Starting an Herb Garden



Posted: Friday, April 28, 2006

by lorien1973
Online Discount Mart Home & Garden Decor

Growing your own fresh herbs can be both enjoyable and save you money. If you have an empty space in your yard and love cooking with only the freshest ingredients, starting your own herb garden will guarantee that adding delicious flavor to your dishes is always just a few snips away.

The first step in insuring a prosperous herb garden is selecting the right location. Ideally, the best spot for your garden is somewhere conveniently close to your kitchen as you’ll be more likely to use your fresh herbs while cooking if they are easily accessible. Make sure to choose a home for your herbs that is large enough to accommodate your new garden. While herb gardens can be as small as four feet by six feet, the typical size is closer to four feet by twenty feet so it’s a good idea to measure out and mark your intended area before you start to dig. You’ll also want to make sure that the entire location is a place that will receive at least four to six hours of direct sunlight per day and also allows for good drainage.

Once you have your herb garden mapped out begin by spading the area approximately six to twelve inches down, paying close attention to the condition of the soil. Since proper drainage is so important to healthy herb plants you’ll want to double check that your location will indeed drain properly. If you suspect your chosen area may retain too much moisture dig an additional three inches deeper and fill that extra depth with crushed stone. You can now return the soil you removed back into to your garden spot. It is recommended to add compost to your soil at this stage in order to lighten the soil and ensure better growth. Avoid adding excessive fertilizers to your garden as they are counterproductive. Herbs that are exposed to large amounts of fertilizer produce an over abundance of foliage while creating less of their essential oils, which are responsible for the scent and flavor of the plant.

Your new garden is now ready to receive your chosen herb plants. For the greatest ease in starting your herb garden visit your local plant nursery and purchase young plants that have already been started for you. When deciding which herbs you want in your garden keep in mind flavors that you are familiar with and enjoy as you’ll be more likely to use them in your cooking. Some excellent herbs to start out with are basil, chives, rosemary, sage and thyme.

To transplant your new herbs into your garden read and follow the directions that came with the plant in regards to spacing between plants and planting depth. Always take extra care when removing young plants from their original container. The recommended method of removal is to gently squeeze the sides of the pot to loosen the roots of the plant. Next place your index and middle fingers on top of the pot and turn the pot upside down and gently squeeze again until the plant falls out. When transplanting your new herbs do make sure to keep the top of the original soil level with the soil in the ground and pack the dirt firmly around the root ball of the plant.

You have now arrived at the maintenance portion of owning your own herb garden which will require weeding the garden on a regular basis and ensuring your plants receive enough water. To keep unwanted weeds at bay place a layer of mulch such as chipped or shredded bark between your plants. The mulch will also aid in retaining moisture. A good watering guide is to supplement the amount of water your plants receive when the amount of rainfall is below one inch per week.

Once your herbs have grown enough foliage to maintain growth you can begin harvesting the fresh leaves. The optimum time of day for harvesting is in the morning once the dew has evaporated off the leaves but before the sun is in full force as this is when the oils in the leaves are the most concentrated. When harvesting your herbs avoid placing them in a plastic bag or closed container. Instead opt for an open weave basket that will allow air circulation and keep your herbs fresher until they are ready to use. It is recommended to only harvest as many herbs as you plan on using that day to ensure optimum freshness and taste.

Growing herbs can be a very rewarding and tasty endeavor. All that is required is a little planning, care and patience and soon you’ll be reaping the flavorful rewards of having grown your own natural herbs.
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