A useful article about the features of the care and cultivation of medicinal herbs such as lemon balm, mint, yarrow, oregano and sage in the garden. Despite the fact that lemon balm, yarrow, mint, oregano and sage develop in natural conditions, it is still wiser and better to grow them in your country house or in your garden. There is nothing difficult in this, since the herbs are wild-growing and do not require special care for them. A minimum of effort and the desire to grow medicinal plants in your garden or at home is all that is required of you. Some species can be used as ornamental plants for fresh indoor air.
Growing medicinal herbs:
1. Melissa
A slightly shaded place is suitable for lemon balm, for example, near a wall or a fence. The soil should be fertilized and moist. It is worth remembering that it grows a lot, so it can take up extra territory. In hot weather, you need to monitor watering. The plant can be propagated by seeds or from the root. To speed up the process, you should soak the seeds in warm water before planting or try to germinate them in a container with water.
It should be noted that lemon balm can grow on a windowsill or balcony as a houseplant, giving the room a fresh scent and delighting with a light lemon scent. It's pretty easy to look after her. You will need a well-lit window, ready-made soil mixture and timely watering. It is desirable that several sprouts live in the pot at the same time.
2. Mint
Even a novice gardener can grow mint in the garden. This plant is hardy and grows in a circle. So that it does not grow unnecessarily and does not occupy a large area, you should worry about this prematurely, and also provide for some kind of space limiter for the rhizome. Since peppermint is difficult to grow from seed, it is preferable to purchase ready-made seedlings. Other varieties of mint are grown from seeds for two months.
Video: growing mint and lemon balm on the windowsill
3. Yarrow
In addition to the decorative appeal of leaves with dull flowers, yarrow is distinguished by its useful qualities. If you approach the cultivation of a medicinal herb thoroughly, then you can apply its various types with multi-colored inflorescences. It is a fast growing and unpretentious plant. It feels great in partial shade or in the sun, as well as in any soil. Although it is recommended to select a fertile, drained, well-moisturized and sunny area. Propagation of yarrow with seeds should be in spring and autumn, by seedlings and dividing the bush - in spring, and in summer - by cuttings or self-sowing. In the fall, it is cut off, leaving about 10 cm above the ground. After 4–5 years, the bed is moved to a new site. You need to feed it with mineral fertilizers, carry out normal watering, and in the heat - intensive. You can shape the bushes by pinching. If the color is eliminated in time, the yarrow will bloom several times per season. The plant is harmful to pests.
4. Sage
Sage is grown from seeds, sown at the beginning of spring to a depth of 4 cm, by cuttings and from seedlings. Care consists in loosening crops and removing weeds. In the second year in spring, the stems are cut near the ground, thus increasing the number of leaves and rejuvenating the plant. In the first year, the leaves are harvested in September, and later - during the ripening of the seeds (early July). It is recommended to apply manure and complex mineral fertilizers. It is a warm and light-loving plant. In addition, sage needs a well-drained soil to keep water from stagnating. He also does not tolerate frost, so he needs shelter. Its useful properties are described in the video below:
5. Oregano
Oregano blooms from June to September and bears fruit from August to October. The tops of the plant, which have reached 30 cm in length, are harvested in dry weather without damaging the roots. Oregano is light-loving (a slightly shaded place is also suitable), an unpretentious, drought-resistant and cold-resistant plant. She needs an abundant amount of moisture only when shoots are expected. The area where oregano will grow should be well cleaned of weeds and fertilized with complex minerals or organic matter, excluding manure.
It is possible to grow medicinal herbs from seeds, although it is preferable from parts of the bush in spring and autumn or from seedlings in March. Oregano blooms only in the second year. Grooming includes fertilizing and weeding. Any soil will do. Oregano produces abundant flowering even with minimal maintenance.
The plant is planted in well-moistened soil by seedlings or by dividing the bush into parts with 1-2 sprouts. Systematic watering as it dries will allow new leaves to form quickly, which indicates the rooting of a young bush. The color of oregano is harvested several times over a period, cutting off a flower and a stem about 30 cm long. Watch a video about the beneficial properties of oregano and its use in cooking:
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