6 Easy Herbs Seniors can Grow in the Home garden
Garden herbs are a treasure that benefits us in so many ways, herbs are highly prized for their great aromas and awesome flavors. Garden herbs are loaded with vitamins and their ability to bring healing is amazing, from ancient times or before the invention of modern medicines herbs were grown and used to bring healing to the sick.
These natural healers which are known as nature’s pharmacy have come down to us through the ages and are still as effective being used in modern medicine to promote natural healing. The delightful taste of herbs will also excite your taste buds as they go to work for you flavoring your favorite recipes.
Gardening, however, requires a lot of bending and other physical activities which can be pretty much exhausting especially for seniors, this can be taxing on their bodies. What we will be doing is taking the pain out of gardening by looking at 6 easy herbs that seniors can grow in the home garden.
1. Rosemary
Where to plant rosemary?
Choose a sunny location for your rosemary, a location of this sort will encourage your rosemary to grow healthy.
Rosemary soil requirements
The soil should be a well loamy drain soil, if planting from seeds read the seed package for planting instruction.
Watering rosemary
Wait until the soil is dry before giving your rosemary another drink of water, rosemary don’t like wet feet or soil that’s soggy.
Fertilizing rosemary
If your rosemary appears to be stunted, growing slow or the leaves takes on a pale yellowish color the use of an all-purpose fertilizer applied in the early spring before the new growth emerges will help greatly.
Rosemary garden pest
Common garden pests of rosemary are whiteflies, aphids, and spittlebug, insecticidal soap, or soapy water will bring whiteflies and aphids under control. A strong spray of water will also eliminate aphids along with spittlebugs.
Harvesting rosemary
Rosemary grows actively during the summer and spring months so this is the best time to begin harvesting.
What is rosemary good for?
Rosemary is a good source of Vitamin A, C, B6, iron, calcium, folate, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, and copper. Rosemary encourages hair growth, healthy skin, is a rich source of antioxidants, help to improve memory, improves blood circulation, helps to boost the immune system, improves digestive health, studies have shown that rosemary may help in fighting cancer, may help to reduce high blood pressure, headaches cough, etc…
2. Garlic
Where to plant garlic?
Plant your garlic in an area that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight.
Garlic soil requirements
The soil of garlic should be well-drained soil, allow the soil to dry before giving your garlic another drink of water. Keep the bed weed-free by weeding in between the rows.
Watering garlic
The soil should not be wet or soggy but should be more on the dry side.
Fertilizing garlic
Fertilize your garlic in the spring with a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, fertilizers containing blood meal is a great source.
Garlic garden pest
Garden pests include leaf miners, aphids, wheat curl mites, thrips, snails, and nematodes. Insecticides such as insecticidal soaps and horticultural oil will offer some help. For snails, the use of bait (snail baits) will bring control.
Harvesting garlic
Harvest time for garlic can be carried out in late spring or summer, the signs that garlic is ready to harvest includes green leaves that turn brown with the flower stems if present turning soft.
What is garlic good for?
Garlic is a good source of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, copper, phosphorous, manganese, minerals, and selenium. Garlic will cure infections, purify the blood, lower the risk of heart disease, helps to fight the common cold, improves cholesterol level, promotes healthy skin and hair, etc…
3. Mint
Where to plant mint?
Mint performs best in the full sunlight but can also thrive in partial shade.
Mint soil requirements
A well-drain soil that’s rich in organic matter is perfect, the soil should be moist, not saturated. Mint herb is known to be invasive and will take over your garden bed so be sure to give your mint plant sufficient room to grow without growing into other plant beds.
Watering mint
Watering mint regularly will keep the soil moist encouraging healthy growth.
Fertilizing mint
A 16-16-16, 16-16-8, or a fertilizer that’s rich in organic matter will supply your mint with the needed nutrients.
Mint garden pest
Garden pests of the mint herb are cutworms,Ā flea beetle, aphids, and spider mite. If you are planning on consuming your mint plants avoid using harmful pesticides instead apply a strong spray of water to knock off eliminating insects or the use of organic insecticides will help.
Harvesting mint
Begin harvesting mint in the spring, the leaves can be harvested at any size, younger leaves have more flavors than the older leaves.
What is mint good for?
Mint is a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, magnesium, minerals, folate, beta carotene, and riboflavin. Mint can help to freshen breath, can relieve stomach pain, is known to improve brain function, relieves the cold, cures headaches, promotes healthy skin, settles the upset stomach, treats, asthma, boost the immune system, mint is an anti-inflammatory, may protect against harmful bacteria, etc.
4. Chives
Where to plant chives?
Although chives can grow just about anywhere they prefer the full sunlight.
Chives soil requirements
Chives grow best in soil that’s well-drained and fertile.
Watering chives
The soil should be kept moist by water regularly but don’t over water that can lead to root rot.
Fertilizing chives
Apply 1/4 cup, of 5-10-5 fertilizer during the spring, the fertilizer should be worked in the soil.
