How to grow herbs: A beginner's guide
Tuesday, 8 February 2011 10:49 AM
We've all bought supermarket herbs and watched them wilt within a week. Anthony Hill explains how to plant and grow your own - and keep them thriving.
Generally speaking, herbs are low-maintenance plants that can bring benefits to gardening and cooking enthusiasts alike. With the ability to add zest and flavour to your culinary pursuits, as well as the aromatic potential to make a stroll around the garden a treat for multiple senses, herbs are one outdoor basic not to be overlooked.
Starting your herb garden
The easiest way to get your herb garden off - or more accurately into – the ground is to buy small, ready-to-plant shrubs from your local nursery*. When choosing a plant, it is best to opt for compact, evenly coloured specimens rather than taller, more spindly ones, which are likely to be weaker.
The best time to buy and introduce a ready-grown herb to your soil is April. Since many herbs originate in the Mediterranean, they enjoy free-draining soil and temperate conditions. Having said that, most varieties are relatively hardy and, if well cared for, established plants can withstand the seasons for many years.
The most common herbs to grow in a traditional outdoor garden are basil, chives, dill, mint, parsley, rosemary and sage. There are plenty of others which frequently come in handy when cooking, but as a starting point these are just a few that it is hard to go wrong with.
*Alternatively, you can buy seeds and start completely from scratch, starting them off indoors in shallow trays during the late stages of winter or early spring – April is a good month for most. Seedlings should only be moved out into the garden once all risk of frost has definitely passed. Read the information provided with each plant for herb-specific instructions.
How to plant your herb garden
Herbs should be planted in a spot where they will enjoy exposure to bright sunlight for at least six hours a day. In addition, they need good drainage, so avoid areas where pools of water are known to gather after heavy rain. If necessary, you can improve the drainage by adding around five inches of compost or manure on top of your soil.
For each plant, you will need to dig a hole just large enough to accommodate its root ball. Place the herb into its space and gently pack down the soil around it. Consult each plant's individual tag for information on spacing and specific needs, as some varieties require a lot more space than others.
Caring for your herb garden
Water your new herbs immediately after planting and then at least once a week after that – but take care to avoid over-watering, as this can cause root rot and impair your herbs' flavour. Spreading a generous helping of mulch, such as dry leaves or compost, evenly around the base of the stems will help protect the plants.
One thing to avoid when growing herbs is the temptation to speed things along with a fertiliser. A single application at the start of the season should suffice if your soil is of relatively decent quality. Herbs grown too quickly tend to be bland and of little use in the kitchen.
Within a few months, your plants should be well established in their new home and ready for you to snip leaves and sprigs off as desired throughout the growing season. But it is best not to pick too many leaves, as this could weaken the plant.
Growing your own herbs is a steady process, but once you've added home-grown basil or rosemary to your dinner, you will never look at those supermarket jars again.
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