The Joy of Growing an Herb Garden
My mom was a gourmet cook and also had a green thumb. It seems she always had fresh herbs right outside our kitchen to use in her latest test recipe. I have discovered that growing an herb garden really isn’t that difficult. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment or have a large yard. The type of soil you have doesn’t matter either and growing an herb garden can be done anytime of the year.
The best time to grow an herb garden starts in early spring with tiny seeds. As the weather becomes warmer, the young plants could be transplanted outdoors. For the seeds, these would be grown in four inch pots and then placed in a location with lots of sunlight. Keep in mind that while standard containers work well, any type of container could be used as long as the seeds have room to grow. Most important, if you choose anything other than a new container, use a mixture of three teaspoons bleach to a gallon of water to wash it out carefully, rinse, and then dry to kill any organisms.
When you grow an herb garden you can save space by putting three or four plants such as basil, parsley or oregano in one container. Remember to pinch off flower heads often so that the leaves will look and taste their best. This type of herb will only last a season and will need to be replanted each year. Herbs such as rosemary and lavender will grow rather large and require adequate space in your yard. These two herbs in particular will provide enough sprigs for several years. Herbs such as chives, mint or sage will come back each year with proper care. When they become leggy they will need to be cut back often to promote future growth.
When testing the soil for growing an herb garden, you may encounter soil that is either too sandy or heavy with clay. In this situation a raised garden bed would be ideal and one can be made or purchased, and rich, healthy soil added. The most important aspect would be to provide drain holes so the soil does not become water logged. These raised boxes can be made or purchased in a variety of sizes, creating the opportunity for one to be placed almost anywhere such as near the kitchen window, etc. As long as the herb garden is getting adequate sunlight, the plants will do well. The raised garden boxes could also be used for flowers or vegetables.
Growing an herb garden is really easier than you think. You can begin today to grow your own herbs such as basil, chives, tarragon, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, and sage today. Freshly cut herbs add so much more flavor to any recipe.