Pepper - uses and properties

By "pepper", I am referring here to the fruit (often considered more like a vegetable) rather than the spice (i.e.: black pepper). Often called bell pepper, sweet pepper or capsicum. Cayenne and jalapeño are hotter versions of the fruit.

Capsicum is rich in vitamin A, C and E (all anti-oxydants), in fact, it contains a lot more vitamin C than citrus fruits. It also has almost the whole range of vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B9)

It also contains potassium, manganese, thiamine, molybdenum, tryptophan, copper, cobalt and zinc.

Paprika is made by grinding the dried fruits of bell peppers or chili peppers. It is also rich in vitamin C.

When heated, peppers tends to lose some of their vitamin C content.

Cherry - uses and properties

I love cherries, don't you?

Food
The bitter, "cherry-red", or tart cherry is considered as THE cherry to use for pie.

Medicinal properties and other uses
The tart type of cherries seems to be the one with the most medicinal value. They are packed with antioxydants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Has been taken for years as a folk remedy in place of aspirin.

The cherry stems are said to have diuretic properties and have been in prescriptions dating back to the middle ages. Cherry bark infusions were used to fight flu and colds, and the juice for aches and arthritis.

Spinach - uses and properties

Who hasn't in their childhood once heard the phrase: "Eat your spinach if you wanna be strong like Popeye".

Food
Spinach is often cooked as a green vegetable, used as a soup or in salads. It tends to retain soil so make sure you wash it thoroughly before use.

Medicinal properties
This leafy vegetable is a valuable source of high grade iron. Beneficial in building up haemoglobin and red blood cells and in prevention and treatment of anaemia.

Is an even greater source of vitamin A, vitamin C (which helps absorb the iron content), thiamin, potassium and folic acid (vitamin B complex).

Makes a good remedy for constipation, acidosis (abnormally high acidity of the blood and other tissues), night blindness (because of the vitamin A content), tooth and gum disorders.

Tips for growing and harvesting spinach
Is an annual crop which matures quickly (4-6 weeks from seed). Thrives best in cooler and moist climate.

Just like with lettuce, you can either harvest the whole plant by cutting it about an inch from the ground (which may promote new growth) or cut a few of the older outer leaves at a time, and the inner leaves will keep on growing for later harvest.

Plant Repository - uses and properties of various plants, herbs, vegetables and fruits.

The Plant Repository is where you will find the different uses and properties of various plants, herbs, vegetables and fruits. I will be updating this post as I add new blog entries.

Disclaimer: This blog was designed to teach (and for the editor to learn) about gardening and about properties and medicinal uses of herbs and plants. This information is for educational use only. It is not meant to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease. Please discuss your health issues as well as herb and supplement use with your doctor.

PLANTS
Aloe Vera

HERBS
Basil
Lemon Balm
Mint
Oregano
Sage
Thyme

VEGETABLES
Lettuce
Spinach

FRUITS
Apple
Blueberries
Cherries
Cranberries
Grapes
Pepper (sweet pepper, bell pepper, jalapeño, chili pepper, etc.)
Tomatoes

Basil - uses and properties

Basil, certainly a favorite in italian cuisine.

Food
Commonly used in tomato sauce, pesto, over sliced tomatoes, in salads. For getting the most favor out of basil, tear the leaves instead of chopping them. Best used raw.

Medicinal properties and other uses
Let a few leaves sit in wine for a few hours and use as a tonic. You could also steep some leaves in water and use as a tea to aid digestion.

Basil is said to deter flies when used on windowsills.

Landscaping
Basil is very fragrant and makes a great addition to your scented garden.

Growing and harvesting basil
Grows well in pots indoors, needs a lot of light. Either use a sunny window (like in the kitchen) or if you don't have direct sunlight, consider using fluorescent lighting. It is also fragile so make sure it is away from extreme temperatures (cold or hot).

Basil seeds germinate in about a week. Depending on the size of your pots, sow 2-5 seeds in each one and once the seedlings have developed 2 pairs of true leaves then you can thin out the weakest seedlings in each pot, leaving only the strongest plants.

Welcome to Indoor Garden Kingdom!

I'd like to welcome you to Indoor Garden Kingdom, my brand new blog. I've been gardening (mostly herbs and house plants) for a few years on and off and I thought it would be a great way to share tips and knowledge as I learn along the way.

I will focus on indoor gardening as I don't have land to grow on but I will sometimes talk about outdoor gardening as well as some can be done on balconies for example. On this blog you will find tips, suggestions, how-tos on gardening as well as properties of different plants, herbs, vegetables, fruits.

I've grown plants from seeds (herbs) and from cuttings given to me (house plants). The best success I've had so far is with Sweet Basil. This year I planted some seeds that I had harvested a few years back, I didn't expect them to do as good as they did. I've grown enough of it so far to use it in recipes a couple of times. I like plants more for their usefulness as food and for their health properties rather than as decoration.

Because of limited natural light where I am currently, I've decided to try growing plants using artificial lighting. As of this post I am using the fluorescent light from an aquarium that was lent to me. I believe it was made for plant growth (albeit for the underwater kind). I plan on testing out CFLs in the future to see if I get similar results. The light is currently on a timer which pretty much follows the natural pattern for times of rise and set of the sun. Until I experiment with fruits, I think this will be optimal since I am more into leaf production at the moment.

Disclaimer: This blog was designed to teach about gardening, herbs, plants and their properties and medicinal uses. This information is for educational use only. It is not meant to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease. Please discuss your health issues as well as herb and supplement use with your doctor.