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.
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.
Agastache has many species that have several things in common, and they are really beautiful, this herb attract hummingbirds, and sphinox moths which are pollinators, they taste real good, and they are a good digestive herb.
Agastache has a personality of perennial herbaceous that grows real well in zones 5 -9. It will grow from 1 to 3 feet tall. Agastache's bloom traits are spikes of real bright flowers in the different shades of orange, pink, and purple and the blooms will show midsummer through late fall.
They are sun-tolerant and they prefer open areas. They will grow nicely at lower mountain elevations. Common species are Sunset hyssop, double bubblegum mint, and Coronado mint Propagation/ Maintenance Most of the agastache's species are easy to grow from seed. The seeds need to be sow in late winter inside a greenhouse, or the seeds need to be direct sow in the garden in late fall for spring emergence. The germination is 40 - 75 percent depending on the species, in two to three weeks. Anastassia grows in clumps and they should be spaced 12 to 15 inches apart. They use low to moderate water for them to grow and produce. Agastache likes full sun and they will grow good in poor soils such as gravel, clay, and sand.
Agastache likes to grow in a community with lavenders, winter savory, and southern wood. When it is time to harvest the agastache, the upper third of the plant, especially when it is flowering , by using a pair of scissors or snips.
Culinary Use The leaves and flowers are the parts of the plants that are used in the culinary use. The leaves and the flowers range from minty root beer and licorice mint to the taste and its smells like bubblegum. The leaves and the flowers are made into cream cheese spreads, herbal honey, or they can be sprinkled into fruit salad and put it over ice cream. The medicinal benefits of the agastaches are they support digestion and also lower fevers. A tea made from these plants can be made into a tea for a sore throat gargle. The parts that you can use are the aerial parts, with flowers or without flowers, either fresh or dried. The home pharmacy uses of the agastache are infusion, syrup, traditional tincture, elixir, honey and bath herb. Edible flowers of this herb are used in many different ways, such as, add the colored flowers to pasta salad or fruit salad for a zippy taste, add to cream cheese spreads or herb butter, or put in a pitcher of lemonade. The flowers can be used for cake decorations.
Turmeric is a tender perennial herbaceous that grows in zones ten to eleven. It grows to twelve to twenty-four inches tall. Turmeric is used for a powerful due that for paper and fabrics, and it can be used medicinal. It is a delicious spice that is often used in curries. Turmeric likes to grow in a prefers a shady, moist habitat., . It is a tropical plant that likes to grow in tropical forests. This herb is propagated by root divisions. I divide a fresh root of turmeric into pieces, and one of the pieces has an eye because this is where to root will sprout. Plant each piece side by side and I will plant the root pieces about two inches. I will need to keep the pot in a warm place and keep the soil evenly moist. Turmeric takes a long time to sprout. The plants needs to be spaced between fifteen to twenty-four inches apart. If I decide to grow turmeric in a container, I have to plant the turmeric in a pot that is fifteen to twenty-four inches in diameter and about eight inches deep. I water the soil to keep it moist, but not real soggy. The soil needs to be rich in organic matter and the soil needs to be sandy. When I am growing turmeric in a container, I will provide a loose potting soil mix. Turmeric is a herb, that does good in a herb that does good in a container. They will also grow good on shady patio or under trees. Turmeric grows real good in food garden, and I raise it indoors also. Turmeric needs to be harvested in midwinter. I will need to be cut back the leaves and unearth the roots, taking all the soil away. I will need to use a needle-nose spade or garden fork to take the roots out. I will harvest what I want and then I will replant the rest. The root will yield a bright yellow-orange dye that is used to tint fabrics and paper. So turmeric is a very good herb to have around because of the great benefits.
Plantain is a herb that has many different benefits in growing it yourself or having it where you can get it when you need it. Plantain has a plant cycle of a perennial and a type of growth which is herbaceous. This herb can grow in the zones 3-9.
Plantain can be found in many different climates and it is always found in disturbed soil. It is not unusually to find plantain growing alongside a mountain hiking trail. You can also find plantain growing intermixed with the grass at a local park or maybe out in your pasture especially if you live out in the country like I do. Plantain has a bloom traits which are tiny white flowers that grace a stalk that will later forms tan seeds. Plantains grows from eight to twenty inches in height.
It is easy to grow plantains from seeds and if you stratify the seeds before you plant them, this will increase your germination rate to about seventy percent. Sprouting takes one to two weeks. You can start indoors in mid-spring and have them ready to transplant out in late spring, or start directly outdoors in early to mid-spring. Because of plantain, growing in clumps they should be spaced twelve inches apart and it should be water moderately. This herb does not require any special soil needs. Plantain has to have full sun and partial shade to grow. When you are harvesting plantain, you will harvest the whole plant and you can do this with a garden fork or a needle-nose spade. Plantain is harvest in spring though fall. The day that your plantain is going to be harvests, the soil needs to be moist, but not soggy. If you only want to use the roots only, then trim off the aerial parts with a pair of snips. Leaves may be handpicked or snipped at any point during the growing season. You can harvest the seeds by waiting into maturity and then rub them from the stalks and husks. The parts that you can use are whole plant, roots, seeds, and leaves. You can used them either fresh or dried. Plantain has many different medicinal benefits and they are skin problem, gastrointestinal conditions, the urinary tract, and children's health. It is also good for stopping minor bleeding and for relieving insect bites and stings. Plantain is good to have with you if you happen to have a problem that require some first aid. If you have a problem all you need to do is to lay a leaf directly over the effected place or skin place and secure it with first-aid tap. The leaf will soothe the irritation and promote healing of the affected tissue.
