Caring for your annuals

Firstly, it would be better if you start with annuals seeds. These are cheaper than the grown ones. You should start growing your annuals indoors. You could use containers that are tray-like. These would provide your seeds their initial growth bed. To start planting the seeds, you need to make rows in the soil and place the seeds with ample spaces in between each seed. Cover the seeds partially, and water in small amounts. Put the tray container inside a plastic bag, and place it in an indoor location with bright lights but not too much sunlight. The humidity allows your seeds to germinate faster. The seedlings would appear in about two to three weeks, depending on the herb seeds you have planted.

When you want to transfer the seedlings, take extra care. The leaves present are still brittle. Designate separate pots for each seedling. When they have grown to at least seven inches from roots to tips, you can plant multiple herbs in one pot.

Annuals are not usually infested with pests and diseases. However, if such problems occur, you could unravel the infested herbs to separate them from the healthy ones. You could also use eco-friendly pesticides. However, the last suggestion is not advisable for herbs used for cooking or medicine.

Since annuals are usually moist, you may not need to water them daily. However, in days of summer, you need to provide the herbs with light mulch so the soil moisture is contained whenever you water them.

Caring for your perennials

Spacing is very important for perennials. These herbs usually have wild spreading roots especially when they are much matured. From the start of planting perennials, you need to provide at least one foot space in between.

On the other hand, you can also do grouping for perennials. If you are considering doing so, you could group three plants of the same kind per hole. Note that you still have to space them three inches apart from each other.

Watering for perennials is needed immediately after planting. Watering during the early hours of the morning is best for them.

Despite the known strength of perennial stems and roots, they still need protective covering during extreme weathers. You could cover them with wide-rimmed containers or pots. You could also stretch poultry wires over perennial beds to protect the mulch and the plants' roots. And protect the leaves by putting crossed wire loops directly over each plant. Then spread plastic wraps covering all the plants.

Other tips

When you are into indoor container gardening, you need to place the plants in areas with ample sunlight or bright light exposure. For multiple herbs in one big pot, place tallest plant in the middle. The trailing and low-rise plants should be placed on the pot sides.

You could also label your plants. The label should contain the date you planted them and their water or sunlight needs. This system would help you not to forget the particular needs of your plants. You should use water-proof materials for the labels.

These growing 101 herbs tips are only a few. Expand your guide researches to make your gardens grow beautifully and bountifully.