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Herbs are valued for their culinary, medical, decorative and aromatic properties. They come in a diverse range of sizes, shapes and habits, ranging from ground-creeping thyme through to the tall architectural stems of angelica. The choice of herbs is so great that there is always something to offer a gardener with only a window box or hanging basket. A herb garden offers a treat for the senses and these fragrant plants are really easy to grow.
Herbs can be grown in a range of settings, from custom designed herb gardens to ornamental borders. They can also be grown as companion plants in the vegetable garden and are eminently suited to growing in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes.
Herbs range from tall showy herbaceous plants such as fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) to ground hugging cushion plants such as thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The majority of herbs originate from dry sunny environments and so need sunshine to help them to develop their essential oils. It is best to site herbs in an open, sunny spot in the garden where they will thrive.
Most herbs like dry sites and the sunnier and hotter the site the better they will taste. The taste and smell of herbs is usually due to the production of essential oils within the plants. If they are grown in hot conditions, then the concentration of essential oils will be greater. Growing herbs in very moist rich soils can accelerate their growth, but will result in a milder flavour. They will also look better and flower less than their ‘hot site' counterparts and are easier to harvest. Loamy soil with some added organic matter is best for herbs and this means that they can be planted among vegetables in the kitchen garden.
Herbs may be sown outdoors directly in the soil, just like vegetables. The preparation of the seedbed and the sowing techniques are exactly the same. Herbs can also be planted under cover and raised in the same way as early vegetables and bedding plants and then hardening them off before planting out in the garden. This method is particularly suitable for tender, leafy herbs such as basil or coriander.
Herbs can be sited anywhere in the garden as long as it is sunny. They have a range of forms and colours and often make valuable additions to the ornamental garden. Foxgloves (Digitalis), sage (Salvia officinalis) and the curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) are a few examples of herbs that can be used in annual and herbaceous borders as well as in the kitchen garden. Some herbs, such as mint (Mentha) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) can become very invasive if they are not contained in a pot or sunken sink when growing among other plants in an ornamental border. Remove the flower heads from the mint before they have had a chance to seed, as the seed will germinate all over the border.
Herbs make excellent subjects for use in pots and containers and are wonderful for patio gardens that catch plenty of summer sun, although you need to make sure that the potting mix never dries out. Raised beds, which provide good drainage, are also good areas for growing herbs. Always plant them in a free-draining potting mix that will not become waterlogged. There are numerous cultivators of culinary herbs that can be used for ornamental purposes, and groups of pot grown herbs can be extremely decorative as well as supplying you with a range of fresh flavourings. Thyme, rosemary, lavender and sage are all good choices to grow in pots, either outdoors or on a window sill.
Herb pots require little maintenance, save for watering and the occasional feed during the growing season. Herbs are not plants for the long term and should be restarted annually or every other year. Herbs that are permanently in pots, such as bay trees, will need repotting every year. Spreading herbs like thyme can be lifted and both top-pruned and root-pruned prior to repotting.
Potted herbs may also be grown in the greenhouse to ensure a supply both earlier and later in the season. Try growing basil, coriander, chives and dill in pots. Pots raised under glass can be brought into the kitchen for ease of use. A series of successional sowings under glass will ensure that you have fresh herbs for most or even all of the year, both indoors and out.
Some are lucky enough to have a patio or balcony on which a few potted plants can be grown. Thankfully, we can use that little bit of space to our advantage and grow a few basic plants. Herbs can be a lot of fun to grow, and extremely useful if you are a keen cook. While herbs can be more demanding of conditions to grow, most are easy to grow and tend, so they also make good plants for beginning gardeners.
The first thing you want to do is choose the kinds of herbs you want to grow. If you are growing herbs with a view to using them in your cooking, salads or for dried herb purposes, consider what the type of cooking you mostly do and what your requirements will be. If you want to make a lot of Italian style dishes, there will be a list of herbs you want, such as oregano, basil, mint, parsley and coriander. You may be making vinegars and oils - this may mean a different set of herbs, although you can't go wrong with the basic all-rounders as those already mentioned. These herbs are great in almost all styles of cooking.
How to look after your plants? Most plants need about six hours of sunlight each day. A little less probably won't hurt them, but they will need sunshine in order to flourish. Look at the sunshine on your balcony or patio and see where the sun falls at different times of the day. Even if there isn't very much space that gets the required amount of sun, you will probably only need one or two plants of each herb variety - this will give you enough to get started!
Getting terracotta pots that are unglazed is one of the best options. Plastic pots have a tendency to hold in too much water and drown the plant. Plastic is acceptable for certain herbs that like lots of moisture, but it is not a good choice for most. If you use terracotta pots, you will want to check your herbs' moisture every day and probably add a little extra, but you don't have to worry as much about overwatering.Because most of the herbs you'll choose to grow come from the Mediterranean lands, they are fairly drought resistant, and need warmth as much as water. Keep a small watering can handy.
There are some herbs that grow better in pots than others. The great thing is that most of the herbs that do well in pots are ones that are commonly used in cooking. Oregano, Rosemary, Parsley, Cilantro, Chives, Basil, Thyme, and Sage are just a few that flourish when potted. But these are many more from which to choose. You could visit a garden nursery and see what will grow well in your area. ask for some professional advice.
Check on the size of pot your herbs should have. Depending on the size the plant will grow to, some will need bigger pots than others. You can either plant seeds in the pots, or buy little seedlings that are already started.
When tending to your herbs, keep an eye on their new growth. Most herbs should not be allowed for bloom unless the flowers are what you want, such as with Lavender. Remove any stalks as soon as you see flower buds. Also, you don't want your herbs to grow too tall, so keep them trimmed. You need a pair of secateurs for this job. You can fertilise your seedlings a couple of times a year. a good fertiliser is one that has seaweed in it ...don't overfertilise - follow the instructions given.
If you have a little sunny space on a patio or balcony, you can grow your own herbs easily. You can use them for cooking, home remedies, or whatever takes your fancy. One of the best things is that you can even dry them for storing. The herbs you grow will add some life to your patio space, and fresh scents that will give you joy on a warm summer evening. It is really a fun and rewarding experience. The purple lavender, white flowers of the chives, and other colors will look beautiful too!