Herb Gardens for Beginners
21.08.2023 - 12:00
/ theunconventionalgardener.com
/ Emma Doughty
Spring is finally here, and whether you’re lucky enough to have a vegetable patch or you have a few pots on the patio or windowsill to fill, it’s time to think about getting this year’s herb garden underway.
If you’re new to herb gardening then there are a couple of things you need to bear in mind when you’re choosing which herbs to grow. The first is which ones you use most in your cooking – although it’s fun to experiment with new plants, if you want to really use your herbs then plant your favourites!
It’s also important to know whether your chosen herbs are annuals (for which you need new plants each spring) or perennials (which grow for many years, but need extra care) and whether they like a lot of sun or a lot of water, or both.
If you have a sunny spot for your herbs then you can grow kitchen favourites such as rosemary, thyme and oregano. These three revel in sunlight and can cope with drier soil as they are adapted to the Mediterranean climate. Let the compost dry out between waterings and be sparing with the plant feed as overly lush growth won’t pack the flavour punch you’re looking for. All of these are perennial herbs, so if you buy a small plant this year it will grow for many years to come, although it will need repotting into a larger container in a couple of years when it starts to look cramped.
Another sun-lover is basil, but it’s different because it’s an annual herb and also because it enjoys plenty of water. You can sow basil from seed in the spring (but it’s tender, so don’t put the plants outside until the risk of frost has passed), buy a plant from the garden centre or simply pot up one that you’ve bought from the supermarket.
Many of the leafier herbs thrive in a shadier place. Mint is a fast-growing
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