g rowing h erbs in n orth t exas d efinition of an h erb two distinct meanings of the word...

43
Fam ilies,youth,com m unities and businesses benefitfrom educational program s,activities,and resources provided by Texas A&M AG R ILIFE Extension Service organized underthese program areas: Agriculture and N aturalR esources Fam ily and C onsum erSciences 4-H and Youth D evelopm ent C om m unity Econom ic Developm ent Extension is a cooperative program betw een Federal,State,and C ounty governm ents

Upload: drusilla-fox

Post on 23-Dec-2015

213 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Families, youth, communities and businesses benefit from

educational programs, activities, and resources provided by

Texas A&M AGRILIFE Extension Service organized under these program areas:

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H and Youth DevelopmentCommunity Economic Development

Extension is a cooperative program between Federal, State, and County governments

GROWING HERBS IN NORTH TEXAS

DEFINITION OF AN HERB

Two distinct meanings of the word ‘herb’:

A non-woody plant, from which we get the term ‘herbaceous’.

Any plant that has therapeutic properties.

Although we tend to think of herbs as small,

aromatic plants such as parsley and thyme, they

include a very wide range of plants from annuals,

biennials and herbaceous perennials to trees,

shrubs, climbers and primitive plants such as ferns

and mosses.

Some herbs are not especially aromatic, and

others may even smell unpleasant; for example, a

boxwood hedge after clipping.”

- Deni Bown, Growing Herbs

MOST ASKED QUESTION ABOUT

HERBSHow do you pronounce the word “herb”?

Is the ‘H’ emphasized or not?

The answer is that it depends upon

where you live.

In England, the British emphasize the ‘H’.

In America, the “H” is swallowed. ‘Erb’

is what some say.

WHY GROW YOUR OWN

HERBS?

Easy to Grow

Resilient

Attract Bees and Butterflies

Essential Oils Confuse Pests

WHY GROW YOUR OWN

HERBS? An Herb for Every Situation

Good for your Health

Economical

Reduces your Carbon Footprint

Herbs are Beautiful

USEFUL PARTS

FOLIAGE is the most commonly

used part of an herb.

FLOWERS are used extensively for

the distilling of essential oils, and some

flowers can be added to food.

SEEDS, BERRIES and FRUITS are used in cooking or for making teas.

STEMS are the parts of the plant visible above the ground.

ROOTS, TUBERS AND BULBS refer to the parts below the ground.

PROVEN HORTICULTURAL

PRACTICES

Soil

Preparation

Mulch

Sunlight

Water

Fertilizing

Pruning

Harvesting

THINK ORGANIC

Use Natural Materials

Improve and Maintain Soil Fertility

Encourage Diversity

Select Adapted Plants

You may be eating your herbs!

LOCATION

More Important than Looks

Convenient to Harvest

Adequate Sunlight

SOIL PREPARATION

Raised Beds

Organic Matter

Expanded Shale

MULCH

Controls Weeds

Prevents Erosion

and

Soil Compaction

Conserves Water

Prevents Crusting

of Soil

MULCH

Regulates Soil Temperature

Keeps Plants Cleaner

Adds Nutrients to Soil

Mediterranean Herbs Benefit from

a Mulch of Pea Gravel

LIGHT

At Least Half Day of Sun

Preferably Morning Light with Afternoon Protection

Some Herbs Tolerate Shade

HERBS THATTOLERATE SHADE

Bergamot

Chervil

Chives

Lemon Balm

Lemon Verbena

Mints

Parsley

Pineapple Sage

St. John’s Wort

Tarragon

Violets

WATER

Wet Soil Thoroughly

Allow to Dry Between Watering

Group Plants According to Water Needs

Apply Water at the Root Zone

Rainwater

FERTILIZING

Amended Garden Soil

Provides Nutrients

Encourages Healthy Growth

Avoid High Nitrogen

Slow Release, Organic Heavy Feeders: Basil and Chives

PRUNING

Allow Herbs to Settle In

Selective Pruning

Pinch Pruning

Sharp Tools

Practice Good Hygiene

HARVESTING

At Season End

Specific to the Herb

Early in the Morning

Annual Herbs

Perennial Herbs

ANNUAL HERBS

An annual plant is one whose

complete cycle of development from

germination of the seed through

flowering and death occurs in a

single growing season.

