell and replenish the soil sediment. Such an additive will reduce the frequency of watering to 2-3 times a month and facilitate care.

Transplanting plants from the garden to room conditions harbors the danger of moving with them diseases and pests that can spread to indoor plants. You will almost certainly bring in at least aphids. Therefore, we recommend washing the aerial part of the plants during the transplantation process. green soap, diluting 100 ml in 5 liters of water. This is an environmentally friendly product that has both an insecticidal and disinfectant effect. Spill the substrate in a pot with a solution of the biological preparation Fitosporin-M instead of steam sterilization of the soil.

After processing and planting, arrange a “quarantine” for the herbs by isolating them from indoor plants for at least 2 weeks. However, it cannot be avoided anyway, since it is undesirable to immediately place the plants in the heat from the autumn coolness, otherwise the greenery will dry out. Such a shock is especially dangerous for herbs with delicate thin foliage, and will affect drought-resistant, with small dense or pubescent leaves - thyme, sage and mint. First, put the pots with plants on a glazed unheated balcony or on the veranda of the house, and after 2 weeks bring them inside. If this is not possible, leave the pots in the garden for a week or two, only after that treat the plants with green soap and pick up a cool but bright place in the room to start with, and then put it on permanently.

Growing conditions. And now about this very permanent place. The shortest days of the year are just around the corner, when the plants on the windowsill so lack natural light. Light is needed not only so that the bushes grow lush and compact, forming as much of the desired greenery as possible, but also in order to produce more essential oils that cause the aromas of herbs. It has been established that plants need at least 5 hours of direct sun per day for this. Because in winter period it is practically non-existent, the lack of light is compensated by uniform illumination with special phytolamps or conventional fluorescent tube lamps (but they are less efficient and consume more energy) for 14 hours a day. Luminescent ones are hung at a height of 30 cm (they heat up), and phytolamps are lower, at a height of 15-20 cm. With additional illumination, grass can be grown even on north windows, and if it is not there, they are placed on the windows of the southern, eastern, worse - western orientation.

In addition to good lighting, it is necessary to provide humidity. Any techniques used in growing indoor plants are suitable for this - from pallets filled with gravel or expanded clay, and 1 cm filled with water, to household air humidifiers. But often in the kitchen there is already an abundance of water vapor, and you have to ventilate it. Good ventilation, an influx of oxygen are also necessary for plants, you only have to protect them from the flow of frosty air.

For most herbs, a temperature of +18 ... +22 ° C is comfortable, at night it is very desirable to drop to +15 ° C. It is useful for happy owners of insulated balconies to know that daytime temperatures can be at +15 ° C, and nighttime temperatures can fall much lower, up to +10 and even +5 o C, but the growth rate of herbs will also decrease.

Care usual, as for houseplants. Periodically, you need to arrange showers for herbs to wash off the dust from the surface of the leaf blades.

Feature, perhaps, only one. Growing plants for greenery, do not be afraid to pinch and cut it - the herbs will grow back. Attempts to bloom should be discouraged by cutting off the inflorescences. And in order for the growth of the vegetative mass to be more active, every 1.5-2 months (and especially after cutting), top dressing is desirable. Since we want to get environmentally friendly products, it is preferable to use organic rather than mineral fertilizers. The most perfect of them - with microorganisms, it is worth spending money on a box that will last for more than one year. By making them after planting, you can not worry until spring. They not only nourish the plants, but also enrich the soil with useful microflora (which is very important for pot growing), ensure the rapid recovery of plants after transplantation, and excellent development of the root system. From the number organic fertilizers Biohumus is also acceptable - a waste product of worms, you can get by with Lignohumate or the more common Potassium Humate.

Feeding herbs along with all houseplants mineral fertilizers, try to stick to the principle: it is better to underfeed than to overfeed (you don’t want to eat nitrates, do you?). It is necessary to intensify top dressing from February, when the amount of light increases and the plants move on to more active growth. In late April-early May, after preliminary hardening, perennial herbs will be ready to return to the garden.

Our grandmothers, growing strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, were not particularly worried about mulching. But today this agricultural practice has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reduce crop losses. Some might say it's troublesome. But practice shows that labor costs in this case pay off handsomely. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.

