Late winter. Up north, the ground still seems deeply still. The snow keeps falling, but the days are markedly longer and longer.
The garden getting buried by snow last week
During this time of year, the promise of spring starts to peek through warm cups of tea and lingering afternoon sunshine. It’s the perfect time to plan a garden.
Not only is playing in the dirt great for mental health, but home gardening can give you access to many supportive plants: for food, herbs, supporting native pollinators, and aesthetics.
Some of my personal favorites are the plants I’ve been able to dry and drink as cycle-supporting tea all through the winter, and many of them are great in small containers- perfect for a window box or patio garden!
These are some easy-to-grow (potentially aggressive*) plants to pop in some pots this spring that you can harvest and enjoy fresh, or dry and store to enjoy nourishing teas or tinctures** all year long:
- Black Currant
- Chamomile
- Yarrow
- Borage
- Lemon Balm
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*Some plants are often not recommended to plant directly into the ground. Plants who easily self-seed or spread through their root systems may be considered “invasive” or “aggressive” in lawn and garden settings, which makes them optimal for container gardening. Please check your local regulations before planting!!
**Of course, this blog is not intended to prevent or treat any medical issue. Please consult your doctor for all medical advice and before consuming any herb that may interfere with medication. 🙂
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About the plants
Black Currant
This beautiful berry has been shown to fight inflammation, improve the blood lipids and oxidation in menopausal folks, AND contains phytoestrogens, which research suggests prevents breast and endometrial cancers. It’s slightly bitter, which makes it an acquired taste.
The birds also love them!
Growing tip: If starting black currant from seed, be patient and do not prune for the first three years. Then, much like raspberries, they will provide more abundant fruit if you prune back 1-2 year old stems each year once established. For jams and jellies, harvest when underripe. For freezing, drying, or eating fresh, harvest when dark black and slightly squishy.
Yarrow
Many herb-enthusiasts swear by this plant as an astringent, meaning they use it for first aid as well as cramps and heavy menstrual bleeds.
Did you know Yarrow comes in different colors!?
Growing tip: Yarrow spreads via underground root systems, so just a few seeds might look like many plants in just one season. They don’t need much water to grow. Wait to harvest until after the dew has lifted.
Chamomile:
This plant is fragrant, calming, and so joyful to look at! There have been many studies on this herb that suggest just what folks have passed down for generations- chamomile has been shown to help with PMS, cramps and can even decrease menstrual blood amounts.
The chamomile is in the bottom right corner!
Growing tip: Chamomile makes a great neighbor, or “companion plant” to many other veggies and herbs, deterring harmful insects and even supposedly improving flavor! It self-seeds, meaning it might come back year after year depending on climate. Harvest flower heads often.
Borage:
A plant that looks like it came out of a fairytale, tastes a little like cucumber, and has been used for PMS symptoms. I could only find one study from Brazil that showed potential scientific effectiveness, but I will happily put borage flowers into salads and drinks for the joy of it alone!
Photo from Eden Brothers
Growing tip: Pollinators love borage! Plant in a pot near veggies or other plants you want pollinators to frequent. Borage can handle lots of soil types but does not transplant easily.
Lemon Balm:
A member of the mint family, lemon balm is a lemony herb has appeared in studies with the potential to reduce fatigue and lethargy during menstruation. It is refreshing and light as a garnish in the summer and tastes like sunshine when dried for tea in the winter.
I’ll crush & rub lemon balm on my ankles when I’m out gardening – I feel like it helps with mosquitoes, too!
Growing tip: Like most of lemon balm’s mint relatives, it spreads quickly and aggressively underground. If you plant it in a pot with drainage holes, consider keeping it on a shelf or tray instead of directly on soil. Do not compost cuttings in home compost systems
Whatever it is that you decide to grow this year:
May your planting be hopeful
may your tending be joyful
may you find peace in the sun and the rain
and may your hands get a little dirty in the process. 🙂
Blog Post by Sadie Kendall
Some Resources:
U of M Extension
NIH National Library of Medicine
National Center for Home Food Preservation
University of Madison, Wisconsin Extension Savanna Institute
Natural Resources Conservation Service
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauratenenbaum/2020/01/29/digging-in-the-dirt-really-does-make-people-happier/
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/10/09/curiosity-why-does-playing-dirt-feel-so-good