copyright: lifeisjustducky€¦ · 4. dill dill is also known as dill weed and is best grown from...

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Copyright: LifeIsJustDucky.com

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A simple tutorial on how to start an herb garden.

Quick and easy for novice gardeners!

First of all, why grow herbs?

An herb garden is one of the easiest ways to dip your toe into the world of

gardening, which is why it’s excellent for beginner gardeners.

And fresh herbs at the ready is a true blessing, especially for everyday use in the

kitchen. Herbs make cooking (and eating) so much more enjoyable and flavorful!

Unfortunately, buying fresh herbs

at the grocery store can be expensive, and it’s not very

convenient, either. Before I started

growing herbs, it would never fail

that I wouldn’t have the herb I

needed when I wanted to cook a

favorite dish or pickle some okra.

Besides, when you grow your own

herbs at home, you’ll be ensuring

that the herbs you put into your food

and into your body are free from

pesticides and other harmful

chemicals. Plus, nothing can compare in taste with fresh, home-grown herbs!

And speaking of health, there are many reasons to grow herbs. You can make your

own tea and medicinals, anytime you want! Herbs are jam-packed with minerals,

phytonutrients and other good for you stuff.

Herbs also make amazing companion plants in your vegetable garden. Many chase

away pests, or can be used as a trap crop to lure the bad nasties away from your

future dinner.

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And a pot of rosemary on your counter can smell AMAZING whenever it is lightly

brushed.

Why Grow Herbs?

• Save money

• Deter unwanted insects in the garden

• Attract beneficial bugs

• Newly harvested herbs taste the best

• They smell amazing

• Herbal tea!

As you can see, there are many reasons to grow herbs. They are the gift that keeps

on giving, all season long.

Growing Herbs

Just by meeting some fairly basic

needs, herbs will grow successfully

in a home garden, in a container

garden or even on your window

sill.

It turns out the process is pretty easy

and doesn’t require too much time

or money.

Whether you plant them in their own garden, tucked in with the landscaping, in your

vegetable garden, a container garden or individual pots on your window sill, herbs,

like all plants, have some basic needs.

Should you choose annual or perennial plants?

When creating an herb garden or deciding which herbs to grow in containers, it’s

worth knowing whether or not your chosen herb is annual or perennial.

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Annuals are plants that last one season and then dies. Most are easy to start from

seed.

Annual herbs such as: Basil, Cilantro, Parsley and Dill are rapid growing and can

be re-sown all spring and summer to ensure you have a continuous fresh crop of

herbs.

Perennials will live for years if given the right growing condition.

Perennial herbs such as: Oregano, Mint, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary and Chives are

slower growing and will require a permanent home.

When you first start with an herb

garden, here are some herbs that tend

to grow well together:

Mediterranean varieties: Thyme,

Rosemary, oregano, lavender and

sage. These need more sun and less

water.

Moisture Loving: Basil, Parsley and

Cilantro. These prefer more moisture

than the Mediterranean listed above,

and Mint loves the most water of

all…but still well drained.

Plants or Seeds

Most annuals are easy to grow from seeds. Poke them in damp soil and in 3 or 4

weeks you will be picking your first herb harvest. If you let them go to seed, many

will easily self-seed.

Perennials on the other hand could take all summer before they are ready to start

harvesting. Some people prefer to by plants so they can enjoy some the first season.

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Where should you make the perfect home for your herbs?

With the exception of the Mediterranean’s needing a little less water. Most herbs

need similar conditions.

Sunlight

To grow the best herbs, you need is a sunny spot. Most herbs prefer full sun as

long as summer temperatures do not go over 90°F. In case you have very warm

summers, plant in the space that will get morning sun and afternoon shade.

Space

Make sure you give them their

space. Most herbs grow quickly and

can get fairly large. You don’t want

them to be too crowded. Plant your

herbs at least 10 -12 inches apart.

Rosemary would like even more.

Some herbs, like mint, should be

kept in their own pot as they grow

rapidly and can crowd out

surrounding plants. Other plants

can share a box/pot, as long as you make sure they each have enough room.

Soil

Next to sunlight, the soil is the most important factor. A soil with a lot of nutrients

available will produce nutritious herbs.

Start with well-drained soil with a PH between 6.5 and 7. Make sure it is amended

with a good amount of compost.

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Watering

Most herbs wish to be watered as soon as the soil is dry to the touch. You have to

check the soil quite often for moisture. Don’t over-water and make sure there is

good drainage. More water will not be good and might result in diseases or just

poor conditions in your herbs, which can bring about poor growth.