Mint was used by the Egyptians as far back as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to the high content of various essential oils with high volatility. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article, we will look at the most interesting varieties mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in the open field.

Looking at the variety of varieties of tomatoes, it is difficult not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. He sometimes confuses even experienced gardeners! However, it is not so difficult to understand the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself”. The main thing is to understand the peculiarities of culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest tomato groups to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been appreciated by those gardeners who do not have much time and energy to care for the beds.

Once very popular under the name of indoor nettles, and then forgotten by everyone, coleuses today are one of the most striking garden and indoor plants. They are not in vain considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are looking primarily for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant supervision. But if you take care of them, bushes of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.

Salmon backbone baked in Provence herbs is a "supplier" of delicious pieces of fish pulp for light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The mushrooms are lightly fried olive oil and then watered apple cider vinegar. Such mushrooms are tastier than ordinary pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Ramson and fresh dill coexist perfectly in one salad, emphasizing the flavor of each other. Garlic sharpness of wild garlic will saturate both the flesh of salmon and pieces of mushrooms.

Conifer tree or a shrub on the site is always great, and a lot of conifers is even better. emerald needles various shades decorates the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils secreted by plants not only flavor, but also make the air cleaner. Generally, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and shrubs. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require competent care and attention.

Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics under the shade of flowering trees have long been an integral attribute of the meeting of spring in the Country rising sun. Financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when the magnificent sakura blossoms. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.

It is very interesting for me to analyze how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and traded lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century BC. e. about 6 varieties of quince were known and even then the methods of its reproduction and cultivation were described.

Make your family happy and make themed Easter egg-shaped cottage cheese cookies! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - they will sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration how the pieces of dough turn into real Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read in our step by step recipe!

There are not so many decorative and deciduous favorites among tuberous crops. And the caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of the interiors. Not everyone can decide to start a Caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all - to care. But still, the rumors about the unusual capriciousness of the Caladium never justify. Attention and care allow you to avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And a plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.

We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply elementary dish for you today. This gravy is one hundred percent universal, as it will suit every side dish: vegetables, pasta, and anything. Gravy with chicken and mushrooms will save you in moments when there is no time or you don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Grab your favorite side dish (you can make this ahead of time to keep it hot), add gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.

Among the many different varieties of these most popular vegetables, we will talk about three that are distinguished by excellent taste and relatively unpretentious growing conditions. Characteristics of eggplant varieties "Diamond", "Black Handsome" and "Valentina". All eggplants have a medium density pulp. In "Almaz" it is greenish, and in the other two it is yellowish-white. They are united by good germination and excellent yield, but in different time. Everyone's skin color and shape is different.

Agriculture is one of those human activity, the successful outcome of which is not always directly proportional to the efforts made. Unfortunately, nature does not necessarily act as our ally in growing plants, and often, on the contrary, throws up new challenges. Increased reproduction of pests, abnormal heat, late return frosts, hurricane winds, drought ... And one of the springs presented us with another surprise - a flood.

With the coming of the season dacha works raises the question of growing strong and healthy seedling our favorite vegetables: cabbage, tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant and many other crops. Along with this, the question arises - how to grow decent seedlings and get healthy plants and a decent harvest from it in the future? For example, I have been growing seedlings for more than one season and protecting my garden from diseases with the help of biological preparations Alirin-B, Gamair, Gliocladin, Trichocin.

Let me confess my love today. In love with... lavender. One of the best unpretentious, evergreen and flowering shrubs which can be successfully grown in your garden. And if someone thinks that lavender is a Mediterranean or, at least, southern inhabitant, then you are mistaken. Lavender grows well and in more northern regions, even in the suburbs. But in order to grow it, you need to know some rules and features. They will be discussed in this article.

Greetings, friends!

How beautiful a small garden with spicy crops looks on the windowsill! It is simply impossible to enjoy the aroma to the fullest in the cold winter season, when you really want summer warmth. The main thing is that, if desired, greens can be used for cooking or eating fresh, taking the right ones. How to grow spicy herbs in your apartment? Spicy herbs on the windowsill growing at home where to start? Of course, from seeds.

