It’s not that hard to grow a hundred pounds of potatoes, and once you read the steps, you’ll be surprised just how easy it is.

Growing potatoes in a barrel (or bucket) prevents having to dig them up during harvest (which can damage the delicate potatoes) – instead, all you have to do is tip over the container and voila!

People often look down on potatoes for not being all that healthy, but when you get your hands on some good-quality, organic potatoes, you’ll be surprised by the benefits your body receives. Potatoes are a very good source of vitamin B6, as well as potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorous, niacin, dietary finer and pantothenic acid. They also contain a hefty amount of antioxidants, which protects the body against various forms of disease.

Potatoes have the potential to help lower blood pressure, and because of their vitamin B6 content, help nourish the nervous system and brain, and also help aid in the formation of virtually all the new cells in your body. B6 provides cardiovascular protection, too, and is necessary for the breakdown of glycogen, making it great for anyone involved in exercise of any type.

How to Grow A Hundred Pounds of Potatoes in a Barrel

1. Select a good container

Picking a good container is important for growing a large concentration of potatoes in a small space. Half whiskey barrel planters work really well, but people have also had success with food-grade barrels or commercially available potato planters. Just make sure it is about 2-3 feet tall, and that it has holes in it, or would be okay to cut holes in it. Clean your container really well with a solution of vinegar and water – you don’t want to use bleach, because that could be absorbed by the potato roots.

If your container does not already have holes in it, cut or drill large drainage holes in the bottom and sides of your container. If you want a healthy, and hearty potato harvest, you’ll want these drainage holes. If you’re growing indoors, make sure you have a large enough tray with edges to put underneath your container. This way, water won’t get everywhere.

2. Planting the potatoes – choose variety!

You can find seed potatoes in nurseries, which is probably the best way to buy them (and you will only have to buy them once). This way you can choose from a variety of heritage potatoes, and also grow a variety of different colours.

Sprout your potatoes before planting them. Set them out in an egg carton, with the side that has the most sprouts, facing up. Put them in a cool room with indirect sunlight, and they’ll start to sprout after a couple days. Alternatively, you can place your potatoes in an open brown paper bag – they will sprout this way too!.

Fill in 6 inches of your container with an organic soil-compost mix. Peat moss and soil combined is a really great mix to use. It will keep the soil from becoming too compact, and will allow for optimal moisture storage for the roots. Add your sprouted potatoes (sprouts UP!) on the layer of soil, leaving around 4 inches between each potato sprout. If you’re using whole potatoes, cut into 1-2 inch cubes for planting (of course, cut the potato so that each cube as a sprout). Loosely cover the potatoes with another 6 inches of soil and compost, and water to dampen (but not soak) the potatoes. Always make sure the soil is damp, but never over-watered.

3. Add more soil

Once your potatoes have started growing (about 6-8 inches of foliage), add another layer of soil-compost mix. You want to cover 1/2-3/4 of the visible stems and foliage. Continue repeating this process, allowing new sprouts to grow, covering the sprouts, and watering the soil as the plants grow higher and higher up the barrel.

4. Harvest!

Once the fresh greens on top start to look yellow and dull (around 10 weeks or so), the potatoes are ready to harvest. Inspect the top soil layer by carefully digging down with your hands to ensure your intuition is right! Once potatoes have been confirmed, dump the barrel, or bucket, on a large sheet of plastic, like a tarp. Surprise! Look at all your potatoes!

If your reason for being a houseplant murderer is a busy lifestyle or forgetful nature, grow these 10 Indoor Plants that Don’t Need Water before a month.

Water is life to plants, and they need it regularly. However, certain plants are different. These low water plants need less moisture and can survive for an extended period. Considering the indoor conditions like indirect sunlight and lack of evaporation, they can grow without water for up to 15-30 days.

1. ZZ Plant

This popular houseplant often tops the “most likely to survive” lists, making it a perfect pick for any time of year. What makes the ZZ plant particularly notable is its remarkable ability to thrive in areas with minimal natural light. Also famous for its robust nature, it is a forgiving plant when it comes to watering. Also, too much watering can cause rhizome rot. Water it usually in 20-30 days.

