Starting Herb Garden for health issues.

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I have had pneumonia twice this year which required hospitalization and every year over the past 4 years. I decided I need to begin using natural herbs to help myself stay healthy. I don't have any cutting or seeds to trade presently but would like to SASE for herbs seeds or cutting. I do have recipes to make make vapor rub or cold, pneumonia treatment with herbs and willing to trade. I would like the following herbs seeds or cutting for SASE; Coriander, Lemon Balm, Garlic, thyme, Sage, eucalyptus, Mint, Cinnamon, Juniper Berry, Ginger, Rosalina, horseradish root, Fir, rosemary, Turmeric, Oregano, Lavender, Garlic Chives. I hope someone can help me get started. I want to begin growing herbs now in the fall if possible. I will grow them indoors and ordered some books from the library to get me started. I welcome any suggestions or recommendations.

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

6 years ago

I am assuming from this and your other post that you are somewhat new to gardening :-) Growing herbs is a great way to start!! But not all herbs are easy to grow and growing indoors presents a lot of issues that you will not encounter if the same plants are being grown outdoors - in general, most herbs make very poor houseplants.

And I should also point out that some of the plants you list are either tropical in origin or are actually trees and so will pose additional issues as to the ease of their being grown by you in whatever growing situations you may have at your disposal. As well as how long you may have to allow them to grow before they produce the materials you need to harvest to prepare your remedies. In short, the medicinals like eucalyptus, cinnamon, juniper berries, rosalina and fir will probably be most efficiently obtained from other sources rather than directly from growing the plants themselves. You will want to identify all the plants you wish to grow by their botanical names and then research their individual growing requirements to see which will be the easiest to grow from seeds or starts and which are best to outsource :-))

My final suggestion is to make sure you research the preparation of your remedies very carefully, as with many herbs and medicinals, there can be a very fine line between healing and toxicity.

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Comments (6)

jensyen ( z7 MD )
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Welcome Nailah,

You need to set up your message button on your profile page so people can private message you to exchange mailing addresses, etc.

I think I have just Anise Hyssop, bee balm, garlic chives and lemon balm in my garden that you may be interested in. Also, I will look at my seed inventory for any medicinals and get back to you.

I would look in my grocery stores for bulbs and roots like garlic, ginger, tumeric and horseradish to grow. Quicker and easier than seed in my opinion.

Good Luck, Jen

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Nailah Hardrick thanked jensyen ( z7 MD )
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The scallions from store bought are not suitable for replanting. I have grown scallions and they usually do well if they ae grown from thin starts. I also grow a walking onion with a stronger onion flavor greens. Not sure, but you may have the signs of damping off, which can easily kill plants if they been grown for consumpton as opposed to seed/set planting. Some seeds are treated with Captan which reduces damping off issues, as well as other fungal issues. Not sure what plating zone your in, but if its 7-4 the garlic should be hard neck types. These have that stiff stalk in the middle when you seperate the cloves. Soft neck is suitable only for the zones 7 and above. I havenever had any luck growing soft neck garlic, so I like to grow the hard neck Music type, which has huge cloves and only one layer of them. Garlic needs a fall planting, and doesn't do as well if planted now. The hard neck sends up a stiff stalk (scapes) that should be cut off before it opens. Allowing them to remain will take energy away from the cloves. I pickle the scapes in dill and vinegar. Great in salads.
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Nailah Hardrick
Original Author
6 years ago
Gardengal48, I do appreciate your comments and suggestions. Yes, I am new to herbs growing and did not realize some were trees lol. I wanted to get started this winter and was planning to use a grow light to help the plant to grow and be warm. Presently I have no herbs other than those I purchase from the store in bottles. I am excited about this and hope to have guidance from those who are successful such as yourself. Can you recommend any books that would be helpful for a beginner?
Nailah Hardrick
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you jensyen ( z7 MD ),

I appreciate the welcome. I have gone in and set up my message profile. Thanks for your help.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Sorry, I have no books to suggest :-( But then I grow herbs only for culinary purposes, not for medicinal purposes, so what I grow is a much narrower selection than what you list.

FWIW, somethings are just not worth it from seed. I don't need an entire pack of seeds when just one or two plants will serve the same purpose and for not much more than the same price. And with an ability to harvest almost immediately. Horseradish is a very hardy garden perennial, will last you for years and should not/cannot be grown indoors. Ditto with garlic and all of the trees :-)) And I would never bother with growing ginger (a tropical plant, as is the tumeric) when you can easily buy a chunk of fresh ginger root at any grocery. Same with garlic.

Depending on where you are located, local nurseries or even grocery stores may have starts of common herbs for sale now, often in small 4" pots. Otherwise, you may want to wait until spring. And I would encourage you to investigate planting as much as you can outside, either in the ground or in containers.

And when resorting to already prepared or harvested medicinal plants or herbs, I'd suggest you look for those that are sold in bulk as opposed to jarred or bottled, as they will be much fresher. My local grocery sells a huge range of herbs in bulk including cinnamon bark and juniper berries. Natural or health food stores should have a decent selection of raw ingredients or essential oils as well.
Peggy
6 years ago
Let me know which herbs you still need seeds for. I have some I can send you.

Starting Herb Garden for health issues.

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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