Where to buy seeds?

The purchase of seeds can be done in a nursery or in a specialty store. In it you will find a variety of herbs and vegetables. In addition, such stores sell ready-made seedlings of herbs, which are sold in pots. If you left your planting material, then you can use it. When buying seeds, it is better to give preference to early varieties, this will make it possible to get green products earlier.

Also, seeds can be ordered with home delivery, for example here.

What soil to use?

Most herbs prefer loose nutrient soil. You can buy ready-made soil, which is sold in every flower shop. For planting, it is better not to use garden or garden soil, as it may contain pathogens, in addition, it is heavy and acidic. But if you still have to use garden soil, then it must be sterilized in the oven or held over steam.

The soil can be ordered with delivery here.

There are also plants that do not have to be grown in the ground. For example, watercress, leafy mustard or onions. To sow the first two options, you will need a damp cloth, which must be spread in a container. You can use a paper towel or a layer of cotton wool instead of a napkin. The main thing with this cultivation will be the constant moistening of the base.

It will be easy to grow onions on a feather. The simplest is this method: put the onion in water and put it in the light. In order not to form bad smell, you need to change the water base more often, then the process of decay does not form.

What container to use?

It is possible to use absolutely any object that has a bottom and walls. In order to grow onions on a feather, you can use plastic jars with lids, in which holes are made to place a third of the bulb. The jar is filled with water to the level of the onion roots. After that, it remains to add water. Gradually, the bulb decreases in size, as it gives its strength to green shoots. To continue the forcing of the feather, organic fertilizers can be added to the water.

Of course, special pots are also sold for herbs, bright and colorful. If you want, you can buy them too.

What are the best herbs to grow on a windowsill?

People grow a lot of things at home, but there are herbs that almost everyone prefers. They are used in cooking, and planted on the windowsill, as it is easy to care for herbs.

1. Onion. How exactly to grow it has been described. We can only say that bulbs of the same size should be selected for planting. First you need to remove the top layer, in addition, some cut off the top for a quick appearance of feathers.
2. Watercress. Unpretentious in care. It is grown both in soil and in water, you can put the pot in the light or in the shade. It tolerates the lack of light very well. Harvesting is done when the sprouts reach a height of 5 cm. Such greens are eaten in the form of salads and sauces. It is also added to soups and sandwiches. These greens contain various useful substances for the body.
3. Leaf mustard. Not inferior in ease of care to watercress. You can grow these species in one container. It is used both raw and processed.
4. Dill. Widespread product. Unpretentious plant, but it is better to buy early varieties, from which you can harvest after 25 days. If you purchase a late version, then the greens will have to be expected for a month and a half.
5. Leaf salad. Such a culture requires better conditions. She "likes" to be in bright light and warm. Although the kitchen is ideal for such a plant, you will have to use artificial lighting.
6. Basil. Loves warm places, will decorate any kitchen thanks to its green and purple leaves. If you plant several varieties in one container, you get an interesting color composition. The optimum temperature for growing is considered to be 25-28 degrees.
7. Coriander. Unpretentious. Grows in almost any light. The only thing it does not withstand is when water stagnates or the soil dries up. Therefore, it is necessary to water the spice in a timely manner and in moderation.
8. Lemon thyme. Smells delicious, fills the room with aroma. If you plant such a perennial, which, moreover, does not differ in special requirements, then the delicate aroma of lemon will delight you for many years.
9. Rosemary. This plant is essential for those who prefer mediterranean cuisine. With carved leaves and a wonderful spicy smell, such an herb will delight the eye and give pleasure to aromas. Can be purchased small plant or grow from seeds, although this will take a lot of time, and besides, you will have to make a lot of effort.
10. Parsley. This herb can be grown from seeds or by forcing from the roots. The second way will be able to get a crop faster. Growing requires warm, bright room and uniform watering. Parsley does not really like to live on the windowsill, but is in demand among gardeners.

Spicy herbs are a great opportunity to diversify your diet. We offer you spicy herbs for the garden, which can be grown in any climatic conditions without special work. By planting herbs in the country, you will provide yourself with excellent flavor and aroma additives to various dishes.

