A couple of questions...

kemo_2002

Hi all, im quite new to gardening and probably have left it a bit late this year but i have a couple of questions.

1) I really want a herb garden but everytime i try to grow them they always die or the rain will totally destroy them. Im ok with rosemary but rubbish with thyme (even thought its my favourite) Has anyone got any tips for a herb garden that is outside?

2) I also want to have a go at growing mushrooms, are these difficult for a newbie to grow? i absolutely love them, i also really like the flat mushrooms, can you grow these? And where is the best place/time of year. Can you get them all year around?

hope u can help!! xxxxxx

ellemm

Thyme should be pretty easy depending on your soil. Have you tried growing it in a pot?

I replied to another thread on here about herbs and so am repeating myself - I grow Rosemary, Oregano, Chives and 2 kinds of Thyme outside in my wee herb plot (in the ground). I don't have very good soil but they seem to grow well.
I grow Mint in a pot as it can be a bit of a thug and invasive if amongst other plants.
Trying Lemon Balm this year too.

Parsley, Basil and Coriander I keep indoors on the sunny kitchen windowsill. I buy these as 99p plants in Lidl (when they are newly delivered) and re-pot into larger pots, they can then last for ages.

HTH

wssla00

Hello!!! I grow thyme in a pot... seems to do well in a sheltered spot with some shade and a well draining soil. I grow this and chives together and then in the ground I have rosemary, parsley and sage. They seem better in a sunny spot. In another pot I have mint as It acts like a weed and will if you let it take over the space of the other herbs. In the winter I will cut it all down, dry the excess and then put some protection over them for my harsh scottish winter.

I also had a kit for mushrooms but it was very laborious so gave it away. I think I got it from Homebase around october time last year.

Have fun!

edenhendry

All the herbs are pretty much mediterranean plants - they like warm soil, that drains freely (i.e. doesn't get too wet). Because of this, they are good to grow in pots and raised beds, as the water can drain away to lower soil easily.

Also, most will survive cold winters, as long as they aren't waterlogged. If their roots are stuck in cold, wet soil they will rot away.

Try to plant them in John Innes No. 3 compost, rather than multipurpose compost.

And get them in a sunny spot!