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Why buy dried herbs when you can grow them fresh with a few simple herb gardening tips? Herbs are annuals, biennials and perennial plants. Herbs like Basil, Coriander and Dill are annuals that bloom for one season only and then die. Caraway and parsley are biennials that live for two seasons and bloom only in the second season. Perennials like chives, fennel, mint and tarragon ‘die’ over winter and then blossom each season once the plant has established itself. Herbs need to be planted in a 20 by 4 foot garden space. In this garden, you can have separate “mini” plots for each type of herb. A mini plot is a 12 by 18 inch section. With the many herbs that are being used, colorful and frequently used herbs can be planted around the borders of your plot. Parsley and Purple Basil are examples of colorful border herb gardening. For your herb garden to thrive the soil should not be very wet. Ensure that your herb plot is well drained, remove about 15 to 18 inches depth of soil. On the bottom, add some crushed stone or other sand-like material. |
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A compost and sand mixture added to the soil will lighten the soil’s texture making it easier for the water to seep through the soil and drain away. Hummus will enrich the nutrients within the soil and restore the soil’s Ph level, as well. Then refill the hole higher than it was originally. The herbs can be planted in the ground late winter. First grow them indoors in shallow trays. The herb seeds must not be covered with a thick coating of soil. The soil needs to be light and well drained. This type of soil texture will ensure that your herb gardening gets off to good start. Hrb gardening can also be combined with a good hydroponics gardening plan, as discussed in our next article. Once your herbs are planted outdoors there are a few insects that can attack the plants. Aphids like anise, caraway, dill and fennel herbs. The red mite spider attacks low growing herbs. Rust can be a disease-like status for mint plants. But these minor troubles aside, herb gardening is a peaceful and intriguing activity that takes its place in history. Whether you use herbs for cooking, medicinal use or even aromatic usage, the art of herb gardening is making a comeback amongst gardeners. Join their ranks and enjoy the pleasures of using your own herbs. |
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