Growing herbs is suitable for everyone. If you don't have a garden or the outdoor area is too small, you can grow chervil, marjoram, mint, parsley, and thyme in a pot on a windowsill. Outdoors, you can grow them in a mixed bed or border, like the old cottage gardens. Best of all, however, is a raised grass bed. It is a good idea to grow herbs in compartments separated by permanent walls of brick, wood, concrete slabs etc.

Planting of herbs is carried out both by seedlings and by sowing in open ground.

How to plant and grow herbs

Before planting herbs, prepare a plot of land. How to grow herbs in your summer cottage without the use of chemicals? Very simple, for this we plant straight grasses in strict accordance with the requirements of agricultural technology.

Standard requirements are several hours of sunshine during the day, well-drained soils, regular enough harvesting to keep the plant compact, and replacement of perennials every three or four years. Highly proliferating plants such as mint need to be controlled. Most herbs can be grown from seed, but it's best to buy ready-made seedlings in pots at a garden center. Shrubby herbs such as rosemary will be enough for you in one copy, but herbaceous plants smaller ones, such as parsley, will need a few. Set up a herb garden as close to home as possible - picking herbs if the bed is located at the far end of the garden is usually neglected in wet weather.

What herbs to plant

Which herbs to plant depends largely on how you are going to use them in the future.

Harvest at the proper growth stage - choose as needed for immediate use when plants are actively growing, and some for drying as well. Most herbs can be dried for winter use, but wherever possible, basil, parsley, mint, chives, and chervil should be used fresh. Dry the herbs by hanging them in bunches or laying them out on a tray at approximately 26-32°C. Appropriate place- drying cabinet or greenhouse. After the initial warm drying, the herbs can be kept at normal room temperature for about two weeks, turning them daily until crispy. Chop them up, discard the tough stems, and store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Deep freezing has revolutionized the preservation of softwood grasses in ice cubes. Fill ice cube molds with chopped and blanched herbs and top up with water. Freeze and then store in plastic bags in the freezer. To use, place an herb ice cube in a dish or pot while cooking.

Description, photos and names of herbs

The name of herbs usually does not have other transcriptions and is used unambiguously both on the package with seeds and on the bag of seasoning. Look at the spicy herbs in the photo, you will surely recognize among them those that you use every day. We offer you not only photos and names of herbs for the garden and cottages. Here you can see photos and descriptions of herbs with brief botanical characteristics cultures. All presented spicy herbs with a photo are deservedly popular with gardeners due to their unpretentiousness during cultivation.

BASIL

This tender annual cannot stand frost. It is sown under glass in March or April in peat pots and planted in the ground in early June in a well-drained sunny place. Plant plants at a distance of 30 cm and regularly pinch the tops of the shoots to get bushy plants.

In summer, the leaves are harvested as needed or frozen. For winter use, dig up the plant in September, plant in a pot, and place it on a windowsill.

DILL

A plant 60 cm high has thin pinnately dissected leaves and blooms in July with small yellow flowers in umbellate inflorescences. Dill does not tolerate transplantation. Sow seeds in April immediately on permanent place and thin out seedlings up to 30 cm apart. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot and water when the weather is dry.

To collect the seeds, the stems are cut when the florets have turned brown, and a paper bag is tied around each floret and hung upside down in bundles. Harvest the leaves for use when they are young. The aroma will remain even after drying.

CHERVIL

It's a gentle herb different reasons- it has openwork finely dissected leaves, its life is short in hot weather, and its delicate aroma of aniseed is easily lost in cooking. Despite this, chervil grows quickly, its leaves are ready for harvest 8 weeks after sowing. It is hardy, so its leaves are used until winter.

Sow it in spring or summer immediately in a permanent place. Thin out plants 15 cm apart and water regularly when the weather is dry. Cut leaves from the outer edge of the plant. At the same time, remove the inflorescences.

Add to soup, egg and fish dishes before serving.

FENNEL

Common fennel is a perennial about 1.5 m tall with pinnately dissected foliage and yellow flowers. Don't confuse it with Florentine fennel, a vegetable grown for its thick stem bases.

