If you are on the lookout for a good hobby to start, why not look into gardening? As we all know, life is not meant for work alone.
In fact, as the saying goes, we work to live not live to work. And outside of work and personal responsibilities, we need time for ourselves.
For instance, time for ourselves to relax, breathe and re-energize. This is where a good hobby comes in. Particularly, something enjoyable and is worthwhile to do.
Why gardening?
Gardening, in simple terms, is the practice of growing and tending to your own plants. It can be done outdoors and indoors as well.
In addition, gardening as a hobby can be a rewarding activity. Seeing your plants grow from seeds, seedlings, or just stalks. And then tending to them as they thrive and propagate is a gratifying experience.
What are the benefits
Furthermore, with gardening, you contribute to cleaner air. Albeit in a small way but still, having your own personal air cleaner at home is definitely something.
Then too, gardening as a hobby is good for mental health. It centers your focus on the activity thereby reducing negative thoughts.
Another benefit you can get from gardening is exercise. It may not count as weight training but it helps with body movement. Compared to just being sedentary, all that potting, repotting, shoveling, and watering, etc. certainly count.
What you will develop
Another noteworthy benefit of gardening is the skills and values that we develop in doing the hobby.
My first on the list will be Patience. Notably, with vegetables, as per personal experience, you have to wait, wait and wait some more. I am pretty sure this line will be the same with all other plants.
But it is in the waiting that makes it even more special. Obviously, you cannot rush growing, flowering, and fruition.
The second thing you will develop from gardening is responsibility. Growing plants require you to spend time and attention on them. Each and every day. You will learn that their survival depends on how you treat them.
The third thing you will develop from gardening is planning and organizing. This is by knowing the best time for plants or vegetables to grow. Or where you will plant the seeds to get the full benefit of the sun or shade.
These are just some things you will learn from gardening as a hobby. And with gardening, you can choose from a variety of plants such as vegetables, succulents, flowers, or herbs to grow.
What are herbs
In my case, I often associate herbs with cooking or fancy restaurants. Where herbs are used as a garnish and nothing else. But it seems, there is more to herbs than just flavoring and food decor.
I learned that herbs belong to herbaceous plants, which in botany are characterized by the absence of woody stems.
Herbs have edible roots, seeds, leaves, or flowers that are used to enhance the taste of food. In addition, herbs are also used for their healing properties. And that they are used either fresh or dried.
Herb gardening
With these in mind, it seems we can certainly gain some more value from gardening by planting herbs. By planting herbs in our garden, we will undoubtedly have flavorful dishes and healthy tea within reach.
Gardening terms
As beginners, first, we need to learn the basic terms for herb gardening. We already learned what herbs are and their uses.
Now let us look at the additional basic terms we will encounter as we start with our hobby.
Potting soil
Potting soil or a potting mix is a combination of different ingredients with the intent of keeping the soil loose. Loose soil will allow water and nutrients to flow which in turn optimize root growth.
For herb gardens, it is advisable to use potting soil mix whether you plan to have them indoors or outdoors. The observation is that herbs grow best with the use of potting mix.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers are additive synthetic or organic materials added to the soil for nutrients.
Annual herbs
These are herbs that grow and die within the same season. It means that with these herbs, you will have to plant them again the following year. Examples of annual herbs are:
- Nasturtium
- Pineapple Sage
- Dill
- Basil
- Scented geranium
- Calendula
- Stevia
- Lemongrass
- Borage
- Epazote
- German chamomile
- Curly parsley
- Coriander
Perennial herbs
In contrast to annual herbs, perennial herbs spread and grow for two or more years. Examples of perennial herbs are:
- Creeping Thyme
- Lovage
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Lemon verbena
- Sweet marjoram
- Lemon balm
- Fennel
- Sage
- Mint
- Lavender
- Roman chamomile
Sun and Shade
These terms mean the amount of light needed to get the highest quality of herbs.
Full sun– means sun exposure for six to eight hours.
Partial sun– means sun exposure for about four to six hours.
Partial or full shade– this means sun exposure for less than four hours.
Photoperiod
This herb gardening term is also related to light. Photoperiod is a recurring cycle of light and dark periods of constant length.
Herbs react to the cycle of light and dark periods, it is a sign of season change for the plants.
What this means is that a change in the exposure to the sun may mean the flowering season for a particular herb. And for annual herbs, this will mean that their life cycle will end after they bloom.
Cooking herbs
These are the herbs used mostly for cooking to add flavor and aroma. They are also used for garnish.
Medicinal herbs
These herbs are mainly for their healing properties.
How to start
keep in mind to always start small. This is for us to be able to manage our expectations, time, money, and effort.
Also, we need to define our herb garden. Will it be an indoor or outdoor herb garden? Consider also the space, sunlight exposure, and the soil.