2. Succulents

On a windowsill in a dry room is the ideal location for a succulent collection. They come in a wide array of colors and styles, so you can mix and match to create a unique grouping.

As succulents and cacti are tough desert plants, they do well in dry soil. They’re one of the best indoor plants that need water once a month.

3. Cast Iron Plant

A resilient beauty, with shiny dark green leaves, the Cast Iron Plant is the perfect statement plant for rooms with no natural light. It is a slow grower, can withstand dry spells, and is known to be a virtually everlasting houseplant.

The cast iron plant needs occasional watering as it can survive in dry soil for a long time. For best results, let the growing medium become dry a bit between watering spells. Saturate the plant only when the top layer shows a lack of moisture.

4. Rubber Plant

This fast-growing Ficus elastica loves bright sun and medium to low watering. Watering it once every 15 days is the key to optimum growth. During winters, you can reduce it down to once a month.

Slugs can be one of the most annoying garden pests. If left uncontrolled, they can completely annihilate a healthy garden.

If you notice lots of small holes in the leaves of your plants, you likely have a slug issue. No worries though, you can get rid of them using simple household items, some of which you likely have on hand.

1. Cornmeal

For some reason, slugs aren’t very good at knowing what they can’t eat. They absolutely love cornmeal, but shortly after eating it they die.

You can make a homemade slug trap by placing a couple tablespoons of cornmeal inside a glass jar. In the evening, lay the jar down sideways in a slug infested area and they will be drawn to it.

Come back in the morning and you will find a bunch of dead slugs lying in and around the jar. Keep at it every night until your garden is slug-free.

2. Beer

Beer is another thing that slugs love, but can’t handle.

Dig a hole in your garden bed that is just deep enough to put a disposable plastic cup in. Fill the cup up about ¾ of the way with beer and they’ll jump right in.

When you come back in the morning, remove the dead slugs. Refill your cup with beer whenever it starts getting low and pretty soon they’ll all be gone.

If you have a serious slug infestation, you can make a larger trap as shown in the image above.

3. Coffee & Egg Shells

Instead of throwing your used coffee grounds and egg shells in the compost pile, mix them together to create a powerful slug repellent. Sprinkle this mix around your plants and the slugs won’t go anywhere near them.

The egg shells cut their bellies, and they won’t crawl across them. The smell of the coffee is a natural repellent, and you’ll be able to watch slugs make a U-turn as they get close to it. As an added benefit, both ingredients will decompose and feed the plants they are protecting.

You can also find some great, all-natural, caffeine based slug repellents at your local garden store, but why bother when you get the same effect using something you already have on hand.

Read More: 6 Genius Ways To Use Eggshells In Your Garden

4. Sand

Sprinkling some sand from the playground or beach around your plants creates a barrier the same way the eggshells do. You can get the same effect from any small, sharp fragments of stone.

Sprinkle a generous amount around young plants early in the spring. It will help keep moisture in your soil and slugs away from your plants

5. Ammonia

You can mix up an effective slug-killer/deterrent with a little bit of household ammonia and water.

For this solution, the weaker the better – use no more than 1 part ammonia to 6 parts water- or it will kill the slugs and the plants too.

Spraying ammonia directly on the slugs will make them shrivel up and die, and the smell left behind (even if you can’t smell it) will keep his friends away from that area for quite a while.

6. Trash Bags

Another simple slug trap can be made using a trash bag and water. In the evening, lay the trash bag down in your garden bed and put a few cups of water inside. Attracted to the moisture, the slugs will crawl inside the bag and be waiting for you in the morning.

This method doesn’t kill them, so you’ll have to find something to do with the ones you’ve collected. You and either set them free in another natural habitat or dispose of them however you like.

7. Natural Predators

You can also leave the killing of the slugs to other critters, by importing or attracting their natural predators.

Nematodes, frogs, salamanders, newts, toads and hedgehogs all love to eat slugs. Several types of birds will also eat up your slugs, but might eat your plants as well.

If you have ducks or chickens, they can do some supervised slug control in the evenings, or you can set out seed to attract thrushes, blackbirds or redwings.