Choose a sunny, well-drained planting site. You can sow the seeds in the spring, but it's much easier to buy a potted plant from a garden center. The leaves are harvested in the summer in the same way as dill.

Fennel has a stronger flavor than dill, with which they are interchangeable. Seeds are recommended for use in fatty fish dishes.

CHNITT-ONION

The narrow, mild-tasting onion leaves can be cut from March to October.

Green onions can be grown from seed sown in March, but potted specimens are easier to plant in the spring or fall. Make the distance between the bushes 25 cm and divide them every 3 or 4 years. The ideal situation is moist soil and full sun. Watering is required regularly. Cut the leaves 3 cm above ground level. Try to cut them before the flower buds open.

Much of the value of chives is lost when dried - for winter use, grow indoors in a pot or freeze-dry.

marjoram (origanum)

There are many varieties of marjoram in the genus Origanum, but Origanum vulgare is called oregano. The most common is sweet marjoram, a bushy plant grown as a semi-cold-resistant annual.

Seeds are sown under glass in March and planted in a sunny place at the end of May, leaving 25 cm between plants. Harvest before flowers open. In autumn, the plants are dug up and transferred indoors. Perennial marjoram is much easier to grow in a pot - by planting a container specimen in the spring.

Use to sprinkle over meat or poultry before frying.

MINT

Mint along with parsley are our favorite herbs. Mint will thrive on most garden soil. Keep it under control by growing it in a container, burying plastic sheets into the soil around the plants or by digging and replanting each year.

There are several types of mint - spearmint (spearmint) is the most common, but round mint, which combines an apple flavor with a true mint flavor, is highly recommended for making mint sauce. Plant in autumn with root cuttings 5 ​​cm deep and 25 cm apart.

Sprigs of mint are widely used in cooking.

SAGE

With its grey-green leaves and spike-shaped clusters of blue flowers, this herb is just as useful in a mixed border as it is in an herb garden. One plant should be enough.

Plant seedlings in spring in a sunny, well-drained spot. The leaves are harvested regularly and the plant is lightly pruned in July after flowering. Collect foliage to dry before flowering - sage takes a long time to dry but will keep in a covered container for up to a year.

Sage has a very strong fragrance.

PARSLEY

Curly parsley is the most ornamental, but the plain-leaf varieties have more flavor.

Seeds are sown at 1 cm depth in April for summer and autumn harvest and in August for winter use. Germination may take up to 2 months. Thin out to 25 cm and water in dry weather. Wintering plants in the ground are covered with glass caps to protect plants or insulation. Remove flower stems as soon as they appear. Harvest regularly - dry the twigs by immersing in boiling water for 2 minutes and then placing in a cool oven until dry.

Widely used in cooking.

TARRAGON

Preference should be given to French aromatic tarragon. For the winter, it should be covered with a covering material.

Well-drained soil and a protected site are essential. Plant a potted specimen in March - remove flowering shoots to encourage new leaves to form. Collection from June to October for direct use. Excess can be dried or deep frozen.

Tarragon is used in many classic chicken and fish dishes, for pickles and marinades.

ROSEMARY

This attractive evergreen shrub for herb garden, mixed border or planter needs well-drained soil and a sunny, sheltered spot.

regular collection and spring pruning should form about 60 cm tall. Seeds are sown in May. Winter frosts and icy winds in the spring may kill some of the shoots, but new growth will appear.

Needle leaves and white (or blue) flowers are used. This is a traditional seasoning for lamb, pork and veal - insert sprigs before frying and remove before serving.

THYME

Thyme is a low growing evergreen shrub. Its aromatic leaves can be harvested all year round. Common thyme has the strongest aroma, lemon thyme is less pungent, and cumin thyme has a pine-caraway aroma.

Plant potted seedlings 30 cm apart in a well-drained, sunny spot in spring. Divide every 3 years and repot. Thyme does well in a pot on a windowsill.

This herb is a traditional partner for parsley in poultry stuffing. It is also widely used on its own.

You can add an exquisite taste to any dish with the help of spices. You can buy them at any store, but most often in winter it is difficult to find fresh herbs at a good price. We bring to your attention a list of herbs, the cultivation of which can be carried out in your country house.

