Herb Garden: Facts, benefits, main plants, growing and caring tips

Herbs have long been used for their culinary and therapeutic benefits. Herbs are still widely used nowadays. Herbs add distinctive flavours to a variety of foods and beverages, which chefs adore. 

Herbalists prize specific flowers, leaves, and roots for their medicinal properties. The beauty and aroma of flowers and leaves are preserved by herbal artisans in potpourri, wreaths, sachets, and dried arrangements. Herbs are prized by gardeners for all of their wonderful attributes, including their vigour, ease of care, and inherent pest resistance.

Additionally, they create stunning live installations in unexpected places. There are sufficient indoor herb gardens available, in both vertical and stacking designs, for every aspiring home chef to pick one up and start honing their green fingers. After all, adding fresh herbs to any meal, no matter how straightforward, improves its flavour.

 

What is an herb garden?

An herb garden is type a garden designed and maintained mainly for growing herbs. The plants helps create a relaxing place while they are also beneficial as you have herbal plants readily accessible. A herb garden can be of any size and different types of herbs can be grown.

 

Types of herb gardens

• Kitchen herb garden: This type of garden is used for growing herbs used for flavouring in cooking. Usually, the plants are grown in containers near a kitchen. Some herbs are basil, chives, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, etc.
• Herbal tea garden: A herbal tea garden is a space where herbs such as chamomile and assorted mints are grown, used in preparing teas.
• Fragrant herb garden: An aromatic herb garden can be designed for growing herb plants that are popular for their fragrance. These plants are mostly used as cut flowers, aromatherapy, and scented candles. Some examples are lavender, lemon balm, scented geraniums, etc.
• Medicinal herb garden: This type of herb garden is used for growing plants like Tulsi known for their medicinal benefits.

 

Herb garden and kids

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Young children can easily learn how to cultivate their own food by helping to create a herb garden. Many herbs are simple to produce and have aromatic leaves, which intrigue young minds even more. Allow your kids to transplant the herbs with you, and make sure they can identify them by labelling them with lollipops. Then, just prepare meals that call for fresh herbs; your kids will be hooked forever.

The simplest herbs to cultivate are those that can be purchased in pots and are perennials, such as rosemary, mint, chives, and oregano. One of the fastest-growing herbs is cress, and chives are similarly simple to cultivate from seed (see below). A perennial herb is one which continues to grow year after year.

An annual herb needs one season to complete its life cycle. Try starting annual herbs like parsley, coriander, and mint from seed if your kids want a bigger challenge. These are more sensitive to colder temperatures than perennial herbs, and they can bolt (bloom) if not given enough water or too much sun.

How to grow a herb garden?

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Let us now explore how to grow a herb garden. We take into consideration the following aspects.

Where to plant

In average garden soil, most herbs grow well as long as there is proper drainage. But some herbs, like bay, lavender, and rosemary are woody Mediterranean natives. These herbs prefer soil that is well-drained. The roots of native plants to the Mediterranean region are prone to rotting in moist soil, thus good drainage is essential. Grow these herbs in planters or raised beds if your garden soil is thick.

Most herbs require full sun to grow (>=6 hours of direct sunlight per day). Choose herbs that don’t require as much sun if your garden gets little sun.

Good options consist of:

• Mint
• Chives
• Parsley
• Cilantro 
• Shiso
• Tarragon

 

In unprotected locations, herbs can experience stress much like other plants. Growing herbs in beds next to the home, next to other structures, or next to walls creates a warm, protective microclimate that boosts a gardener’s success with delicate perennials like sage, which is resistant only to Zone 8. Set rosemary out in a bright, protected spot even if you grow it in pots and bring it inside for the winter.

How to grow herb plants?

Some herbs can be easily grown from seed, while others take a very long time to sprout. Purchase slow-growing plants at a nursery and divide existing ones. Cuttings can sometimes be used to grow new plants.

Seed

Read the seed packaging carefully before sowing any herb, whether it be in seed-starting trays or immediately in the garden. This will provide you with crucial information. 

Among the herbs that are simple to produce from seeds are:

• Calendula
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Chervil
• Basil
• Borage
• Sage

Cuttings

When plants are good and growing quickly, spring or summer are the best times to take stems of suitable herbs. Use rosemary and tarragon as cuttings in the fall to grow them inside all winter since they have a tendency to root better then. Suitable options for cuttings:

• Sage
• Lavender
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Mint

Division

Herbs that are perennial can be easily divided. Dig up this plant’s root system with a garden fork, then either manually separate the roots (as with chives) or slice the root mass into numerous pieces and transplant them in another part of the garden. Small divisions can also be planted in containers to flourish indoors through the winter. The optimum time to split is in the fall when things are winding down for the year if the divisions are going to be used outdoors. Plants establish more quickly when divided and transplanted in the fall.