Chives garden pest
Thrips love chives and I can see why, in order to bring this garden pest under control the use of an organic insecticide label for their control will help.
Harvesting chives
The leaves of chives can be harvest 3o days after transplanted or 60 days if growing from seeds.
What are chives good for?
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, antioxidants, allicin, calcium, iron, folate, riboflavin, potassium, and iron. Chives improve memory, may help to fight cancer, promotes healthy skin, helps to lower blood pressure, is said to reduce heart attack, stroke, helps with bad cholesterol promotes eye health, improves digestion, improves bone health, detoxifies the body, etc.
5. Basil
Where to plant basil?
Basils grow best in a location that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight.
Basil soil requirements
Basil grows best in soil that’s well-drained and rich in compost.
Watering basil
The soil should be moist, not waterlogged.
Fertilizing basil
And all-purpose balanced fertilizer such asĀ 10-10-10 is ideal for your basil herb.
Basil garden pest
Common pests of basil are aphids, slugs, and Japanese beetles, slugs can be controlled with baits or handpicked, and throwing them into a bucket of soapy water will cause elimination. A strong spray of water or insecticidal soap will eliminate aphids, Japanese beetles can be eliminated by throwing them into a bucket of soapy water.
Harvesting basil
Basils can be harvested 50-60 days after planting, the leaves can be pinch which will promote a fuller plant also the removal of flowers when they appear will encourage the basil to grow fluffy. Allowing the first set of leave to remain will promote new growth.
What is basil good for?
Basils are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and omega fatty acids. Basil helps to fight inflammation, boosts the digestive system, has been known to fight depression, is anti-inflammatory, promotes skin health, helps to relieve upset stomach, basil is an immune booster, helps to fight cancer, protects the liver, basil is a fever reducer, etc…
6. Thyme
Where to plant thyme?
Thyme grows best in the full sunlight.
Thyme soil requirements
Plant thyme in a well-drained soil that has compost
Watering thyme
Most varieties of thyme are drought-tolerant so water thoroughly once the soil becomes dry, wait until soil drys then water again.
Fertilizing thyme
And all-purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10 each spring will keep your thyme in top shape.
Thyme garden pest
Common pests of thyme are aphids and spider mites, insecticidal soap or a strong spray of water will eliminate them.
Harvesting thyme
The best time to harvest time is in the morning after the first dew, harvest thyme before the plant flowers by removing the top 5-6 inches of growth.
What is thyme good for?
Thyme is a good source of Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, folic acid, manganese, iron copper, calcium, and riboflavin. The health benefits of thyme include boosting immunity, can improve moods, can relieve stomach pain, sore throat, help in fighting bacterial infections, promotes heart health, contains antioxidants that will help the body to get rid of free radicals, promotes oral health, promotes healthy skin, etc…
The final word on best garden herbs
These are some of the best herbs which can be grown from your home garden, I believe that investing in a garden of this sort has so many benefits as the rewards are worth your time and efforts. We should all include these herbs in our gardens to promote good health because we can’t put a price tag on healthy living. Investing in our health is so important so let’s do our part by turning our backyard garden into a pharmacy. You will be so happy that you did.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I really like this site! What a clever name, as well. I rarely see anyone take advantage of the Gardening niche, but you executed it quite well. I like the information in the article. I would only offer one small critique: if you could change the sub headings after your numbered lists, I feel it would flow just that much easier. However, I definitely love gardening and the info you gave on your page is very informative.
I am so happy to help, thanks so much for your kind words.
I am captivated by this article for some strange reasons. I have been telling my wife that I am not a garden person and will never be. But seeing these 6 herbs, at least garlic is something I can most closely associate with as something that we use in our kitchen quite often. I am now thinking, what if I can start to learn how to grow them myself, it will sound fun and my wife will like it. And I suppose we can save some cost. But there are still a couple of things here that I don’t quite understand as I’m not great with understanding the watering and fertilizing part. It will take quite some effort for me to learn further. š Hopefully, I don’t need to wait till I am a senior to start. I am bookmarking this page and list this in my to-do list. Thanks!
Hello so glad to help and thanks so much for your kind words. Wishing you all the best of success with your garden
Fabulous site and not just for seniors. I love gardening and am nowhere near my senior years. So informative and the information is shared with passion. I will definitely be following this site and sharing it with gardeners young and old! Plenty of tips and interesting reading throughout. Thank you.
I am so happy to help and thanks a million for your kind words.
Yes I am a senior, trying my hand at gardening. This is valuable information for me because I am always confused as to the conditions that will give me success in my projects. On reading this, i am thinking how nice it would be for me to plant these herbs instead of buying them every week. I use a lot of garlic, thyme and basil. I could even give some to my friends. Thank you for these tips. I will be checking out your site for more information
It is good to have a backyard garden, there are so many benefits. I am glad to help, wishing you the best with your garden project.