Indoor herb gardening
For soil requirements, we have established that a potting mix would be best for both indoor and outdoor herb gardens.
As for the space requirements, the minimum size of a pot should be 6 inches in diameter. Make sure that the pots have sufficient drainage holes in them. Also, a drip dish or tray underneath the pots to protect your floor or carpet.
The next step is to list down and research the best herbs suited for indoors. It is also best to consider having a mix of culinary and medicinal herbs. One or two for each type of herb is a good start.
Below are some examples of easy-to-grow indoor herbs for you to try.
Easy to grow indoor culinary herbs
Chives- used usually for omelets or soups. They add a crunch texture to the food and are best used fresh. This herb can grow in full sun or partial shade making it a great herb for the indoors.
Parsley- has a light scent and fresh flavor, making it suitable for dishes such as soups, sauces, or vegetables. A tall pot should be used for planting parsley indoors because of its long taproot. The sunlight requirement for parsley should be full sun.
Oregano- can be used for Italian or Greek-inspired menus. Oregano is best grown in full sun so plan to put them in a spot where they can be exposed to sunlight for six to eight hours.
Cilantro- is an herb with a distinct taste that one either loves or hates. Lovers of cilantro describe its taste as citrusy with a strong smell. Those in camp hate, describe it as soapy with a strong odor.
Cilantro is common in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. The sunlight requirement for cilantro can be a full or partial sun.
Thyme- goes well with soups and stews because of its minty and light lemony flavor. It is a staple in herb gardens because it is easy to grow in pots indoors or outdoors. The herb requires full sunlight for the best quality.
Easy to grow indoor medicinal herbs
Lemon balm- this herb helps with sleeping, digestion, and stress relief. It also alleviates pain due to indigestion.
Sage- is commonly used to treat upset stomach, flatulence, diarrhea, and heartburn. It can also be used to reduce excessive perspiration.
Spearmint- contains a high amount of anti-oxidants. It also boasts of healthy compounds that help balance hormones, controls blood sugar, and digestion. It may even help with stress relief and memory enhancement.
Tarragon- used to treat digestive issues, toothache, regulate blood sugar, and insomnia.
Peppermint- often brewed for tea, this herb is used to treat menstrual cramps, nerve and muscle pain, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
The sunlight requirement for the herbs listed above is either full or partial sun.
Water requirements
Water indoor herbs on a regular basis. That is, twice or thrice a week, so as not to over or under water the plants.
The suggested tip is to check the moisture of the soil using your fingers. If you stick your index finger in the soil and it comes out dry, then it needs to water.
Outdoor herb gardening
Outdoor gardening is pretty much the same as indoors except that the herbs will be directly exposed to sunlight. And although there is more space to grow them, it is best to plan where you will place your herbs.
So that the herbs requiring partial sun or shade are in an area where shade is available.
Similar to indoor herb gardening, you will still need to research the herb to plant as a beginner. Again, you can start by planting 2 or 3 of each herb for cooking or a good afternoon tea.
Watering outdoors
Since your herbs are exposed outdoors, you will need to water them more often but not too much. Remember to check moisture using the finger as described in the previous paragraph.
Or by using a good moisture meter.
Gardening tools for beginners
Having mentioned the moisture meter, let’s move on to the tools needed for your herb garden.
Because we are just starting with our herb gardening as a hobby, we should limit our purchase of gardening tools and stick with the basics.
Aside from the herbs and the pots discussed earlier, the following tools are great to have on hand.
Sharp pruning shears
Emphasis on sharpness. You can use kitchen scissors if you already have them, but the thing is they should be sharp. To make sure that you make a clean cut. A jagged cut increases the herb’s susceptibility to disease infection.
Watering can
The best way to water herbs is to direct the water in the soil. Watering the leaves will lead to mildew and disease problems.
So to avoid disease in our herbs, a small watering can help in directing the water to the soil around the herb.
Labels
This is especially important if you are like me who has limited knowledge about herbs. Labels will help you identify which pot is for which herb and ensure proper herb care.
Storage for herbs
Regular pruning and harvesting are needed to keep your herbs growing. Because of this, you need storage for the herbs you harvest from your garden and keep them fresh.
There are fun, innovative storage products you can buy, not to mention other tools that are also useful. But since we are just starting, we can stick with the basic tools first. We can go out and buy them once we’ve decided that herb gardening is a good hobby for us.
Summary
Although the gardening terms, the tools, and the care requirement seem daunting, it is always best to start small.
To summarize, the benefits and development we get from gardening make it a good hobby to get into.
So, what do you think about herb gardening as a hobby? Please share them in the comments below.
Outside link:
herb gardening for beginners
Annual herbs
Perennial herbs
Light requirements for herbs
Indoor herb garden
Indoor medicinal herbs
Best tools for herb gardening