8. Copper

If all else has failed, put some copper tubing, flashing or thin gauge copper tape around your plants or the entire garden bed. This is definitely the most expensive of the methods provided, but it never fails.

Slugs will not cross the copper line, because it acts like an electric fence. The copper has a natural reaction to the slime that they are covered in and they get shocked whenever they try to cross.

The only problem with this method is that any slugs inside your garden bed won’t be able to get out.

If you’re applying the copper method, use either a beer or cornmeal trap as well to get rid of all of them.

Growing asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) requires patience but boy, is the payoff worth it. Although it takes up to three years to really get going, this perennial plant will produce a bountiful harvest year after year for up to 30 years. In addition, the plant itself is quite attractive with a long feather-like top that turns a warm golden hue in the fall and makes a powerful statement in your garden.

Native to Western Europe, asparagus does best in areas where the ground freezes in winter or there are dry seasons. In wet and warm areas such as Florida and the Gulf Coast, it is difficult to grow this plant because it is just too moist.

If you live in the USDA planting zones 2-8, you can plant asparagus and expect a generous return for your time and energy.

Growing Asparagus From Seed

If you have acquired seeds or perhaps even harvested some seeds from a previous crop, you can grow new plants. It is best to start seeds inside or in the warmth of a greenhouse in mid-February to May. Seeds require bright light and soil temperatures between 70-85 degrees for germination. I find it works best to soak the seeds for a couple of hours before planting as well.

1. Fill 3.5-inch pots with sterile soil.
2. Place 3 seeds on the surface of the soil in each pot.
3. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of sifted sand.
4. Bottom water all pots by placing in a pan with sides with water.
5. Place on a heated table to be sure that the soil stays warm.
6. Do not let pots dry out.
7. Allow the seedlings to grow for three months before transplanting as long as all risk of frost has passed.
8. Place transplants about 18 inches apart in rows that are 4 inches apart. For thinner spears, place them 8 to 10 inches apart and 4 inches deep. For thicker spears, place them 12-14 inches apart and 6-8 inches deep.
9. Cover the seedlings with a light layer of soil as they grow.
10. Provide one-inch of water each week.
11. Remember, don’t harvest for three years – allow the plant to grow all summer and cut it back to 2 inches in the fall.

Growing Asparagus From Crowns

Just be sure that you choose a reputable supplier and pick a variety best suited for your growing zone. It is important to prepare your bed ahead of time so that you are ready when the crowns arrive. Asparagus likes soil that is pH neutral and somewhat sandy and loose that drains well.

1. Work compost into the soil.
2. Dig two 12-inch deep furrows in the raised bed.
3. Put one cup organic fertilizer in each furrow.
4. Mound up loose dirt into cone-shaped piles about 6 inches tall at the bottom of the furrow. Leave 18 inches between each cone.
5. Put an asparagus crown on top of each dirt pile in the furrow. The roots should hang down over the dirt pile.
6. Cover the crowns with about 1-inch of soil.
7. Keep the soil moist but do not saturate.
8. Keep weeds out of the bed.
9. Add more soil as the asparagus continues to grow.
10. Continue this process until the furrow are filled to ground level with the soil.
11. Do not harvest for two years, let the spears grow to into ferny plants and develop deep roots.

Tricks Tor A Bigger & Better Asparagus Harvest

• Plant asparagus seedlings near tomatoes. Asparagus repels nematodes that attack tomatoes and tomatoes repel asparagus beetles. Companion planting can really aid your growing efforts.
• Harvest new asparagus crops for four weeks in year three and for six to eight weeks in year four and on.
• Asparagus plants are either male or female. There are some varieties such as Jersey Knightand Jersey Giant that produce all male plants so that they are more productive. Choose an all-male variety if you want a bigger yield.
• Apply mulch to suppress weeds.
• Soak crowns in compost tea before planting to give them a burst of energy.
• After harvest, allow plants to grow to replenish nutrients. Wait until the foliage has turned brown or yellow – usually in the fall. Cut down to 2 inches.
• Fertilize established crowns in spring and fall using a rich organic fertilizer/compost containing things like fish, seaweed, kitchen scraps including bread dairy fruits and other vegetables.
• Add rock phosphate to trenches each year before planting new crowns.

