wanting to do a herb garden, any advice?

shopaholic2006

Well with all the bad weather at the moment and bein my first year on allotment, thought i couldn't go far wrong with herbs :rolleyes: (or so she thinks)
I have an area i've got in mind next to a small grassed area, bout 4 metres across and half metre wide (approximately). Do i need to divide the area into sections? I would like to grow basil, corriander chives parsley thyme mint lavender poss a few more. Do i just sow a few seeds directly into a small patch or do ineed to start them off in pots first then plant them out. Also are there any that shouldn't be grown next to each other? sorry for all the questions, many thanks :beer:

Farway

Watch out for the mint, it is very invasive and will spread like wildfire

Best plant mint in a large pot sunk into ground, even then keep a look out for it creeping over the rim where it will readily root

The rest you can plant where you like, without dividing into sections, as they are all quite well behaved, but lavender may get straggly in time

Probably better to sow into pots as you are on allotment and you can keep an eye on the seedlings until ready

Lavender & mint I would buy as plants, the mint from a supermarket will do unless you want a certain type

You could do same for the other herbs as well, but basil may be better from seed this time of year, if you look on the threads you will see parsley from seed is tricky, so again plants may be easier in long run

PZH

Farway wrote: »

...if you look on the threads you will see parsley from seed is tricky, so again plants may be easier in long run

D'oh!! Just got some parsley seeds - lol

My bay tree and rosemary bushes are going great guns and need cutting back regularly. Thyme and Chives are very easy ( watch out for the chives self-seeding ) - but I bought these as small plants.

Lemon balm is very nice - and smells great - although I don't use it in anything.

I have always struggled with basil - either too small or just die - it is very tender and needs full sun.

Fidget21

I've been told that to get a greater success rate with parsley seeds you need to pour boiling water on the area you're sowing then sprinkle your seeds while it is still steaming hot and then cover with compost. Haven't tried it myself yet but have been reliably informed by somebody 'in the know'.

wattapain

Dill is reasonably easy to grow - but does need heat to get started - so put in the airing cupboard to germinate tgen keep indoors/under glass till big enough to plant out.
agree re mint - always keep mine in pots - have several types.
Always find parsley ok though - I usually have better results sowing direct into the ground.
Good luck though - you just cannot beat the taste of your own home grown herbs (well any veg really, esp lettuces, tomatoes etc, etc):j
Terri

Penelope_Penguin

Oregano is easy to grow from seed. I'd sprinkle a few seeds into a pot, then transplant when the seedlings are big enough.

shopaholic2006

thanks for the replys i went a bought 2 lavender plants from tesco homeplus reduced to 99p each. I will plant some seeds in pots at home before i plant them out, silly question but do i just plant it straight from the pot in a clump, or do i have to seperate out the plant. thanks

Farway

shopaholic2006 wrote: »

thanks for the replys i went a bought 2 lavender plants from tesco homeplus reduced to 99p each. I will plant some seeds in pots at home before i plant them out, silly question but do i just plant it straight from the pot in a clump, or do i have to seperate out the plant. thanks

You can plant in a clump, but only sow a few seeds in the first place, maybe get some of those thin plastic modules [from Wilko for instance] that fit in a standard seed tray

I did this with my hardy annuals this year, sowed a little pinch in each module then planted the resultant clump, working so far

The module trays come in various sizes

Ice_2

Hi I've just bought some fresh herbs from Lidl
basil
parsley
chives
coriander
and I wanted to put them in a window planter on the inside of my kitchen window (outside is plagued with woodlice although I have treated the area with powder this year the woodlice seem to be winning)
anyway my kitchen window doesn't get any sun what should I do and do you expect them to live or just die pathically like always....
or should I put them in with my strawberrys on the fence there is room for 2 plants in 2 planters at the back of the strawberrys which is situated in full sun...and they don't usually get any woodlice in them (to far up the fence I think) any advice appreicated...ice

I've had an idea:idea:
pot noodle pots that I was keeping to recycle for something...
heres a pic

olly300

@Ice is there any reason you need to write your posts in green?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_ink

In jounalism, Green Ink is (humorously) supposedly the major identifying characteristic of written correspondence from self-aggrandising pedants, cranks,charlatans and eccentrics.
Although no psychiatric equivalence with the preceding terms should be inferred, it is also used to refer to unusable correspondence originating with readers who are mentally ill.

http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/aboutcb.html

[SIZE=-1]Color blindness (color vision deficiency) is a condition in which certain colors cannot be distinguished, and is most commonly due to an inherited condition. Red/Green color blindness is by far the most common form, about 99%, and causes problems in distinguishing reds and greens.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]

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Farway

Ice wrote: »

Hi I've just bought some fresh herbs from Lidl
basil
parsley
chives
coriander
and I wanted to put them in a window planter on the inside of my kitchen window (outside is plagued with woodlice although I have treated the area with powder this year the woodlice seem to be winning)
anyway my kitchen window doesn't get any sun what should I do and do you expect them to live or just die pathically like always....
or should I put them in with my strawberrys on the fence there is room for 2 plants in 2 planters at the back of the strawberrys which is situated in full sun...and they don't usually get any woodlice in them (to far up the fence I think) any advice appreicated...ice

I've had an idea:idea:
pot noodle pots that I was keeping to recycle for something...
heres a pic

All herbs love the sun, on your sunless window sill they will pathetically die

Do them a favour & put them where they get sunshine

Woodlice, they eat dead or decaying material and will not attack your plants, but may nibble a strawberry if, for instance, a slug / bird has started on it already