On General Cultivation of Herbs

Definitions of Herb

1. any non-woody flowering plant, regardless of its flavor, scent or other properties, and thus includes only grass-like plants and forbs.
2. any plants with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume or parts of such a plant as used in cooking.
3. a plant used for adding flavor to food or as a medicine.

These are very general definitions and I will speak briefly, in general sense, on the cultivation and care of general herbs. Some herbs may have special/specific needs, so do study them well if you intend to make them thrive like rabbits on steroid.

Sourcing of herb plants

1. buy from nursery.
2. exchange with/buy from/get free from MG members.
3. buy fresh herb from market/supermarket, strip off the leaves to cook/eat and just stick the stems into soil. Keep in shade and water sparingly (make sure the soil is moist) for 2-3 weeks. Those that survived should have roots and can be transplanted at this stage.
4. snatch from road side, if you are so lucky to find them around unowned.

Encouraging growth

1. Make sure the conditions are right. Factors to consider: light exposure, temperature, air humidity, water requirement, soil requirement, soil space requirement (Big/small pot? Deep/shallow pot?).
2. Fertilisation done at appropriate interval with appropriate amount definitely helps.
3. Snipping off the tip of the plant to encourage branching. Refer to these two links to see how:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151534364834616&set=o.264226477027092&type=1&theaterhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151293017701348&set=a.497514111347.303280.557876347&type=3&permPage=1
4. Propagate more plants to get more harvest.

Propagation method

1. Just stick your cuttings into the soil. Cuttings should be around 2-5 inches. To increase success rate, it is recommended to snip off some leaves to reduce water loss during this period. If you want your plant to grow upright, snip off the older big leaves and keep the tiny tender leaves. If you want your plant to grow into a bush, snip off the young top and leave 2-4 larger leaves. This will force the plant to save up energy for branching.
2. Some herbs will flower & seed, such as Thai basil, Indian basil (tulasi). So, you can just use the seeds to grow more.

Tips on herbs

1. If you intend to keep your herbs, air dry them instead of sun drying. This will help retain fragrance & nutrient better
2. Some herbs grow "old" while others will wither (annuals, biannuals and so on), so you should harvest them and propagate them as needed so that they remain in prime health. One of the most common plant I have problem with is mint. Mints will start to become unhealthy once they reach a certain age/size. But I am not sure if it is my problem of not providing them with enough nutrient or what. So, I make do with harvesting them once they reach prime condition.

I think this is all I can think of for the moment. I hope this simple compilation is useful for everyone. :D Gimme feedback if there is anything I can add. Or if anyone has anything better or useful to put in. Thanks.