What Is Ginger?

Ginger is a perennial herbaceous. It grows well in zones 9 - 11. Ginger will make a nice houseplant or container herb on a patio in nontropical climates. Now, in a tropical garden, ginger should be planted as an understory plant, because it prefers to have partial to full shade. It prefers to have a rich, loamy and well-worked soil that needs to be kept evenly moist. Ginger will grow from 3 to 4 feet tall.

Ginger is a shade-loving plant, ginger grows in hot, moist, tropical regions.

Spikes are clad in waxy, yellowish, green flowers that has some purple on the tip. Ginger rarely flowers under cultivation.

Ginger are propagate by planting the rhizomes. They grow in 'sections' that can be broken apart easily, at the joints. The eyes which are called buds, look on each section, plant a rhizome with the eyes facing up toward the soil surface. The rhizomes need to be planted 1 to 2 inches below the surface of the soil, about 15 inches apart. Ginger rarely produces seeds, and when the seeds do form they are sterile. Ginger grows mainly in clump and spreads slowly by rhizomes. Ginger requires a great amount of water.

Ginger is a great container herb that grows well indoors in indirect  light. Ginger will also do good on a nicely on a protected shaded patio. It grows real good with nasturtium, turmeric, and gotu kola in a shady container garden.

Harvesting times will depend on how the ginger will be used. If the ginger is going to be used fresh, the ginger rhizomes will be harvest between 4 to 7 months of age. The older ones 7 to 9 months  which are more pungent, and less fleshy rhizomes are harvested for dried preparations.

If the fresh ginger is finely grated over rice and steamed vegetables, the food will be tasty. The dried ginger can be finely or coarsely ground in a spice grinder and then used in cookie recipes, such as gingersnaps, and oatmeal cookies.

What Is Echinacea?

Echinacea is a perennial herbaceous and it grows good in zones 3 to 9, but this depends on which species that you are working with such as, E. Angustifolia, E. pollida, and E. purpurea.

Echinacea angustifolia grows to a height of two feet tall.. E. palidia grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet tall. E. purpurea grows to  the height of 3 to 4 feet.

Echinacea has pinkish purple flowers that blooms from mid to late summer.

Echinacea is a prairie wildflowers. It likes to grow in the wide open grassy areas.

All of the echinacea species will do better from the seeds that are artificially stratified for at least three months. Or the seeds can be stratified naturally, by sowing seeds directly in the garden in the late fall or early spring, this method is reliable only in areas that have consistently cold winters.If the seeds are sown indoors, then the plants are transplanted outside in late spring. The seeds take from 2 to 6 weeks to sprout. Echinacea grows in clumps, the plants needs to be spaced 12 inches apart. The E.purpurea species has to have moderate water, where as the other two species needs light water.
All species of the echinacea requires full sun. E> angustifolia and E. pullida require poorer soil that is not overly moist. E> purpurea needs richer soil and regular watering.

The roots are harvested in the fall or spring after they reach two and one half to three years old. E. purpurea  has a tricky -to - harvest taproot. E. angustfolia and E. pallida have fibrous roots that are easier to harvest. The aerial parts, flowers, and seeds can be harvest with snips after the second growing season on. The whole plants are harvested when it is in peak flower. This can be done by using a garden fork or a needle- nose spade to dig the roots and the whole plant in.  The whole plant can be used either fresh or dried.
The medicinal benefits of the echinaces are great for colds and flu, immune system support, and respiratory and skin conditions.

There are several different home pharmacy uses, which are, infusion, traditional tincture, bath herb, syrup, lozenge, elixir, butter, foot soak, ointment, salve,, infused oil.

What Is Eucalyptus?

What Is Fennel?

Fennel is a perennial herbaceous and it grows well in zones 6 - 9> It grows 4 to 5 feet tall.

Fennel has yellow umbels that blooms from late July until frost.

Fennel is native to the Mediterranean area, and it prefers disturbed soil.

Fennel is easy grown from seed that has been stratified for at least two weeks, up to several months. Fennel can be sow directly into the garden anytime during the growing season. It will sprout when the weather stays warm constantly. Fennel can be planted indoors from transplanting outside in late spring. Fennel seeds sprout in two weeks, and have a 70 percent germination rate. The herb grows in clumps. The plants needs to be space 12 to 15 inches apart. Fennel needs low to moderate amounts of water.

Fennel likes to have full sun. It prefers well worked and drained soil with 4 to 5 percent organic matter, but it will grow in nearly all types of soil.

Fennel attracts butterflies, and hummingbirds. It likes to be planted with nasturtiums, sunflowers, and calendules.

Fennel large, deep roots are harvest in spring or fall using needle -nose spade or garden fork. The leaves can be handpick anytime during the growing season. The seeds can be harvest with snips or scissors either in the green umbel stage or when they are fully  ripened, depended on the medicinal recommendations. The green umbels may be prepared whole. The ripened seeds and rub off of the umbel stems.