ANNUAL HERBS

Basil

Borage

Calendula

Cilantro

Dill

Fennel

Nigella

Pelargoniums

BIENNIAL HERBS

A biennial plant is one that requires

two seasons to complete its growth

cycle, usually generating vegetative

growth the first year, then flowering,

fruiting and dying in the second.

BIENNIAL HERBS

Caraway

Chervil

Mullein

Parsley

PERENNIAL HERBS

A perennial plant is one that

continues the cycle of new

growth, flowering and fruiting for

at least three years.

TENDER PERENNIAL HERBS

Lemon Verbena

Pineapple Sage

Tarragon

PERENNIAL HERBS

Bay

Bergamot

Catmint

Chives

Echinacea

Fennel

Hyssop

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Mints

Oregano

Rosemary

Roses

Sage

Savory, Winter

St. John’s Wort

Tarragon

Violets

ESSENTIAL CULINARY HERBS

Basil

Bay

Chives

Cilantro

Dill

Fennel

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Lemon Verbena

ESSENTIALCULINARY HERBS

Marjoram

Mints

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Savory, Winter

Thyme

WATER MISERHERBS

Aloe Vera

Artemisia

Lamb’s Ear

Mullein

Oregano

Rosemary

Rue

Sage

Skullcap

Thyme

Gardening with littleor no supplemental water

GREY AND SILVER HERBS

Artemisia

Germander

Lamb’s Ear

Lavender

Mullein

Rue

Sage

Santolina

HERBS FOR CONTAINERS

Containers can be Moved as Needed

Sun/Shade

Protection from Harsh Temperatures

You Control the Environment

Invasive Herbs can be Controlled

Convenient Height for Ease of Maintenance

CONTAINER GARDENING

BASICS Use Commercial Soilless Mixes

Check Daily for Water Needs

Fertilize more Frequently

Group Plants with the Same

Needs Together

Graduate Plants to Larger Containers as they Grow

CONTAINER GARDENING

BASICS Tall, Medium and Cascading

Mix with Annuals and Bulbs

Protect Containers from Temperature Extremes

Mulch

HERBS FOR CONTAINERS

Bay

Lavender

Lemongrass

Lemon Verbena

Pansies

Pelargoniums

Rosemary

Sage

Thyme

Ginger

GROWING HERBS INDOORS

Generally Not Recommended

Sunny Window or Artificial

Light Source

Selective Pruning/Pinching

Water Judiciously

Potential Pest Problems

HERBS TO GROW INDOORS

Basil

Bay

Chives

Dill

Lavender

Lemon Verbena

Oregano

Parsley

Pelargoniums

Rosemary

Sage

Thyme

GROWING HERBS FROM SEED

Basil Borage Caraway Cilantro Dill Fennel Nigella Parsley Poppy

EconomicalGreater Selection

WORKS CITED

Bown, Deni. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1995

Bown, Deni. Growing Herbs. London, Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1995.

Foley, Caroline, Jill Nice and Marcus A. Webb. New Herb Bible. London, Quintet Publishing Limited, 2002

Harding, Jennie. The Herb Bible. New York, Barnes and Noble, 2005.

Hill, Madalene and Gwen Barclay. Southern Herb Growing. Fredericksburg: Shearer Publishing, 1987

WORKS CITED

Kowalchik, Claire and William H. Hylton. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, Rodale Press, 1987

McVickar, Jekka. The Complete Herb Book. London: Kyle Cathie Limited, 1994

Roth, Sally. The Successful Herb Gardener. New York, NY: Hearst Books, 2001.

Schlosser, Katherine K. The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2007

www.aggie.horticulture.tamu.edu

www.garden-herbs.com

www.lsuagcenter.com

The MASTER GARDENERS PROGRAM is avolunteer organization affiliated with

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Master Gardeners:• Receive training and continuing education in horticulture

• Share their expertise through a wide variety of projects

• Promote research-based horticultural practices

For horticulture information and services972-548-4219 972-548-4232

http://ccmgatx.org [email protected]

Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability of national origin.