The following perennial herbs respond well to division:

• Oregano
• Chives
• Bee Balm
• Garlic Chives
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Thyme

How to take cuttings

1. Choose stem segments that are three to six inches long, tender (often green and not woody), and have at least five leaves on the stem. Just above a leaf node that faces outward, make an angled cut.
2. In a 4″ container filled with moistened potting soil, plant the stem about 2″ deep after removing the lower leaves and dipping the cut end in rooting hormone powder. Perlite or vermiculite are additional options.
3. Place the cuttings away from the sun’s rays and cover them loosely with such a plastic bag to generate humid conditions.
4. Remove the plastic bag if it appears that there is too much moisture; water the plants and check the water if necessary. Check for fresh leaf growth within a few weeks to see if the plants are successfully establishing roots. Repot all plants in bigger pots with ordinary potting soil, then gradually bring the plants into direct sunlight.

 

Note: Some plants, including mint, sage, and basil, will grow roots in a water glass as well.

Growing a herb garden in planters and pots

You can grow delicate perennials like flowering sages and rosemary all year long by herb gardens in pots and planters. Simply bring them inside once fall arrives. Additionally, gardeners with little room or with soil that just doesn’t drain properly can consider container gardening.

Commence by using high-quality potting soil, which guarantees proper drainage. Avoid using regular garden soil because it won’t drain properly when placed in a container. Herbs in pots need frequent watering and fertilisation throughout the growth season, just like other plants do. Native to the Mediterranean, like rosemary, they can withstand somewhat dry soil among waterings. Other herbs that have wider leaves require extra care when watering.

Use liquid fertiliser during the outdoor growth season at the rate suggested on the package. If you keep your plants indoors for the wintertime, they only need fertilising once or twice a month.

Herbs that grow well indoors?

The following herbs can endure for many years in pots:

• Mint
• Oregano
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Parsley
• Scented Geranium
• Bay Laurel
• Rosemary
• Chervil
• Thyme

How to maintain a herb garden

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Any food is improved by fresh herbs, and for valid reasons. We adore them for their aroma and flavour as well as how simple they are to maintain and grow. We’ve got you covered on the fundamentals of herb care and what you need to know when you start planting, whether you’re seeking to grow thyme, basil, chives, or mint.

When should I plant outdoor herb seeds?

The usual last frost dates in your location and a herb’s susceptibility to cold weather will determine when to plant it. Hardy permanent herb seeds should be sown outside a few weeks prior to the typical last frost date. However, the majority of sensitive annual herbs grow better in warm soil, so postpone planting them until after the typical last frost date.

Herbs transplantation

After the threat of frost has gone, plant herbs that have been begun in containers in the garden. Dig a hole that is no deeper than the pot that the herb has been growing, but at least twice as wide. Place its root ball into the hole after removing the plant from its nursery container and loosening or cutting through any circling roots. Finally, barely cover the root ball with soil. After planting, thoroughly hydrate the root zone.

Watering

The majority of herbs usually grow in very well soil and taste their finest when maintained on the dry side. The kind of soil, the climate, and the variety all affect how much water they require. For instance, plants that grow in sandy soils require more frequent watering compared to those in clay soils. Remember that plants require more water when it is hot, windy, and dry than when it is cool, humid, and clear.

Apply water to the root system at least six inches deep while watering. Water application devices like soaker hose or drip irrigation are effective: By just watering the plant’s roots, they minimise wasting water, and by leaving the foliage dry, they keep disease at bay. 

Pinching

The most tasty and succulent component of a herb is the tender young growth. By routinely nipping 2-3 inches off of the stem tips, you may keep your plants bushy and lush. This promotes new growth and branching. Pinch any blossoms that develop if you want more leaves. At least eight months before the first fall frost, cease pinching or trimming woody herbs so that the new growth has time to harden off well before winter.

Feeding

High quantities of nutrients, especially nitrogen, cause herbs to grow poorly and provide little flavour or smell. Avoid overfertilizing as a result. Overfeeding of nutrients is less likely to occur with controlled-release artificial fertilisers and slowly decomposing organic fertilisers. To determine how much fertiliser to use, refer to the recommendations from a soil test or the package.

Test Garden Tip: Don’t fertilise your herb garden with fresh manure. To prevent the spread of hazardous bacteria to your herbs, compost it first. 

Dividing

While some perennial herbs, like thyme, spread via runners, others, like chives, produce clumps. Both spreading or clumping varieties can be dug up and divided in the early spring to create new plants.

 

Spring pruning

If you didn’t remove them in the fall, you should trim the withered stems of the previous year’s development on plants like tansy, artemisia, mint, and lemon balm in the spring. After several decades in the garden, certain perennial herbs start to seem woody or lanky. Before new growth starts in the spring, cut them back by a third or even to within three cm of the ground. In turn, this promotes a bushier, more compact shape.

Herb layering

Some herbs’ stems develop roots when they come into touch with the soil. Layering the stems will speed up the process. A flexible stem can be rooted by bending it into the ground, nicking the base, injecting rooting hormone, pinning it in place, keeping the soil moist, and waiting many months for the roots to grow.

