If I buy my fresh Herbs at a Supermarket and use them in my cooking I am mostly disappointed with the quality and the result.

The longer it is between picking the herb from the garden and you using it significantly impacts on the flavor.

The herbs I currently use come from a couple of places, on the deck outside the kitchen and also down the steps in an area behind my workshop.

As its winter here in Sydney Australia, the plants are not too crash hot now, but in summer they can be good. I just use normal soil here.

I have had some great crops using the Hydroponics System I installed about 12 months ago. The Lemon Grass comes from a small pot I got as a gift and the basil is just excellent.

Why is he telling us all of this, you are probably asking?

Leaving the cook bench and going outside to pick some of the great fresh herbs I have, is a real nuisance, So, as you can see – a bit of a defect in the old character.

When you are living in the center of an Amazonian jungle, the last thing recommended would be to attempt to do indoor gardening. Why would you think of trying to compete with the beauty of mother nature and come out the loser. If like the majority of the population in the western world, you do not live at the basin of a rain forest, then something worth looking into is indoor gardening. As a substitute for your own personal jungle.

Why should one consider an indoor garden versus an outdoor one? The reasons are fairly simple, you do not need to get all dirty down on your hands and knees in the dirt. You will never have to brave the elements that will do its best to compete with you. It will improve the appearance of your home and make you feel better in turn. Ultimately, in the larger scheme of things it is great for you.

It may be hard to imagine how indoor gardening can be good for you. However, it does not have anything to actually do with the garden, but more with the plants. If you think back to your high school days and pressure from peers, you may remember distantly hearing something in science class about plants and a word called photo-something.

There are many different variations and combinations that you can buy for your indoor garden. There are three important approaches you need to keep in mind when arranging your house plants:

1.) Separate pots that can be set up and moved around when needed.

2.) Tray or box arrangements can house a number of different types of plants that can be grown together.

3.) Terrariums can be smaller or the bottle variety and are easily mobile

For the novice, the easiest way to arrange plants are in separate pots. Each plant can be enjoyed and receive individual attention. The needs of the plant have to be taken into consideration and this increases its growing potential. The possibilities for arranging are endless. There are several different types of plant holders and shelf arrangements in stores, these are designed to assist you in arranging your indoor garden to its fullest potential.

You need to begin your project with a simple plan, go for individual pots instead of trying the more difficult window-box or pan arrangement. The smaller you keep your initial plan, the cheaper and safer it will be, and in the long run will provide you with the most satisfying results.

February in the North is an exceedingly trying month for “the home gardener” The days are growing longer and winter seems to be on the wane, but there is so little that can be done and there is a great desire to be doing something. Some gardeners just cant wait to get started and they do things that should not be done.

For example, there are those who make the mistake of starting flower seeds in the house expecting to get a head start on the coming season. In the North, February is much too soon for this. The germination of the seeds is not the problem; they sprout very readily, but seedling plants do not have good enough growing conditions in the house at this time of year.

When they have grown a few inches tall, they start to lean toward the light and soon grow pale, thin and spindly. What was started with high hopes soon becomes a great disappointment and usually discourages the eager gardener from trying this interesting and profitable adventure when it should be done, under more favorable circumstances and at a time when there is a very good chance for success.

West February

Start Geranium

Start cuttings of geraniums now, so that young, well rooted plants will be available for spring bedding. Cuttings can be rooted in sand, vermiculite, or any other commonly used rooting medium. Transplant the rooted cuttings to pots as soon as young roots are formed. Do not transplant the geranium plants into too rich a soil, or you may have trouble with basal rot.

A small greenhouse is a wonderful asset for growing bedding plants. However, many gardeners get by, by starting their seeds and cuttings in a bright window in the home and later transferring them to an electric cable-heated frame. The use of polyethylene film in place of glass for greenhouses and frames will undoubtedly renew interest among amateurs in growing their own bedding plants.

A greenhouse can be covered with polyethylene at a fraction of the cost of glass. Except for the need of replacing the polyethylene at least every other year, it has a number of advantages over glass. Polyethylene permits the entry of ultra-violet light much better than glass, and thus ensures stronger plant growth. It is apt to stand up better in a hail storm than glass, and is much cheaper to replace. A double thickness of polyethylene inflated is recommended.