The rosemary herb has gotten a bad rap as a plant that is difficult to grow, but this is simply not the case. This herb can actually handle a lack of attention and care quite swimmingly if it is given the best start in life. The key to successfully growing the rosemary herb lies in its humble beginnings; if you get that part right, the rest of the growing season and a bountiful harvest are sure to follow.

The Attraction of Rosemary

The rosemary herb is known as a triple threat for gardeners, because it is ornamental, fragrant and full of delightful flavor. In warmer climates, rosemary can be grown year round, but in colder areas, this herb needs to be brought indoors during the frosty months of winter or grown as an annual. It is much more challenging to keep the rosemary herb happy indoors during the winter months than it is outdoors during the summer, which is why many gardeners will choose to grow it as an annual.

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Most experts agree that organic herb gardening, with natural fertilizers, natural weed removal methods, and organic herb seeds, is preferable to non-organic gardening. Genetically modified seeds are the opposite of organic herb seeds. When something has been genetically modified, the very nature of its being has been altered.

Some seed modifications seem to make sense, like making a plant less susceptible to disease or infestation. However, long-term effects of these genetically modified seeds are unknown, while organic herb seeds are known to be healthy. Furthermore, using genetically modified seeds reduces the variety of foods available as we lose the old heirloom seed varieties of yesteryear.

Corporations have been very successful in securing legislation that exempts genetically modified seeds from certain healthy food regulations. Without regulation, how can we trust the food producers to harvest, ship, and sell their foods with proper labels so consumers can choose healthy, organic product. Fortunately, several organic herb seed sellers offer their products over the Internet, making it easy to purchase organic herb seeds online.

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There's a feeling of loss that comes with the beginning of fall and the end of the summer vegetable and herb growing season. The sun sets early, and nights grow cooler. As leaves begin to change color, every gardener knows it's time to put their crops to bed. Green tomatoes get picked and pickled; beans get harvested, corn is picked, and cornstalks are pulled up and set aside until Halloween, when they will be arranged on the front porch with pumpkins and other decorations.

Microwave Herb Drying

Late summer and early fall is the perfect time to preserve summer herbs, dried in your microwave oven. When herbs dry in a microwave, the essential oils of the herbs are absorbed and stored in the leaves that result from the drying process.

Just as dried tomatoes, dried grapes (raisins) and dried plums (prunes) have a more concentrated flavor than the fresh fruits, dried herbs are many times more potent than fresh herbs. If you harvest fresh herbs from your garden at the end of the summer growing season and use microwave herb drying to preserve them, you can preserve enough concentrated herbs to meet your cooking needs for the entire winter. 

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