Harvesting & Storing Asparagus

When asparagus plants are robust enough for harvesting, cut off new spring shoots when they reach about 8 inches in height. Use a clean and sharp knife to cut just below the soil line. Do not harvest spears once the plant has begun to develop foliage. To keep this from happening, harvest every other day. Plants will produce anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks depending on their maturity and strength. Keep harvesting until the spear diameter measures the size of a pencil.

Cook harvested spears immediately or store in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to a week or more. For long-term storage, blanch spears in boiling water for five minutes, dry and store in freezer bags.

Health Benefits Of Asparagus:

Asparagus is known to be one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables around. It is loaded with folic acid and also offers a good amount of potassium, fiber, thiamin and vitamins A, B6, E, K, and C.

Asparagus can aid in weight loss: Asparagus is low in fat, low in calories and contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. The body digests fiber very slowly and this helps you feel full between meals – making asparagus a great food if you are trying to drop pounds. Try pairing some asparagus with healthy protein such as a hard-boiled egg to boost that full feeling.

Asparagus can help keep your urinary tract healthy: Asparagus contains the amino acid asparagine which is a natural diuretic. When women don’t urinate enough they can develop a urinary tract infection. Eating this healthy green veggie on a regular basis will help prevent urinary tract infections by flushing excess fluid and salt out of the body

Asparagus can strengthen your immune system: Asparagus contains vitamin E which supports a healthy immune system while protecting cells from free radicals.  Because we absorb vitamin E better when it is eaten along with some healthy fat – roasting asparagus in olive oil will boost its effectiveness.

Asparagus is a natural aphrodisiac: If you are looking to rev up your love life, try eating asparagus, a natural aphrodisiac. Vitamins B6 and folate help increase arousal and vitamin E stimulates sex hormones. Planning a dinner for your sweetheart? Don’t forget the asparagus.

Asparagus can improve bone health: Because asparagus is rich in vitamin K it can help your body absorb calcium which is necessary for bone strength.

Asparagus can make you smile:  Not only does asparagus contain folate, a B vitamin that has been linked to reducing irritability but it also contains a great deal of the amino acid called tryptophan that has been shown to have a positive impact on mood.

If you are looking for ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality, you may want to consider investing in one or some of these air-purifying houseplants.

What’s in our air?

• Formaldehyde: carpets, upholstery, glues, paints

• Benzene: plastics, synthetic fabrics, rubber, pesticides, lubricants

• Trichloroethylene: paint removers, rug cleaning solutions, adhesives

• Xylene: printing, rubber, leather and paint industries, vehicle exhausts

• Ammonia: found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts and fertilizers

What are the effects on humans?

All these pollutants contribute to “Unhealthy Air” which cause symptoms ranging from allergies, headaches, dizziness to nervous system disorders, cancer and death.

Below is a list of 12 very common and easy to take care of plants that will clean air naturally, as well as brighten up your living space.

1. ALOE (Aloe Vera)

This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear out formaldehyde and benzene.

2. SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum Comosum)

Easy-to-grow, good for reducing benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene.

3. WEEPING FIG (Ficus Benjamina)

Helps filter out formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.

4. CHINESE EVERGREEN (Aglaonema modestum)

Low maintenance plant, removes a variety of air pollutants.

5. RED-EDGED DRACAENA (Dracaena Marginata)

Shrub, good for reducing xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.

6. HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON (Philodendron Oxycardium)

Great for removing formaldehyde and other toxins. Do not own if you have kids or pets – plant is toxic if eaten!

7. RUBBER PLANT (Ficus Elastica)

A tough plant that can withstand dim light and cool temps, good for removing formaldehyde.

There are many reasons why plants might improve our mood.

We all love the aesthetic of foliage inside our homes, but what if the very plants you loved looking at, improved your health as well?