Mulching

Use mulch to keep weeds from growing. Useful organic mulches include wood chips, cocoa shells, and pine needles. Apply a two- to four- inch thick layer of mulch, but stay away from the plant’s crown. Mulch smothers weeds, stops the majority of weed seeds from sprouting, and makes it easier to pick those that do grow. Mulch also retains moisture, reducing the frequency of irrigation.

Taking cuttings

Woody herbs like rosemary can be propagated from stem cuttings. Cuttings of less woody herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, and mint, will also grow roots quickly.

Additional tips

• Choose the correct location for your herb garden since too much sun can lead basil, parsley, and coriander to blossom and set seed, which prevents them from producing tasty leaves. Oregano, mint, chives, and rosemary, on the other hand, prefer sun and are therefore best planted there.
• Mint grows best when grown alone in a pot because it may easily overwhelm other herbs.
• Since most plants originate from the Mediterranean region, not a lot of water is required. Basil detests being overwatered, so just water it throughout the day and avoid letting the soil around its roots sit in water.
• Annual herb seeds should be sown every two to three weeks to provide a constant harvest throughout the summer.
• Some herbs should be allowed to flower because they draw bees. Bees love the blossoms of oregano and rosemary in particular. Additionally, you might let annual herbs like coriander and basil flower after they’ve reached the end of their usefulness.

 

Uses of the herb garden

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Add some colour to your house

Your fresh veggies will not only taste excellent but also look terrific. These plants can add a pleasant touch of life to your yard because they are frequently simple to grow and therefore can fit into small spaces. Maintaining the herbs will turn into a relaxing daily task with the extra benefit of observable reductions in your grocery and cooking costs.

It’s crucial for students in culinary schools to gain a solid understanding of how to use herbs in cooking. The most effective method to achieve this is to cultivate your own. The benefits of growing your own herbs versus buying or using dried ones will quickly become apparent to you, and gardening may turn into a lifelong interest.

Save cash

It may grow pricey to keep your spice and produce cabinets filled. One option to reduce the cost of basic ingredients is to grow your own herbs. You won’t lose out on paying extra to purchase herbs that are of a similar or lower calibre than those you can grow at home.

Plus, you know how those flowers were raised in every detail. You never want to be concerned that someone exposed your plants to pollutants or hazardous pesticides. If you have complete control, you can decide whether to completely stick to an organic method or carefully choose any fertiliser and pest control solutions.

Rethink freshness

Every cook gets extremely comfortable with the local grocery store’s produce area. You might be able to predict when the product will be at its freshest. But no matter how precisely you plan your trip, what’s available in stores can never be as good as what you grow yourselves.

Herbs that you grow yourself can be left uncut until you actually need them. That means you won’t have to be concerned about the basil or parsley becoming brittle and dried out before you can use them. Additionally, going outside to the store is much less handy than going to the garden or even the pot on the window ledge.

Include variation in your menu

That garden provides a wonderful opportunity to explore with various flavour pairings. Utilise your herbs to test out a few new recipes. Grow some herbs you’ve never used much before to inspire you to experiment in the kitchen.

The Food Network has a number of entertaining recipes that highlight fresh herbs. Use mint to make pesto to top pasta or boil a pot of soupe du pistou, a vegetarian French stew. To add flavour and texture to fried artichokes with garlic, add parsley to a butter and serve it with frites.

Experience the difference

Your herbs will not only taste excellent but also look terrific. These plants can add a pleasant touch of life to your yard because they are frequently simple to grow and therefore can fit into small spaces. Maintaining the herbs will turn into a relaxing daily task with the extra benefit of observable reductions in your grocery and cooking costs.

It’s crucial for students in culinary schools to gain a solid understanding of how to use herbs in cooking. The most effective method to achieve this is to cultivate your own. The benefits of growing your own herbs versus buying or using dried ones will quickly become apparent to you, and gardening may turn into a lifelong interest.

FAQs

How big does a herb garden need to be?

One to four feet of space is needed around the herbs when they are planted in the ground. For example, the recommended spacing for rosemary, sage, mint, oregano, and marjoram is three to four feet; for basil, thyme, tarragon, and savoury, it's two feet; and for cilantro, chives, dill, and parsley, it's one foot.

How long do herbs take to grow?

When cultivating herbs, patience is key! Usually, seeds take two to four weeks to sprout, while some herbs germinate considerably more quickly. A germination temperature of 70°F is ideal for the majority of herbs. You should get a heat pad if you want to start your seeds indoors with a lower temperature.

How long do herb plants last?

Basil, borage, chervil, basil, dill, fennel, lemon grass, oregano, parsley, plantain, and summer savoury are examples of annual herbs. Herbs that are perennial often live for at least two years and expand and grow yearly. These plants will wither away to the soil in the winter and reappear in the spring.

Where do herbs grow best?

Herbs thrive in full sun and moderate, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil that has been heavily amended with organic matter.

Which herb grows faster?

Dill. One of the herbs that grows the quickest is dill. You have roughly 40 days from sprout to harvest. Dill is also extremely adaptable, despite not being as well known as other herb kinds.