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Grow Your Own Herbs: Outdoor Herb Garden Design

August 7th, 2009 Posted in Green Living & News

When comparing herb cultivation techniques, you should ask yourself a few preliminary questions:

• How much time are you willing to devote to upkeep?
• What types of herbs, and in what quantities, do you want to grow?
• Are you interested in a functional garden yielding herbs intended for culinary/medicinal uses, or trying to accentuate landscaping with a pleasing design?

Each garden has advantages and disadvantages. Growing outdoors requires more time spent on upkeep (weed killer, winterizing, etc.), but offers more options concerning the quantity/variety you want to grow. Cultivating in an Indoor Herb Garden restricts quantity and variety, but implies less upkeep time and less cost.

This article covers Outdoor Herb Gardening:

• Finding the Right Location
• Soil Preparation
• Seeds vs. Seedlings
• Harvesting Tips

Location, Location, Location

Most herbs require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day; so, pick plots accordingly. For novices, it might be smart to keep the first garden small; a 4′x4′ tract should allow you to grow about 8-10 different herbs.

Once you have found a suitable location, start thinking about design. If you aren’t cultivating purely for beauty, there are still ways to make your functional garden visually pleasing.

Figure out the height and space requirements of herbs you’re considering before finalizing design:

• Typically, it looks nice for taller plants to be in back with shortest up front; but really, it’s up to what you, the gardener, prefers.
• Plant perennials/biennials where they won’t be disturbed.
• Keep frequently used plants in an inconspicuous position so your garden won’t be tarnished by gaps after harvesting.

Soil Preparation

The best soil is rich and dark, implying high levels of nutrients. If soil lacks nutrients, use a raised bed in which you create a soil mix, or augment soil composition.

Discard rocks, large chunks, or patches of grass growing on your plot. Tilling is the best time to add nutrient-rich compost, manure, or humus, to a heavy, clay-rich soil. These chunky, organic materials facilitate drainage and air-circulation.

If the soil is clay-rich, adding sand helps improve drainage. However, sand-rich soil may cause over-drainage; so, add more soil/compost than you typically would (around 25% compost is a typical mixture). Composting/mulching also maintains the neutral to slightly-alkaline soil that herbs prefer.

Note:Herbs require less fertilizer than fruits and vegetables, and over-exposure results in low flavor quality. Adding compost to the surface of the bed at the beginning of spring should be sufficient.

Seeds vs. Seedlings

It’s advisable for beginners to use nursery seedlings. Choose healthy, compact plants.

Pull plants out of their pots and check if they’re pot-bound. If pot-bound, spread roots out at bottom of root ball.

1. Plant seedlings at a depth equal to that of original containers.
2. Then, surround with 2-3 inches of mulch, helping to retain moisture.
3. Finally, water to remove air pockets.

Plant bare-root plants at 2-3 times the depth of the root in a hole 2-3 times the width.

Sprouting from seeds avoids soil-borne diseases possibly affecting seedlings. Some herbs don’t deal well with transplanting (anise, coriander, dill); so, seed these directly into soil.

1. Plant seeds at a shallow depth (2-3 times size of seed).
2. Spread evenly, and water generously throughout germination.

For transplant-friendly herbs, it’s great to plant inside in late winter, transplanting in early spring. Soaking seeds in water overnight or placing them on a wet paper-towel inside a sealed sandwich bag for a few days spurs germination. Once sprouts are about an inch long, transplant to soil.

A Few Harvesting Tips

• Don’t let herbs bloom if harvesting leaves due to diminished oil production.
• Harvest right before use, but don’t take more than 1/3 of plant.
• Don’t harvest after late fall to allow herb enough resources to survive winter.
• Morning harvesting is best because oils are at highest concentration.