Where to place herbs

You can place spicy herbs anywhere, the main thing is to determine the scale of seedlings of vitamins. You can plant them in a mixborder, in the garden or on the windowsill of the house. If you decide to plant spicy herbs, then it is better to make a raised bed for them, dividing the area with bricks or stones into several zones.

It is also important to consider that spicy herbs should be near the house. A small well of spices on the windowsill will provide quick access to herbs regardless of the weather or season, but they need to be provided with artificial light using phytolamps.

List of herbs for summer cottages

Spicy herbs that can be grown in the garden, we present to you in this list.

In ancient times, coriander was used in cooking and medicine. This annual plant, which is part of the umbrella family. Coriander also has another name - Chinese parsley or cilantro.

The stem is erect and reaches up to 70 cm in height. The leaves are broadly lobed, with broad lobes. The flowers are small and arranged in umbrellas at the ends of the peduncles. They bloom in June or July. Ripe umbrellas are cut off, as there are seeds. Umbrellas are dried, threshed and stored in paper bags.

Did you know? IN Ancient Egypt coriander has been used medicinally.

Coriander is native to the eastern Mediterranean. The history of the plant begins in ancient Greece from 1400 BC. Coriander used to be called bed bugs because the fresh leaves smell like bugs.
For the first time this spicy herb was used as a spice by the Romans. Then she became popular in England, and then came to colonized America. Coriander is used with the appearance of the first leaves and added to any salads, soups, main dishes and sauces.

Did you know? In England and Germany, coriander is used in the production of beer, and in France it is added to perfumes.

The dried fruits of coriander are of great value. They should not be eaten green because of the unpleasant smell, but if they are dried, the aroma resembles anise. Dried fruits are used in Borodino bread, sausages, canned fish, sauces and cheeses.

Essential oils are made from coriander seeds, as they contain vitamins C and A, starch, sugar, nitrogenous substances and fatty oils.

Also, because of the beneficial properties, coriander is used in medicine, namely in the preparation of herbal preparations. They improve digestion and are used for ulcers and gastritis. They are also used in other medicines - antiseptic, analgesic and choleretic. Seed decoction and green leaves coriander is used as an expectorant for pneumonia and bronchitis.

Did you know? Coriander was used as an aphrodisiac, and it was part of the love potions.

Another type of spicy herb, which is part of the umbrella family and is used as a seasoning, is called parsley or stone celery. Parsley is very popular in Europe. It blooms in early summer, and begins to bear fruit from late summer to autumn.
This spice belonged to the sacred plants of the Greeks because of the rich content of vitamin C. Parsley overtakes carrots in the presence of beta-carotene, contains provitamin A.

It contains vitamin B, potassium, iron, magnesium, inulin and folic acid.

Did you know? Parsley can be used as a breath freshener.

Thanks to the essential oil, this plant is used for colds. Suitable as a prophylactic. Parsley juice is used for heart diseases. If you are overweight, you should drink an infusion of parsley with a decoction of dandelion leaves and fennel.

Parsley is also used in cosmetology - in whitening masks. The herb helps to get rid of freckles and gives the face a healthy glow. This spicy plant is used in cooking as a main seasoning. Suitable for decorating dishes, and as a flavoring additive.

Important! Parsley has contraindications for pregnant women.

Thyme is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. This shrub grows up to 40 cm in height. Thyme flowering begins in May and ends closer to September.

Thyme contains essential oil, resins, bitterness, mineral salts and flavonoids. It is prescribed as an antipyretic, diuretic and sedative, as it contains ursolic, caffeic, quinic and chlorogenic acids. Thyme is prescribed for neuralgia and neurosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal spasms and atony.

Thyme has a sharp bitter taste and a pleasant strong smell. Thyme leaves are mainly used in cooking. It is good to use them for vegetable dishes and soups from legumes.

Fried fatty meat dishes with the addition of thyme have a piquant taste. In baking, thyme enhances the flavor and aroma of any pies and pies. It is used for smoking fish and meat products and for pickling tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini.

Dill is an annual plant from the Umbelliferae family. Homeland is western and central Asia.

