Herbs are some of the easiest, most grateful plants to grow and some even pack an extra punch; they offer special medicinal and health benefits. So, why not start your own medicinal herb garden?

Medicinal herbs

Medicinal herbs are plants that have certain extracts in their leaves, stems, flowers and/or fruit that can be used in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, insecticide and other chemical industries. Herbs flavour our food, help cure some of our more common health complaints and can also be used for a myriad of other purposes in and around the home. Why not start your own medicinal herb garden today?

To succeed, correct prior preparation for your herb garden is important:

Find the right location

Most herbs, with a few exceptions, prefer a sunny (four to seven hours of direct sun per day) spot, sheltered from the wind. Plant your herbs as far away as possible from possible contamination by pets, roadside pollution and agricultural sprays.

Find a pleasing design
From time immemorial herb gardens have been planted in a formal design based on geometric patterns and framed by low hedges and paved paths. Today, the formal herb garden is still popular but the sky is the limit as far as design options are concerned. One of the latest trends is to plant herbs as a vertical garden against a wall. Herbs can also be planted as borders or groundcovers among existing vegetables, shrubs and flowers or in pots.

Prepare the ground well

Preparing the ground entails removing weeds, adding organic matter such as compost and then raking the soil to make sure the bed is level. Most herbs don’t need large amounts of manure or fertiliser and survive even in poor sandy soil. You may, however, fertilise sparingly (half the dosage given) with an organic fertiliser during the growing season (August to April in southern Africa). Herbs detest “wet feet” though, so don’t over water and make sure the soil drains well.

Planting tips

If you are using a set design and planting plan, first put the herbs (still in their pots) in their positions before planting so that you can move them around until satisfied with the design. Space them according to how big and wide they will grow. Before planting, water herbs well, inspect their root balls and gently loosen where necessary. After planting, firm the soil around each plant gently and water gently but thoroughly.

What to grow

The top five southern African medicinal plants or herbs are:

    1. Buchu (Agathosma betulina) which is commercially cultivated in the Western Cape and is a world renowned natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic used to treat high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, arthritis, gout and other ailments
    1. Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum), a prostrate, mat-forming perennial herb endemic to the dry areas of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It is commonly used to treat pain, enhance mobility and provide relief from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes, neuralgia, headaches and menstrual problems
    1. African potato (Hypoxis), a perennial, geophytic herb indigenous to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo. It is renowned for its immune boosting properties and is believed to be effective in the battle against cancer, TB, asthma, HIV/Aids and other chronic conditions
    1. South African geranium or umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides), a small, perennial herb which is renowned for its potent antibacterial and antiviral properties. It is used to treat chronic respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, sore throat, sinusitis, colds and flu
    1. African ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) which is confined to Mpumalanga and the Northern Province of South Africa. It is used to treat health issues ranging from coughs, colds, asthma and flu to candida and menstrual cramps.

Some of these plants have been commercialised and may therefore be difficult (but not impossible) to obtain for private use.

There are, however, many other more common and easily obtained herbs with health benefits to choose from. Try basil, chamomile, cayenne, comfrey, dandelion, evening primrose, feverfew, garlic, lavender, lemon balm, marigold, marjoram, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage (salvia), St. John’s wort, spearmint and thyme, to name a few.

 

Sources

 

Five top performing African medicinal herbs. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.arabella.co.za/2013/08/27/5-top-performing-african-medicinal-herbs/
How to start a medicinal herb garden. 2012. Retrieved from: http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/04/how-to-start-a-medicinal-herb-garden/
How to start your own herb garden. Retrieved from: http://herb.co.za/start-your-own-herb-garden/
Medicinal plants of South Africa. 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Brochures/Medicin.pdf