Tips for Planning Your Herb Garden


One of the joys of having some herbs growing in your garden or in a pot is to be able to just clip as much fresh herbs as you want for your cooking or your crafts.

The taste of fresh herbs compared to dried herbs is monumental, and you will soon become addicted to always having some on hand at all times.

But when it comes to planting your first herbs to get your kitchen garden going, you need to know a bit about the fundamentals.

If you're anything like the average herb gardener, it can be mind-boggling looking through seed catalogs and trying to choose just a few varieties to plant.

There are so many types of herbs to plant - you're probably tempted to plant almost all of them! But most of us don't have the space to plant that many, or the time or energy to care for them all.

There are three basic types of herbs - herbaceous, evergreen, and annual.

The type of herb will depend on how it grows, what type of plant it is, and its habits. Herbaceous herbs are perennial.

They die back during the winter, but some back again in the spring.

Some common herbs of this type include oregano, tarragon, bee balm, mint, chives, sweet fennel, and winter savory.

They don't need to be pruned; you just clip them off at ground level at the end of the season.

They can even be mowed down with a mower. Always be careful with mint. It spreads quickly, and can take over an entire garden if you let it.

Evergreen herbs are perennial herbs that require pruning if you don't harvest them regularly.

They should be pruned every fall or early in the spring. Evergreen herbs include sage, rosemary, and thyme.

When you prune, you should only clip those branches that are old and don't show any signs of new growth.

Any that are broken or lying on other branches should also be pruned.

When you harvest evergreen herbs, you should be careful to cut only one section of leaves at a time, and only cut it back to where new growth is still showing.

You don't want to cut too much, or you could discourage new growth.

Annual herbs include basil, cilantro, parsley, dill, and chervil.

They must be planted again every year, because they won't come back after they die.

If you want a continual harvest of annual herbs, you have to keep planting them every four to six weeks during the season.

You should try to snip off any flower buds you see on annual herb plants, because after a plant flowers, it usually won't continue to produce leaves.

After they flower, they go to seed, at which point they're not really useful for producing leaves for your kitchen anymore.

When planning which types of herbs you wish to plant, you should choose only those varieties which you believe you'll actually use in cooking.

It will probably be very tempting to plant at least one of every type of herb you see, but it's not practical.

Plant those herbs which you know you'll really use. And keep in mind that some herbs are considered better when dried.

Sage, for example, is an herb that many people prefer the flavor of when dried.

It's probably better to just purchase those herbs which you already know you like to use fresh, as well as perhaps one or two you've never tried before just to test out.

Be careful not to plant too many types that you can't take care of them all.

Although herbs don't generally require a lot of care and maintenance, they will need a bit of work.

Don't plant twenty different varieties if you realistically only have time to care for five or ten!

Finally, be sure to check the zones that various herbs do well in.

If your favorite herb doesn't do well in your zone, you should probably skip it, or at least grow it indoors in a container.

There isn't much use planting an herb if it will likely die before it's harvested.

Ferry Morse Herb GardenFerry Morse Herb Garden

Ferry Morse My Favorite Herb Garden (Herb Varieties May Vary)Ferry Morse My Favorite Herb Garden (Herb Varieties May Vary)

12 Culinary Herb Assortment (Sage, Rosemary, Spearmint, Basil, Oregano, Cilantro, & More!) Seeds by Seed Needs12 Culinary Herb Assortment (Sage, Rosemary, Spearmint, Basil, Oregano, Cilantro, & More!) Seeds by Seed Needs

Medicinal Herb Garden Seeds Kit (10 Easy-to-grow Medicinal Plants)Medicinal Herb Garden Seeds Kit (10 Easy-to-grow Medicinal Plants)

Culinary Herb Set - 12 Packets of High Quality Seeds - Rosemary, Culinary Sage, Oregano, Italian Parsley, Cilantro, Thyme, Dill Bouquet, Mustard, Chives, Marjoram, Summer Savory & Sweet BasilCulinary Herb Set - 12 Packets of High Quality Seeds - Rosemary, Culinary Sage, Oregano, Italian Parsley, Cilantro, Thyme, Dill Bouquet, Mustard, Chives, Marjoram, Summer Savory & Sweet Basil

VARIETY PACK OF THE 12 MOST USEFUL AND POPULAR HERBS with Easy Instructions to Grow Your Own Fresh Herbs, Indoors or Out - High Quality Non-GMO and Non-Hybrid Seeds!VARIETY PACK OF THE 12 MOST USEFUL AND POPULAR HERBS with Easy Instructions to Grow Your Own Fresh Herbs, Indoors or Out - High Quality Non-GMO and Non-Hybrid Seeds!




Learn more here in our online Guide for Choosing the Right Type of Gardening for You and Your Home Garden.: Gardening Tips For Beginners.

You can also learn here about lawn care for beginners to help you grow a beautiful grass lawn.

P.S. Liked this how to do it guide? Be a sharer and spread the word on FaceBook or Twitter or G+.

And I'd love to hear your reviews or suggestions too! Just click the Comments link below and tell us your story - Thanks!

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Gardening.

"Power Tips" magazine is back!
You Get A Free Complete Self Help Report delivered to your email box every edition, plus you get a free PLR article and other great gifts!

SUBSCRIBE BELOW ...  I promise you will want to USE what you learn!

I really want to know what you think of this site, this page, and to hear your tips or suggestions about it.

So please share your story or simply add a Comment in the comment box.

If you feel that the information on this page has been useful to you please give it a Like or share it with your friends - thanks!!

"
You are a life Saver!!

I recently discovered this site and I can tell you that my life has not been the same. I now come here EVERYDAY and spend at least 1 hour.

I used to spend that time browsing online fashion and beauty magazine which just means that I spend more. Now I have replaced that habit with coming here.

In future I will think about contributing articles as well. Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!! and God bless"

Contact Us | About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FAQ | Testimonials

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.