How To Grow Herbs For Fresh Flavors And Scents

If you want to know how to grow herbs you are in for a fascinating experience. The many uses of herbs to flavor cooking and cure ailments have been around for ages. Some people even believe that herbs possess magical powers which, I think, came about because of their delicious, fresh scents and real healing properties.

When you consider growing a herb garden you want to decide on a couple of things beforehand, for example:

• Choose the herbs that you want to plant, which might be difficult at first given the big range of possibilities. But for an easy start you can plant the ones you already use in your cooking or love having in your garden. Some of the popular ones to start off with when you grow your own herb garden are: parsley, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, chive and dill.

• Space needed in your garden. Some herb plants require more space than others. Make sure you leave sufficient room for the plants to grow, and for a better display plant the tall herbs at the back to frame the smaller ones in the front.

You could also grow your herb garden in pots outside which adds interesting touches, and can be advantageous as some of them, like the mint family, have quite a spreading root system. The variety of containers available caters to any and every taste. There are also large, attractive pots that will accommodate three or more different types of herb plants in one pot.

• Herb garden design. It is fun to plan your herb garden on paper first. There are many traditional and intricate herb garden designs available in books, but you could start with a simple square herb bed, divided into four parts by two paths crossing at the center point. Or a circular bed divided like a wagon wheel with a central point and spikes to separate different types of herbs.

• Plan around annuals, biennials and perennials. It is better to separate the annuals from the perennials, so that you do not disturb the root system of the latter. Perennials will do well around the border or edge of the garden where they will be undisturbed.

• Herb plants can be grown from seed, seedlings or if you are in a hurry from established plants. Growing from seed is the cheapest, but will need constant care and take longer to grow into a mature plant. However, if you want to enjoy the full herb growing process from start till use and enjoyment of your own fresh home grown herbs and have patience, you will find it a lot of fun and rewarding as well.

• There are variations in the needs of different herb plants but they generally need alkaline soil and very good drainage. Herb plants won’t thrive when they have ‘wet feet’. To ensure optimum drainage you just need to have a sandy or rocky layer at the bottom of the pot or hole where the herb is planted.

Of course, not to forget enough sunlight and water and you are bound to enjoy a good harvest.

I hope that these pointers on how to grow herbs will help you establish the herb garden that you can enjoy for their beautiful, healing scents and powers, or simply pick a fresh sprig whenever you want!