Dill was first mentioned in ancient Egyptian papyri. The plant was used during hiking to improve digestion. In Greece, they were used in nutrition and medicine, and they also wove wreaths from dill.
The Romans made bunches of it that repelled insects. Dill contains vitamins C, B2, A, P, PP, B6, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and potassium. Thanks to such rich chemical composition dill has a high nutritional value.

Used in cooking to give freshness to salads, in the preparation of fish, meat, soup and sauces. Put in jars for preservation, as it has a spicy taste and aroma. Extracts from the seeds and herbs of dill are added to perfumes and other cosmetic products. Creams, colognes and toothpastes are made on the basis of essential oils.

Dill is also actively involved in the creation medical preparations, such as anetine - used for heart disease. The plant improves lactation, vision and diuresis. Dill leaf tincture is used as a diuretic and antispasmodic.

Salvia officinalis is often planted in their mini-garden and used both in medicine and in cooking. The homeland of sage is the Mediterranean.
Dried sage is used in cooking. It is added to soups, rice dishes, salads, fatty meats and minced meats. It improves the taste of boiled fish. Add sage 5-10 minutes before the dish is ready.

Did you know? Hippocrates gave the second name to sage - "sacred grass"

Its roots contain coumarin, and its seeds contain 30% fatty oil. The plant has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, tonic properties. It is also used in the treatment of tonsillitis, neuritis, diabetes, bronchitis, burns, skin diseases, as well as in diseases of the kidneys and liver.

Oregano tops the list of perennial herbs for growing in the garden. The smell of oregano resembles thyme. The plant reaches up to 90 cm in height and has branched roots. The leaves are oblong and the stems are hairy. The flowers are small, collected in inflorescences in the form of a panicle, have a pink-lilac color. Oregano blooms in July-August.

The aerial part of the plant is used in medicine. Stems with inflorescences are collected during flowering and dried.

Did you know? In ancient times, oregano was used against witchcraft and slander, as it was believed that it drives away evil spirits.

Oregano has expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, choleretic, sedative and hemostatic properties.

Composition of oregano: flavonoids, bitterness, phytoncides, essential oils, phenols (Carvacrol and Timol), vitamins C, B1 and B2.

Oregano is used not only in cooking and medicine, but also in cosmetics. They are added to face and body lotions, hair strengthening balms, perfumes. Oregano is put in dishes from fish, meat, soups from legumes. Add it to the sausage. Oregano gives aroma and sharpness to home preservation.

Tarragon looks like wormwood. Homeland - Mongolia. This plant is also called tarragon or dragoon grass. It contains vitamins B1, B2, A, C, magnesium, potassium, carotene, coumarin, ascorbic acid, phosphorus, bitterness and iron.

Tarragon was first used in cooking by the French in the 17th century. Now used as a seasoning in combination with lemon juice, fruits and berries.

The stems are used for marinades and pickles. It is also suitable as a salad dressing. Tarragon is a preservative that preserves the taste and aroma of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms.
Dried leaves are served as a side dish for meat, vegetable, fish and egg dishes, as well as put in soups, broths, sauces.

Soft drinks are made from tarragon and the leaves are added to wines and liquors for richness of taste. Arab doctors believe that this plant freshens breath, eliminates apathy and strengthens the immune system.

Tarragon leaves contain a lot of essential oils that have a calming effect on the human body with headaches, depression, insomnia and beriberi.

Important! Tarragon should not be consumed by pregnant or nursing mothers, as well as by people who suffer from stomach diseases.

There are several types of mint, namely: lemon, apple, green curly and peppermint. Let's talk about pepper.

Mint is native to the Mediterranean. Some grow mint in their garden, and some buy it in pharmacies. It contains a lot of menthol, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese. Peppermint essential oil is used in cosmetology, perfumery and medicine. In cooking, mint is used as a decoration and seasoning.
In medicine, it is used for nausea and to improve digestion. It has soothing and analgesic properties, improves bowel function, and has sedative properties. It is used for spasms of the stomach and intestines.

Did you know? Mint leaves are applied to the temples for headaches.