It is well known that plants have a direct influence on our well-being. After all, they do help convert carbon dioxide into clean oxygen – an incredible feat that is much needed in our heavily polluted, over-populated world.

Not so surprisingly, recent studies have suggested that indoor plants fight sadness and improve our overall well-being. This is good news, considering many of us spend over 80% of our lives indoors (especially those of us that live in colder climates in the winter!).

Why Plants Improve Mood

1. Aesthetically pleasing: house plants add a nice balance of colour to just about any room. The colour green is also very calming and grounding, and is even quite stress-reducing. The natural aesthetic beauty of flowers have a soothing effect on our brain, and at the same time help lower high levels of stress and anxiety.

2. Need to be loved: plants need to be taken care of to grow and thrive, and the simple act of being a caretaker has a positive effect on our psyche. One study found that those who spend extended periods of time in the presence of plants tend to have better relationships with other people and therefore experience increased levels of happiness.

Those who spend more time around plants are more likely to help and care for others, and are more willing to reach out to their fellow humans to form stronger bonds. Caring for a living plant also gives us purpose and is rewarding – especially when you see that living thing bloom and thrive.

3. Filter polluted air: air pollutants put stress on our body and make us feel less than great about ourselves. By helping filter our airborne pollutants, plants improve indoor air quality, which is associated with improvements in physical health.

While any plant will help boost your mood and filter out airborne pollutants, these 5 indoor plants that fight sadness are some of the best.

1. Peace Lily

Peace lilies are beautiful plants that are easy to care for and produce amazing flowers. They’re at the top of NASA’s list of beneficial greens that help detox the air of benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and ammonia. Keep this plant in a room where you spend most of your time – like the bedroom or living room – so you can benefit from its toxin-destroying powers.

Keep this plant well watered and fertilize every 6-8 weeks to encourage flowers to emerge and bloom.

2. Spider Plant

One of the most popular indoor plants, spider plants not only look great, but are especially good at absorbing mould and allergens from the air. They’re also effective at fighting pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. For these reasons, spider plants do well just about anywhere in the house. If you have a particularly high-humidity area in the home, the plant would perform well to reduce mould growth.

Provide spider plants with well-drained soil, and bright, indirect light. Unlike most plants, spider plants prefer to dry out between waterings.

3. Philodendron

This heart-shaped plant is quite popular, given it is easy to care for and can grow decorative vines. These plants are particularly good at absorbing xylene, a chemical commonly used in wall paint and cleaning supplies. They’re also good at absorbing high levels of formaldehyde from the air (similar to peace lilies!).

This plant requires a warm spot with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. Don’t water them too often – you’ll know when to re-water when the top layer of soil starts to dry out.

4. English Ivy

This wandering vine is not only pleasing to the eye, but it is particularly useful in eliminating airborne faecal-matter particles. It is also great for homes who house smokers, as they have the ability to soak up carcinogens from second-hand smoke.

This plant doesn’t require much maintenance, but be sure you keep it away from your cat and dog, as it is poisonous to them!

5. Boston Fern

Like the ivy, boston ferns are particularly great at filtering the air. In fact, they can remove up to 1863 toxins per hour. That’s definitely something that will help give you peace of mind. The cleaner the air is in your home, the more happier you’ll be! Indoor air pollution creates nasty symptoms that none of us have the time or patience to deal with. The better you feel physically, the better you’ll feel mentally.

This plant needs a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. If you live in a particularly dry area, make sure to provide additional humidity for them, especially in the winter.

As you aim to have a more organic diet, it can be difficult to keep your home stocked with essentials. From the rising costs of fresh produce to the short shelf life of fruits and vegetables, it is no surprise that people are turning their backs on the standard supermarket model and opting to use their own gardens instead.

GROWING SUPER FOODS

Whether you currently have a garden at home or have been dreaming about growing plants of your own, now is the time to start planting seeds to grow your own superfoods. While you won’t be able to grow everything in your home garden, there are some great plants you can easily keep at home. Read on for 12 of the easiest plants to bring to your garden.

