Abu Dhabi Magazine

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How to Grow Aromatic Plants

Aromatic plants possess odorous volatile substances, which occur as essential oil, green exudate, balsam and oleoresin in one or more parts, namely, root, wood, stem, foliage, flower and fruit. You can put them in your vegetable garden or in the garden. But they are also nice to grow on your balcony or at home.

Which is the most aromatic plant in the garden?

Certain plants have aromatic foliage and in hot sunny conditions they exude fragrant oils. Lavender is one of the most restful and you could plant a lavender hedge using hardy English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ).

What are medicinal and aromatic plants used for?

Medicinal and aromatic plants is a category assigned to plants, which are being traditionally used since ancient times for medicinal usage and are having some sort of aroma mostly a pleasing one, which is utilized in essential oils and toiletries. The nomenclature “Medicinal and aromatic plants” is based on traditional and conventional usage.

When is the best time to plant aromatic plants?

The spring and summer are perfect times to create your own culinary herb garden. Thyme, basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and sage are all great plants to consider. These aromatic plants are easy to grow in pots on your patio as well as in a garden bed.

Why do I grow aromatic plants in my garden?

Most of the time, I grow aromatic plants simply to enjoy their beauty and to be able to smell them when I am passing by. Taking a moment to rub your hands on rosemary and then taking a deep mindful inhalation enhances your olfactory palate and deepens your relationship with the essential oil too!

PERENNIAL AROMATIC PLANTS

To grow aromatic plants? As mentioned before there are two categories. Let’s talk about perennials.

Most aromatic plants are perennial crops. This means that once planted they will stay with us for quite a while.

Sage, thyme and rosemary belong to this category. They do not fear winter and remain evergreen.

ANNUAL AROMATIC PLANTS

Those with an annual cycle instead, as the word says, last a year. We are talking about plants like basil or parsley.

This category is very sensitive to the cold and is not resistant to winter.

So every year they will have to be re-seeded.

Why did I decide to make you notice this difference? Because this way you will be able to understand what is right for you. Where to plant what you want. And if they suddenly die, in some cases it won’t be your fault.

But let’s get to the point. What can you grow in your garden, on the balcony or at home? Let’s see how.

AROMATIC PLANTS IN VEGETABLE GARDEN

In this case you can use more plants. Having much more space than a simple pot. There will be no limitations.

Having aromatic plants in your garden is really important. They have a great ecological function in the environment.

Some aromatic plants in fact keep “bad” insects away. You will therefore avoid using pesticides.

Other plants instead enrich the soil thanks to their properties. In this way you will avoid using fertilizers.

When designing a vegetable garden, be careful. The path on which the flowerbeds face must be quite wide. This is because many herbs tend to spread.

In the borders, place the lowest or creeping herbs.
Use:

While in the central part you can arrange medium growth plants:

The ideal location in the garden is easy to reach. Exposed in full sun and well ventilated.

Instead in the middle shade or in the shadow put:

  • Mint
  • Polygonum bistorta
  • Allium ursinum
  • Pulmonaria officinalis

An important aspect is accessibility. In fact, the plants must be easily accessible. You have wooden boards or stone slabs to pass between the grasses.

AROMATIC PLANTS ON BALCONY

Even those without large spaces can grow these plants on the balcony. Small shrubs or bushes that can also be cultivated in pots.

For the balcony I recommend using annual plants.

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