Herb and Spice Growers Key Terms

Freshen up your vocabulary with common herb and spice terms

If you plan to operate a business that features herbs and spices, then you should be familiar with some common terms and key words. This can help you provide the best goods to your customers and can allow you to effectively communicate with your vendors. Being knowledgeable with typical terms for herbs and spices can also increase your productivity, as you would know what equipment you would need to purchase. Take time to learn these key words, and watch your profits grow.

 

Herbs

Herbs are formed from the green, leafy parts of plants and can be used in a dry or fresh form. They are added to food to enhance its flavor.
Try: Learn what herbs are best used for at Herbsncures.

Spices

Spices are strongly-flavored dried components of fruits, roots, bark or seeds that are used for enhancing the flavor of food. Unlike herbs, they do not contain any green or leafy parts of the plant, and they are almost always used in a dry state.
Try: Learn more about spices at Spices and Medicinal Herbs.

Greenhouses

Greenhouses are framed structures made out of acrylic or glass that allow you to grow herbs and plants even when the weather does not cooperate. These buildings allow sunlight to enter while maintaining a warm temperature, so plants do not become damaged due to frost or inclement weather.
Try: Look to The Greenhouse Catalog to learn tips on how to purchase the best greenhouses.

Pinching back

Like flowers, herbs require you to pinch back parts of the plant to keep seeds from forming, which can affect the taste and flavor. Unlike deadheading, which is done after flowering, pinching back is done before the plant flowers. Pinching back herbs keeps the herb oils in the leaves.
Try: Learn more about pinching back herbs at Lowe's.

Dehydrators

Dehydrators can be an effective way to dry herbs. They work by setting the temperature and circulation levels at moderately high amounts, all while maintaining a controlled environment. This allows the herbs to dry quickly without ruining them.
Try: Learn more about dehydrators at the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Hot frames

Hot frames, also called hot beds, are similar to greenhouses, except that hot frames contain an extra heat source to keep young plants warm. These are ideal starting points when seedlings are too little to plant in the ground due to potential frost.
Try: Check out DIY Network from Scripps Networks to learn how to construct hot frames.

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