Urban edible garden sollutions 2: HERBS.

Estimates show that as many as 20 million people are engaged in urban agriculture all over the world. Half of Latin American cities, 72% of urban - house holds in Russia and 14 largest cities in China produce 85% of the vegetables/herbs not only from terraces but also on empty sites, unbuilt areas, parks, etc . Sadly in India we depend on the paltry packets we get in the super markets which have been grown on farms that use all kind of pesticides,herbicides,insecticides...chemical fertilizers the question you need to as is do you really want your pizza topped with carbaril or ur pesto made of roger.
Words can't describe the flavors that come only when cooking with fresh cut herbs and how they enhance your culinary adventures.There is a whole lot of herbs on sale at the nursery namely::

1. ROSEMARY
2. THYME
3. OREGANO
4. GALANGAL
5. PARSLEY
6. BASIL
7. CHIVES
8. DIL
9. CITRONELLA
10. SAGE
11. BLACK PEPPER
12. SPEAR MINT
13. MINT

Herbs can be annuals growing only for a season such as basil, dill etc or perennial, those which come back year after year for eg. thyme. Most of them require little care and are nearly pest free. They can be grown in the garden in containers out doors or indoors. They require well draining moderately rich soil, ample air and sunlight, except a few which prefer shade. There is no need to fertilize herbs too often. Too much fertilizers or organic matter can lead the plant to become large and leggy and loose its actual flavour. If herbs are planted for their flavour or for seasoning with their leaves, pick the tender leaves before they bloom for best results.

WHERE TO BEGIN:
1)Do you want herbs mostly for culinary,aroma or medicinal purposes?

2)How much space do you have to plant your herbs?

3)Will you plant them with vegetables or ornamentals? If so, you may want to consider texture, height, color, fragrance, and any other factors that affect the appearance and attractiveness of your garden.

4)Where do you plan or planting your herbs? Is it a sunny or shady place? Note that most herbs need at least six hours of light, and others like shade.

5)Do you plan on growing herbs in containers or in the ground?

As a general rule, the bigger the seed, the deeper you should sow them. Some herbs such as coriander and fennel don’t transplant well so it’s best to sow them directly in your garden.
As far as pests are concerned, there are only a few you need to worry about with most herbs. Be on the lookout for red spider mites and aphids particularly. If you plant mints, check periodically for rust. You can mix a little castor soap with water and use a fine sprayer to wash off your herbs periodically to prevent these common pests

What you need to know is one plant cant feed your family forever( i get clients buying tomatoes ,brinjals who think that that poor little sapling is their life time supply of the vegs) its the experience thats rewarding...
Dont finish the whole plant in 1 meal...i know ur hungry n the herbs taste good but leave some behind for the plants to grow back...
Always wash the herbs thoroughly before cooking them.
and when ever you cook pls feel free to drop in to share your food with the hard working nursery-boy who has worked hard to help you get those tasty little plants.