Herbs are easy to grow and provide a delicious and healthful addition to your cooking. But before you embark on this endeavor, there are a few things you should be aware of in order to achieve the best results.
Most herbs require at least six hours of daylight daily. Be sure to select a spot in your garden that receives this amount of illumination.
Location
Herbs add color, flavor and fragrance to any garden. Furthermore, they provide essential nectar and pollen for pollinating insects and wildlife alike.
When cultivating herbs in either a formal garden or mixed border, location is essential. Choose an area that receives optimal sunlight, water supply and soil nutrients for best results.
If you only have a small garden space, window boxes and containers can be the perfect way to get an herb garden started. Herbs in pots will reseed easily and require less upkeep than plants planted directly in the ground.
Plant herbs around flowers and vegetables in a flower bed or border to attract bees and butterflies. Choose different colored flowers with herbs like mint, sage, or thyme for visual interest as well as aromatherapy in your garden.
You can also add a low-growing herb like chives to the edge of your path or in between paving stones for an informal touch. Fennel is another ideal choice for garden paths as it can withstand light foot traffic and releases its delicious aroma as people pass by.
Herbs can be grown in any garden, but some require special care. For instance, dill requires fertile soil and partial shade to prevent premature seed setting. You can also protect dill from pests by covering it with a protective layer of mulch.
Soil
Selecting the ideal soil for your herb garden can make or break its success. Whether you’re starting with a few pots outside your kitchen door or creating an extensive garden, having the correct soil in place is critical to its success.
Soil is an essential natural resource, composed of minerals, organic materials and air. It supplies plants with essential nutrients to support their growth.
Herbs prefer full sun with loose, well-drained soil. Some herbs, like chives or chamomile, can tolerate partial shade but most require full sunlight for healthy plants to flourish.
Poor drainage can be a major issue for many herbs, particularly those that are drought-tolerant. If your yard has clay soils, improve drainage by adding organic material like compost or peat.
Steer clear of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in your garden, as these chemicals can pose serious health risks. Instead, utilize soil-based fertilizers and compost to encourage stronger, healthier herbs.
Herbs make a perfect addition to any garden, whether used for cooking, decoration or as ornamental plants. Not only are they cost-effective and low maintenance, but their ease of care makes them ideal even for novice gardeners.
Water
Herbs are low-maintenance plants that add beauty and fragrance to the landscape as well as delicious flavor in your cooking. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors and can be grown indoors or outdoors for continuous production. Herbs also vary by growth pattern and life cycle – from annual herbs that complete their foliage, flowering and seeding during one growing season to biennials that produce leaves one year then bloom and seed the following year.
Herbs thrive in rich, moist soil that’s well drained and moderately fertile. Their ideal pH level should be between 6-7; however, if your soil is too acidic, adding liquid micronutrient fertilizer can easily balance it out.
Herbs typically thrive in pots or planters with adequate drainage. Herbs without this kind of arrangement can easily drown, so be sure to place a saucer beneath your herb garden planters for extra water.
Watering your herbs is an essential part of their care, and should be done periodically but not too frequently, especially during hot weather. Herbs that require regular watering include mint, thyme, oregano and lavender.
Mistake 1: Sow Herbs in a Container
Herb seeds can be planted directly into the ground, but novice herb gardeners often start them out in pots for easier maintenance. If you choose to start your herbs this way, be sure to amend their potting soil with high quality peat-free compost before sowing them outdoors.
Mistake 2: Plant Herbs Directly in the Garden
Many herbs thrive when planted together, making for a vibrant herb garden. However, it’s essential to know which herbs work well together and which don’t before you begin planting.
Fertilization
Herbs are a beloved addition to many meals, and growing them in your garden is an easy way to get them at home. Unfortunately, growing herbs without fertilization can lead to a deficiency of essential nutrients – leading to wilting or losing their flavor and aroma.
Herbal plants require nutrients to perform photosynthesis, which transforms food into energy that drives plant growth and development. The three most common nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) – collectively known as N-P-K). Additionally, supplemental micronutrients like sulfur, calcium, and magnesium should also be provided for optimal success.
Fertilizers come in liquid, granular and spike forms that can be applied to both soil and the top layer of soil on containers or garden beds. Liquid fertilizers are ideal for fast-growing herbs that need additional nutrients, while granular and spike forms work better with slower-growing varieties.
When selecting an herb fertilizer, read the ingredients list carefully to identify which macronutrients and micronutrients it contains. Look for N-P-K numbers as well as a combination of these nutrients on the label; additionally, be sure to look out for added micronutrients like iron, calcium, or sulfur that may not be listed on the package.
No matter which form you select – liquid, granular or spike – make sure to apply the correct amount of fertilizer to the soil. Overusing can burn your herbs so follow the package instructions for how much to apply.
Herbs in pots should only require light fertilization about once every two weeks, while outdoor herbs growing in-ground require even less. If you plan to consume your herbs regularly, overfeeding can negatively affect their flavor and aroma.
Pruning
Pruning herbs helps them retain their shape and size while also keeping them free from disease and pests. Furthermore, pruning helps control lateral growth and airflow in the center of the plant for improved airflow and greater nourishment.
Herbs typically grow in either radial (radiating out from a central base) or branched (splitting off from a stem). Both types need pruning to maintain their compactness and health.
Radial herb plants benefit from pruning by thinning out their outer leaves and eliminating any branches that rub against other parts of the plant. Doing this helps keep things under control and makes it easier for the herb to rebound after trimming.
Branching herbs, on the other hand, should be pruned as necessary to remove dead or damaged branches that are impeding new growth. These branches could pose a danger to people or other trees and lead to an unhealthy state for the entire plant.
Pruning is especially essential when growing rosemary and sage, as these herbs are woody and require special pruning shears to cut them down.
Prune herbs when they’re young and haven’t yet flowered, as flowers sap away the plant’s energy. Removing them helps the herb retain its flavor while preventing further flowering in the future.
Fingernails are the most commonly used tool for pruning herbs, though some woody varieties may require sharp garden snips. Make sure to pinch or cut leaves cleanly as ragged cuts can promote disease growth.