1. LETTUCE

Lettuce is incredibly simple to grow. Take any leftover lettuce and have the leaves inside a bowl that has a small amount of water at the bottom. Make sure the bowl is in a well-lit area and that the leaves are misted regularly throughout the week. In just three to four days, you; ‘ll see that roots are starting to form. At this point, place your growing head of lettuce in the soil.

2. CELERY

Looking for healthy foods to grow at home? Lettuce is another great option. Cut off the base of the celery, placing it inside a small bowl with a little warm water. The celery will start to sprout if it is ket facing direct sunlight for a week. At this point, you’ll start to see the leaves of the celery thickening. Then, you can plant the celery in the soil.

3. LEMONGRASS

When it comes to healthy foods to grow at home, lemongrass is another winner. Take the root of any leftover lemongrass and place it inside a jar or bowl, making sure to cover it with water. Once left in the sunlight, you’ll start to see new growth in about a week.

4. BEAN SPROUTS

Growing bean sprouts is relatively easy. Get about a tablespoon of the sprouts you hope to grow inside a jar covered with water. Leave the jar overnight and then drain off the water in the morning. Keep the container covered with a towel and then rinse the beans again the next morning. Repeat this process until the sprouts appear and they are your ideal size.

5. AVOCADO

Everyone loves avocados but not everyone loves their prices.

Good thing you can easily grow avocados right out of your home garden. The next time you get your hands on an avocado seed, stick a few toothpicks in it to have it suspended over water inside a jar or bowl. Make sure the water reached the bottom of your seed and keep the jar inside a warm area away from direct sunlight. Add more water as needed.

6. POTATOES

Potatoes can be easily grown from discarded potato peelings. Be sure to use the peelings with eyes on them. Cut each peeling into two-inch pieces. Then, let them try through the night and plant them the next day in the four-inch deep soil. The eyes should be faced up as you plant them. In a few weeks, you’ll start to see the potatoes sprouting.

7. SWEET POTATOES

Sweet potatoes can be grown as simply as regular potatoes. With sweet potatoes, cut one spud in half and leave it suspended with toothpicks above a shallow container of water. In a few days, you’ll see that roots and sprouts start to appear. As the sprouts reach around four inches, you can twist them off and place the sprouts in water. Once the roots inside the container grow to an inch, you can then plant them in the soil.

8. GINGER

Ginger is always a great food to have around. Start growing your own by taking a piece of the root and planting it in the soil. Keep the buds facing up and you’ll soon see new roots and shoots in a week.

9. GARLIC

Garlic is easy enough to keep on hand once you start growing it in your garden. Start growing garlic by pulling off one clove and planting it, keeping the roots down in the soil. Try to keep your garlic in direct sunlight. As the new shoots grow, you’ll want to cut them back so that the plant can grow a bulb. Then, you can just take the bulb and replant it.

10. ONIONS

When growing onions, just take the roots of and cover it lightly with soil in a sunny area. When growing green onions, you’ll want to keep the base inside a container in direct sunlight. Be sure to change the water every so often, as your onions continue to grow.

CULTIVATING A HEALTHY DIET

The great thing about growing your own food is that you are in total control of the whole process. Whatever foods you enjoy eating, being able to grow most of them helps to turn the art of eating into an incredibly rewarding experience.

Use this guide to help kickstart your own garden. You’ll notice that with all of these superfoods readily available, you’ll start eating and feeling healthier.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an amazing spice with a plethora of therapeutic benefits mostly due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger plants can grow up to three feet high and produce 2-5 sections of ginger. One of the oldest medicinal foods, ginger originated in Southeast Asia. It has been part of Chinese and Indian healing practices for a very, very long time.

According to Ayurvedic texts, ginger is the “universal great medicine”. Ancient Chinese medicine makes the claim that ginger “restores devastated yang” and “expels cold”. An Indian proverb notes that “everything good is found in ginger”. Even Modern Western science has confirmed the value of ginger in remedying numerous conditions.

There is no doubt that ginger has great culinary and medicinal value. Here are just a few of the ways that ginger may be a useful tool to keep in your natural healing toolkit:

1. Ginger Can Reduce Muscle Pain & Soreness

If you hit the gym too hard you may want to turn to ginger for relief. Research shows ginger to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. Due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has an immediate and long-lasting impact on muscle pain.