In cooking, mint is used as an essential oil, and peppermint oil is used in confectionery. Fresh leaves of the plant are added to lamb and poultry dishes.

It is used in the manufacture of jelly, syrups, compotes and fruit drinks.

lemongrass called citronella, lemongrass and lemongrass. It has a citrus aroma with notes of almonds and a taste of lemon peel. The birthplace of lemongrass is Malaysia. Grows up to 1 meter. It contains vitamins A, B, C, nicotinic acid and fatty acid. The plant tops the list useful herbs in the garden.

In cooking, fresh and dried stems of the plant are used in powder form.

Important! The stalk of lemongrass is tough, so it needs to be finely chopped or ground into a paste.

This plant is used in Asian cuisine. It is added to stews, soups, curries, seafood, chicken, beef and pork dishes.
Lemongrass has a tonic and stimulating effect. It has strong bactericidal and antiseptic properties. Lemon grass improves concentration and eliminates overwork and its consequences.

Did you know? Lemongrass is called "voodoo grass" and is planted around the house to get rid of snakes.

Based on lemongrass, they create a refreshing tea drink in Thai cuisine. Citonella is also added to coconut desserts and sweets with the addition of milk and nuts.

Fennel is perennial, which is part of the celery family. The plant grows up to two meters in height. It looks and tastes like dill and anise. Fennel flowers in July or August. Homeland is Southern Europe. In ancient times it was used as a spice and medicine.

Did you know? It used to be believed that fennel increases a person's strength and prolongs his life.

The aroma of fennel is reminiscent of anise liqueur. The fruits of the plant are used to improve the digestive process. Fennel contains the following: quartzetin, camperol glycoside, flavonoids rutin, anethole, vitamin C and B.

Preparations made on the basis of fennel increase the secretory activity of the digestive glands, act as a diuretic and expectorant. Fennel promotes lactation and has antifungal activity.

The leaves of the plant are used in cooking. It is added fresh to meat and fish dishes, as well as to salads. The seeds are added to marinades and soups. And fennel sauce goes well with cold fish.

Melissa

Perennial green melissa has an unusual aroma, and it can be grown in the garden.

Grows up to 80 cm in height. Blooms all summer with white flowers.

Did you know? Melissa means "bee" in Greek.

Melissa has a lemony taste and smell. For medicinal purposes, the aerial part of lemon balm with flowers is used. This plant strengthens and invigorates the body, eliminates bad breath and helps with brain congestion.

Melissa is also used in perfumes and health products. Lemon grass and leaves are used as a spicy seasoning and added to soups, salads, sauces, vegetable side dishes, fish and poultry dishes. Lemon balm, rhubarb and mint are used to make tonic and refreshing drinks.

Rhubarb is a vegetable, but cooked like a fruit. The leaves and root of the plant are considered poisonous and only the stems are eaten. The plant belongs to the buckwheat family. Homeland is considered Central China.

The composition of the stem includes vitamins C, B, PP, carotene, pectin, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Use rhubarb for anemia and tuberculosis, as well as to normalize acidity. The plant has a positive effect on the functioning of the lungs and heart. For medicinal purposes, rhubarb roots and rhizomes are used.
It improves digestive processes, keeps the body in good shape, rejuvenates and prevents rapid aging. Thanks to the sweet and sour taste, salads, sauces, preserves, jams, pies, pies, compotes and jelly are made from rhubarb.

Features of collecting and drying herbs

For drying, the aerial part of the plants is used. They must be collected during full development, that is, in summer, in dry, good weather when there is no dew on the leaves.

Important! Do not water the plants the day before harvest.

The main thing is to carefully collect, then aroma oils will remain in the green spices. Torn or broken leaves lose their flavor. The entire crop must be carefully dried. For this, an attic is suitable. Temperature is approx. 30°C. Large leaves, like those of sage, are laid out on racks in a thin layer.

Dill or tarragon is tied into bundles, wrapped in newspaper and hung up. Anise and coriander are bundled and threshed after drying on a baking sheet.

Drying time for herbs is up to 7 days. It depends on temperature and plants. If the leaves begin to rustle and fall off, and the stems do not bend, then the spices have dried up.