Herbs – Alaska Master Gardener Blog
Photograph Courtesy of Brian Pettinger Rhodiola Rosea in Alaska Rhodiola rosea L.is currently being explored as a commercial crop in Alaska. Several news agencies have given exposure to this emerging crop in Alaska. Some research suggests that our climate, like its native Siberia, produces more potent compounds to be used as a supplement. This plant should also be of interest to the home gardener as a landscaping plant, or part of a medicinal herb garden. R. rosea L. has constituents that have been reported as adaptogens, Read More …
Herbsmedicinal, Medicinal Plant, Rhodiola, Rhodiola rosea1 Comment	
Growing an Indoor Edible Garden
November 29, 2017 Sarah Richards	
When we moved into our house in October, I started itching to grow something. This is the first time I’ve owned my own little part of the earth, and that is about as tangible as life gets for a gardener. The weather was turning colder, and everyone around us was settling in for winter. Cutting wood is a more appropriate fall time activity in Alaska, or so my husband tells me, but I decided I was going to grow food in our tiny cabin. So, I did what I do Read More …
Container Gardening, Gardening with Kids, Herbs, Hints for Alaska Gardeners, Houseplants, Indoor Gardening, Starting Seeds1 Comment	
October 24, 2017 October 25, 2017 jjariail	
When I worked in garden centers down South there was one particular herb that was always in demand: lemongrass. I turned away customers on a regular basis because my vendors couldn’t grow enough to meet the demand. It’s such an easy, versatile plant that has many uses: culinary, medicinal and aesthetic. Then I moved to Juneau. I was perusing my weekly availability sheet and was thrilled to find the elusive lemongrass! I ordered 2 flats of it. And it sat in the greenhouse all season. I couldn’t understand why they Read More …
Herbs, Southeast Alaskahealth remedies, herbs, lemon grassLeave a comment	
Yarrow, more than your common weed!
June 29, 2016 August 7, 2016 kaschot	
Stop and enjoy the roadside weeds! Not only did we name our daughter after this elegant wildflower but have learned that it is quite the miracle worker when used as a healing herb. It’s Latin name is achillea millefollium. Myth has it that Achillea carried this plant with him into battle as a wound healing agent. Yarrow can stop bleeding, relieve pain and act as a anti-microbial which makes it a must for your medicine cabinet. Yarrow can also be used as an effective insect repellent when rubbed on the Read More …
Flowers, Herbs, Southeast Alaskaherb, medicinal plants, weed, wildflowerLeave a comment	
Mosquito Repellent Plants: Help or Hype?
June 25, 2016 July 5, 2016 dgleaso4	
Pest Control from a Different Angle
Herbs, Hints for Alaska Gardeners, Pests4 Comments	
Learning to Love Chickweed
August 3, 2015 August 7, 2015 cmichetti	
Like many Alaskans I have spent countless summers struggling with chickweed in my garden and lawn. I painstakingly remove plant after plant until I am feeling smug about myself. Then I see “just one more plant’ and I delve back in again. It’s almost to the point of needing a support group. This year I decided to try a little reverse psychology on myself and research my nemesis — know thy enemy so to speak — just to see if we could all get along. Common Chickweed ‘s Latin name Read More …
Herbs, Hints for Alaska Gardeners, Weedschickweed, chickweed as food, chickweed as medicine, chickweed problems, controlling chickweed, weeds as food, weeds as medicine, what does chickweed taste likeLeave a comment	
In Honor of Herbs
July 29, 2015 July 31, 2015 amlilley	
I love growing herbs. They have so many great qualities to recommend them. They can be grown anywhere, even in a small space, such as a kitchen window. For the most part, they aren’t fussy, are easy to process and store, and only a few plants can supply you with wonderful flavor from your garden year round. I like to plant them in pots on the porch. They are usually the very first harvest, as leaves can be used as soon as there are enough to spare. I pinch a Read More …
HerbsGardening in Containers, Gardening in Interior Alaska, Herbs in Alaska, Preserving the Harvest4 Comments	