If fennel are used in dishes, it will give a licorice like flavor to any dish that it is added to. The leaves are great in pasta salads. Fennel seed is a common ingredients in Italian sausage. Both leaves and seeds are delicious in home-baked breads. The bulb fennel  is used in soups and pasta dishes.

The medicinal benefits of fennel are it promotes milk production in nursing mothers. It also supports digestion, respiratory tracts, and throat health. It is very good for children.

The parts of the fennel that are used are the seeds, leaves, and roots. All of the different parts can be used fresh or dried.

What Is Feverfew?

Feverfew is a perennial herbaceous to semi-woody. It grows real good in zones 4 -9. Feverfew grows to the height of 24 inches.

Feverfew has small, white, daisy like flowers that will begin to bloom in the middle of the summer and it usually will continue to bloom through the end of the season.



It is native to the southeastern part of Europe, but it has become naturalized in many parts of the world. Feverfew is now considered only a garden plant, growing in most temperate climates.

For the best results of propagation of the feverfew, the seeds need to be stratify for at least one week before they are sow. The seeds can be sown indoors and then be transplanted in late spring, or the seeds can be sown directly outdoors in the middle of spring. Feverfew takes two weeks to sprout. It is a vigorous, self-sowing herb, so the plants need to be space 12 inches apart. It needs to be water moderately.

Feverfew likes to have full sun and partial shade. It prefers a richer loamy soil, but is tolerant of most soils.

Feverfew likes to be planted with other plants, such as, licorice, anise hyssop, and monarda. It also seems to deter incests from the garden.

Feverfew's leaves and flowering aerial parts are the parts that are harvested depending on each person preference. Snips or scissors works real good to help in the harvesting process.

Feverfew is used mainly to treat headaches, especially migraines.

The parts of the feverfew that are used are the leaves and flowering aerial parts. The leaves and the flowering aerial parts.of the feverfew are used either fresh or dried.

What Is Cilantro, Coriander?

Cilantro and coriander is an annual herbaceous. The leafy part of this herb is called cilantro and the seeds are called coriander. Both of these are known in the cooking circles, but a few people think of this herb as medicinal. There are several different places that you can get fresh cilantro, which are, farmer markets, grocery stores, and restaurants and coriander is sold as a spice. This herb grows up to the height of ten to twelve inches tall.

The bloom traits of this herb is small, delicate, white flowers that appears as the temperature warms up and the plants bolts to seed.

The seeds can be sowed untreated outdoors in early to mid-spring or they can be transplanted outdoors to mid-to-late spring. They can also be sow in late summer or very early fall for a new fresh supply of this herb, before it frosts. The plants need to be space 8 to 10 plants apart, and it has to have moderate to high amounts of water. This herb grows in clumps.

Cilantro needs full sun, particle shade and shade. They do not need any special soil needs. Growing cilantro in more shade will helps to slow the inevitable bolting that is triggered by intense full sun and very hot temperatures.

Cilantro likes to be planted with salad bur net and garlic chives. It also likes to be planted in a shady part of a food garden.

To harvest cilantro, by using snips or scissors to cut aerial parts of the plant before the plants goes to flowers. The seeds clusters need to be handpick and gently rub the golden brown seeds from the stems.

Coriander seed is good to put in home baked bread. Cilantro can be put in many different dishes, such as,, salads, Mexican dishes, sandwiches and so many more.

The medicinal benefit is good for digestive health.

The parts used are the fresh aerial parts and dried seeds.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry is a perennial woods and it grows real well in zones 6-9 . It grows to the height of 2 to 10 feet tall.

Chasteberry bloom traits are lavender- colored spikes of flowers that bloom in mid to late summer beginning in the second year. In the colder parts of its range, chasteberry may not flower or form fruit.

Chasteberry is from the Mediterrean region. Chasteberry likes hot temperatures and appreciates some humidity. If the chasteberry is planted in cooler climate it will die back in the winter and it will be quite late coming up again in the spring, but just be patient it will be worth the way.

The seeds need to be stratify for three to four weeks and then the seeds need to be scarify and soak them in warm water for 30 minutes before sowing immediately indoors. These seeds may take up to four weeks to germinate. Most of the time, germination rate is 50 to 60 percent. In late spring, transplant the chasteberry outdoors 12 to 24 inches apart. This herb grows in clumps and it requires moderate watering.

Chasteberry likes fullsun and partial shade. It likes to grow in well-drained soil.

The leaves and tender stem growth of the upper four inches along with the flowers and ripening seeds, may be harvested for medicinal purpose. Most buyers prefer only the ripened berries, without the leafy and flowering portions. Snips are used to harvest the leafy parts, that is if the berries are to be harvested, if the berries are wanted, then you will need to rub them loose from the stems, then screen them out of the leafy and flowering parts. All the parts used of the chasteberry is the leaves, flowers, and berries, either fresh or dried.