I want to plant a herb garden..

Lifeisbutadream

..but my fingers are far from green!

I would really appreciate any advice on the following - we have quite a big garden:

1. What sort of herbs are the easiest to look after?

2. How much space do I need?

3. Where is the best place to plant? i.e. sun or shade?

4. What time of year is best to plant?

5. Will they last throughout the winter or will I need to plant them again next year?

6. Is it worth the hassle, or am I best off just buying fresh herbs when I need them??:D

Thanks in anticipation...

TallGirl

It is quite easy to grow your own herbs and they are fab if you like cooking. I am not a gardening expert but I have grown my own for the last 12 years. I have all of mine in pots and this is what I grow:

I always have chives and they come back year after year but sometimes you might need to divide them.
I also like parsley that lasts about 3 years then you need new stuff. You can grow them from seeds or by a plant at the garden centre. Basil is best to grow in a pot indoors I grow mine in the kitchen window sill and have enough to make pesto with.
Thyme is also good I grow it in a pot as it does not like too much water.
Rosemary is a pretty bush and can be grown in the garden that is the next thing I need to get as my neighbour who I used to get it fresh from has dug his up.
I am currently growing Rocket from seeds I had that in a plug plant last time and it was great until it got too leggy so it needs to be cut regularly.

I think it is more difficult to grow from seed so perhaps start of looking in your garden centre they sometimes have little plug plant selection of herbs.
Herbs are easy just don’t over water and perhaps have them in separate pots until you figure out what likes water and which ones likes it dryer. Some of them will go into seed quite quickly so keep using them and if you have too much you can always use it to make stock or freeze it. I make mine into herby garlic butter I freeze in a long roll then cut from frozen when I need some.

Good luck with it.

angelavdavis

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

..but my fingers are far from green!

I would really appreciate any advice on the following - we have quite a big garden:

1. What sort of herbs are the easiest to look after?

Mint, marjoram, rosemary, sage, flat leaf parsley, thyme and lemon thyme are all easy to grow. I buy mint, sage and thyme plants and keep them trimmed (if you plant mint in a big pot with the others, actually pot into a plastic pot and sink the whole thing in else it will take over the entire container over time!) Mint will die off during winter and come back in spring.

I also have a large bay tree that I keep and cut pieces to dry the leaves out regularly, but it grows to quite a size, so either keep in a pot on its own or keep as a bush in the garden.


From seed, I have found coriander, tarragon, parsley, as many types of basil as I can manage, chives are all easy to grow. All will die off in winter except parsley and tarragon will return - the rest are annuals. I have had no luck at all growing rosemary from seed so always buy plants. If you have a veg patch, garlic is also a winner in my house!

2. How much space do I need?

At my boyfriends, I just have a square container 18" - this contains marjoram, flat leaf parsley, mint, tarragon, sage and thyme.

At my own house, I have two huge round containers about 3 foot across. I also grow thyme in gaps between paviours.

Garlic needs a larger area such as a veg patch. Rocket can be grown in pots too, but will be better in a veg patch too.

3. Where is the best place to plant? i.e. sun or shade?

Most will thrive in the sun, but my planter at my b/fs is in the shade and manages well enough.

4. What time of year is best to plant?

Now for most of them! You might have more luck with a heated propagator for some seeds that need a bit more heat (or on top of a not too hot rad).

5. Will they last throughout the winter or will I need to plant them again next year?

see above

6. Is it worth the hassle, or am I best off just buying fresh herbs when I need them??:D

Absolutely, they last forever, you get far more choice (eg I grow about seven different types of basil ranging from licorice, to black, varigated, etc and all taste fab) and you find you use them far more than usual when they are just outside the back door. In addition, you can freeze in bags over winter or dry out as required in a warm oven that is cooling down after your roast has been cooked.

Thanks in anticipation...

Give it a go!! Good luck!