2. Ginger Combats Nausea

Perhaps one of the most common attributes of ginger is its ability to ward off nausea, especially morning sickness. It has a long history of being used as a remedy for sea sickness and has been proven to help tremendously with pregnancy-related nausea.

3. Ginger Can Help With Osteoarthritis

Ginger reduces inflammation that leads to joint pain and stiffness especially with conditions such as osteoarthritis. In one study, people with osteoarthritis of the knee who took ginger extract had reduced pain and required a lower dose of pain medicine.

4. Ginger May Reduce Blood Sugars

Research supports that ginger has powerful anti-diabetic properties. In one study, participants with type 2 diabetes lowered fasting blood sugar by 12% with 2 grams of ginger powder per day.

5. Ginger May Promote Healthy Cholesterol

Elevated levels of bad, or LDL cholesterol are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. In one study, ginger powder reduced cholesterol markers in just 45 days.

6. Ginger Can Fight Infections

Fresh ginger contains gingerol, a bioactive substance that can reduce the risk of infections. Ginger can inhibit the growth of numerous bacteria and is effective against oral bacteria linked to inflammatory gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Growing Fresh Ginger:

I don’t know about you, but fresh ginger is always on my list when I go to the grocery store. This makes the idea of growing it at home all the more attractive. Although ginger comes from tropical regions, you can easily grow it at home under the correct conditions.

If you live in USDA zone 7 or higher you can grow ginger root right in the ground. However, in all but zone 10, the leaves will die off in the winter. If you live in zone 6 or lower, you can plant ginger root in a pot and bring it indoors during the cold season.

Selecting Your Rhizome

There are many reputable places online to get an organic ginger root for growing, however, you can also just get a root from the grocery store. Any rhizome from the grocery store will sprout as it has not been treated with the same anti-sprout chemicals as potatoes. Look for a rhizome that is plump and well hydrated. It if is wrinkled, do not use it. The rhizome should have nodes that will sprout.

Preparing Your Rhizome

Place the root on your kitchen countertop until the “nodes or eyes” start to grow. It generally takes a couple of weeks for this to happen. The rhizome will begin to shrivel – no need to worry, you don’t need to give it water. Once your rhizome is sprouting, cut your root into pieces with an “eye.” This is very much the same way that you get pieces of potato ready to plant – each piece needs to have at least one “eye” that will sprout. Let each piece heal for a few hours before planting.

Planting Outdoors 

Again, if you live in USDA zone 7 plus, you can grow ginger in the ground. Ginger likes full to part shade and very rich and loose soil. Add plenty of compost or aged manure to the garden bed before planting. Plant ginger root in early spring after all chances of frost are passed. Dig a shallow trench and plant ginger pieces no deeper than 1 inch. Plant one piece of ginger per square foot. Water thoroughly and in about two weeks you should see leaves of the plant emerge. After you see the leaves, water deeply but sparingly. Leaves of the ginger plant get tall and can be easily damaged by winds. Fertilize using compost tea or aged manure once a month until your plant is well established.

Harvesting

Ginger plants take ten months to mature. Your ginger will be ready the following spring or you can leave it into the summer for a larger harvest. Gently lift the plant from the soil, break off the foliage and wash the root. You can also take part of the root and replant the rest.

Note: The leaves of the ginger plant are also edible. You can use them as a flavorful garnish like you would chives or onions.

Planting Ginger In Pots

If you live in a cooler climate you will need to grow ginger in pots. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Ginger is a low maintenance herb that is happy indoors as long as it has partial sunlight and enough moisture.

• Choose a root with several eye buds.
• Place the ginger root in a bowl of warm water overnight.
• Fill a wide and shallow pot with loose potting soil.
• Place the ginger root in the soil with the eye pointing up. Cover with 1” of soil and water well.
• Place your pot in a spot where it stays warm and gets partial sunlight.
• Spray the soil to keep it moist.
• Since ginger loves humidity you can create ideal conditions by making a plastic tent to go over the plant until it begins sprouting.
• Be patient – ginger grows slow. After a few weeks, shoots will emerge.
• Remove the tent and water the plant regularly my misting and keep it warm.
• Harvest small pieces of ginger 3-4 months after growth begins. Just move aside some of the soil and find the rhizomes under the surface. Using a clean and sharp knife, cut a piece and replace soil for continued growth.

