Outdoor Herb Gardening
I recall when I planned my first herb garden. It was in the corner of the back yard under a Bradford Pear tree. Once I made up my mind to do a square-shaped bed I used red bricks to edge the bed and to divide it into 4 square sections. Each section was used for a different kind of herb.
In one section I planted an Italian herb garden that included oregano, basil and parsley. In another area I grew my first tea garden, full of peppermint, anise, chamomile and fennel. Another section had healing herb plants, such as aloe vera, horseradish and calendula. The last [section|quarter] had cosmetic [herb plants|herbs] like for lavender, chervil and lemon verbena that I used in soaps, lotions and shampoos.
It was a fabulous success that first year and I enjoyed the experience, but in the second year, my mints took over and my chamomile crept away while my lavender died a painfully tragic sunlight-related death.
It did not work, because I hadn’t looked at the most important thing: what my herbs need in earth, light and water to thrive and grow successfully.
While there are enough varieties of herb plants to grow outside to fill a hundred gardens, including dill, rosemary, salvias, scented geranium and vervain before you begin your herb garden check out the optimal growing conditions that your herbs will need. Each [plant|herb] [require|need]s optimal conditions to [thrive|persist|grow|survive] and prosper. Try [herb plants|herbs] like white willow, thyme, sage, poppies and lemon balm.
Plant these herbs for instant success:
- Basil: If you plant basil, you will be on easy street because basil will not need much help from you. Basil requires full or part-sun and can grow in a bed or container, as long as it has good drainage, which reminds me to mention that you will only need to water it when the soil is dry. If you are going to be cooking with your basil, be sure to use the sweet basil type of the herb for best results.
- Lemongrass: You cannot beat the aroma of lemongrass. It’s one of the happy little grasses that can get pretty tall in a single growing season, adding a spot of bright green color your garden and a delicious lemon scent. Although you can begin with seeds, I buy mine from the local greenhouse, probably because I cannot wait to add that fresh lemongrass to my Thai and Indian dinners.
- Cilantro: I must confess that cilantro is my new favorite herb to grow in my garden and use in my cooking. Its distinctive taste makes it an awesome addition to your Tex-Mex dinners and it is simple to grow.
- Chamomile: To add some extra sparkle to your hanging baskets, try the German kind of this chamomile. Snip off a few of the leaves to use in your calming tea or even your bath for some added luxury. Chamomile is considered to be a sensual plant because it has a light and woody apple scent that can heighten your senses. It can also make you smile because it looks like a daisy with white petals and a yellow center.
So test the waters, have fun, go dig in the dirt and get your hands dirty …there are a lot of ways to herb garden outside and none of them is the only way to do it—there is no right way, there is only your way.
Good luck with your herb gardening outside. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Herb Garden Designs. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