Ways To Use Ginger & Recipes:

Here are some of my favorite ways to use ginger.

Ginger & Lemon Cold Remedy

If I feel a cold coming on, one of the first things I do is make a cup of this ginger cough and cold remedy. It is soothing and eases a sore throat, stops a cough in its tracks, reduces inflammation and clears sinuses.

Ingredients:

• Filtered water
• ¼ inch piece ginger root, grated
• 2 lemons cleaned and sliced thin
• 1 cup raw honey

How To Make It

1. Add the grated ginger and lemons to a glass jar
2. Boil water and add honey
3. Pour the honey and water mixture over the lemons and ginger
4. Store in the fridge.

Note: Use one teaspoon for children and one tablespoon for adults every 4-6 hours.

Soothing Wind Down Tea

I call this my destress tea because it seems to relax my entire body and bring about a sense of calm and wellbeing.

Ingredients

• ¾ teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
• 1 cup of hot water
• 1 teaspoon of raw honey

How To Make It

• Simmer ginger and water in a closed teapot for five minutes.
• Strain and add honey.

Whether you’d prefer to grow herbs for medicative edges, cooking flavors, or pleasant restful aromas, there’s a straightforward thanks to grow all winter long.

Grow herbs all year with the subsequent technique

Cut the herb stems with a sterile blade. you’ll be able to use alcohol to sterilize your knife or scissors.

Use glass bottles or mason jars as your jar and reservoir. If it’s clear, cowl the outside with paper or paint that the roots don’t seem to be exposed to light-weight and avoid protoctist growth.

Use newer, younger growth regarding vi inches from the highest of every stem you chop. The woodier the herb stem is, the harder it’ll be to root.

Use spring water to supply the plants with alittle quantity of alimental minerals.

Change the water a minimum of once per week.

A free thanks to stimulate the ontogenesis is to position some willow branches in heat water long. Then use them as a motivating endocrine mixture. This works just like victimization ontogenesis endocrine powder or gel.

Here square measure ten herbs you’ll be able to grow in water:

Rosemary – the basis of the semi-woody cuttings of rosemary want longer, however the new shoots within the spring grow quicker. Keep the plant during a sunny spot.

Sage – you must take some sage cuttings within the spring and place them in water. Place the herb on a bright spot during a well-aerated place because it is at risk of mildew.

Peppermint – This herb is high within the volatile substance application that provides a cooling sensation on the skin or tongue and doesn’t modification the temperature. simply place a couple of recent cuttings in water, because it is that the best herbs you’ll be able to grow in water.

Tarragon – you would like some spring cuttings once new growth seems, and place the herb on a heat and bright place. Tarragon are often of varied varieties, and therefore the French one is best for cooking functions whereas the Russian is best to be used for salads.

Basil – This herb is definitely full-grown in water. Place the cuttings in water before they begin flowering and place the instrumentality during a sunny place.

Spearmint –Peppermint may be a natural hybrid of mint and it’s simply full-grown during this method.

Thyme – Take some recently full-grown, inexperienced cuttings, within the mid-spring or early summer before the thyme starts flowering, place them in water, and spray the elements that square measure underneath the water to avoid its drying. As presently because it is full-grown, cut the stems to spice up branching.

Oregano – Place the recent cuttings of oregano in water and pinch the growing tips because the herb grows.

Lemon balm – you must decide many cuttings in spring or fall, and place them in water during a bright spot. once 3-4 weeks, the cuttings can develop roots. modification the water typically, otherwise you will keep the plant out of doors if the weather is heat. you’ll be able to prepare tea from the leaves.

Stevia – you’ll be able to add stevia to some beverages and teas. simply place some stevia cuttings from actively growing branches during a instrumentality jam-packed with water, and keep it during a sunny and heat place.