Soil in containers tends to dry out more quickly than soil in the ground. Check

your container herbs every day or so.

Feed your new friends.

Like any plant your herbs need to be fed.

Start with good soil and then every week or

two side dress with a small amount of a

complete organic fertilizer, fish emulsion

or worm tea. Feeding consistently is better

than a feast and then famine.

Container plants especially need the extra

nutrition, both because of the extra

watering and because the roots can’t search

as far to find food and there aren’t as many

microbes to feed the plant.

Harvesting / Pruning.

My number one tip for growing herbs is to prune them often. The more you prune

your herbs the fuller they will grow.

Keeping your herbs nicely trimmed will help them grow better. They will become

bushier, put out more leaves and will not go to seed as quickly, giving you more of

what you are growing them for.

And Use them! We love to add dill to our pickled okra, lemon thyme and chives to

our soups and fish and rosemary to our meat. Salads taste so much more flavorful

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with dill, parsley, chives and lemon thyme too. (Did I mention I like lemon

thyme?) And don’t even get me started on basil….

We love to add mint to our summer ice tea and fruit drinks …and in the winter a

warming mint tea is so soothing.

Once you get in the habit of using your herbs when you cook, you will wonder

how you ever got along without them.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Watering too much (except mint which likes it wet)

• Not trimming enough

• Trimming from the wrong

place. Take the leaves from the

top so your plant gets bushy

• Forgetting to fertilize

• Not using them!

Easy to preserve

Once you start growing herbs, you

may never have to buy them again.

That’s because, even off-season, you

can have plenty to use if you

preserve it properly. There are so many different ways to preserve herbs. Both

dehydration and freezing are so easy to do.

And that’s it. Easy right?

Okay, now, what to grow?

The simple answer is – grow what you like to eat. I can’t say that loud enough.

Don’t grow what you won’t use.

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What herbs do you find yourself buying at the grocery store? Choose those herbs

to grow.

Now let’s learn about a few herbs you might like to try.

Below is a list of 10 herbs that are pretty easy to grow. If you’re new to gardening,

don’t feel intimidated! Remember, all you’ll need is sunlight, water, good soil, and

a decent container or garden. You don’t even need a yard!

In fact, many gardeners prefer to grow their herbs in containers on their balcony,

patio, or on a windowsill near their kitchen.

10 Easy-to-Grow Herbs for Your Herb Garden

1. Basil

Basil is one of the most grown herbs and it’s not hard to see why. It’s delicious in

pasta, salads, and pizza. Anything Italian has to have basil. Basil is usually grown

as an annual and the plants need

lots of sun and moist soil that is

well-drained. When you water the

plant, water the soil only, as

wetting the leaves can promote

mildew growth. Harvest

regularly. Basil needs about 6

hours of sunlight but will start to

flower when the temperatures get

too high. This will change the

flavor, but the bees will love it.

2. Cilantro

Cilantro makes food like tacos,

tostadas and all things Mexican,

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really yummy. Like basil, it’s best to throw in cilantro toward the end of cooking to

preserve the flavor. Cilantro is an annual and prefers a humid environment. It

needs about 6 hours of sunlight a day, though it doesn’t like very high

temperatures. Cilantro is a great source of antioxidants. If you let it go to seed, you

will have coriander too.

3. Chives / Garlic Chives

Chives are excellent herbs for beginner gardeners because they are so easy to

grow. Being a perennial, chives can come back every spring. They also readily

self-sow if allowed to flower. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight. Water

frequently and make sure the soil is well-drained. You can expect the chives to

grow to about 12 inches tall, (garlic chives

even taller), and they can spread out about a

foot wide. The flower is edible too! Chives

make a great edging plant (think along a

sidewalk or edge of a flower garden.) They

do very well indoors in containers on a

bright windowsill. They have such a

wonderful delicate flavor and make a

wonderful garnish, so add them to

everything.

4. Dill

Dill is also known as dill weed and is best

grown from seed as it doesn’t like to be

transplanted. It likes plenty of water, but

needs good drainage and at least 6 hours of

sunlight. It can’t take the heat, so if you are

growing it in the hottest regions of the country, consider spring and fall plantings

and partial shade if you try to take it through the summer. Dill likes a lower PH.

It’s happiest at 5.5 to 6.5. Most varieties get pretty tall, so your window sill may

not work. It is easy to grow and attracts beneficial insects. It is known as a

companion plant for cabbage. Dill can be used two ways. You can pick the leaves

or wait for the seeds. It readily self-sows so remove flowers as they appear if you

don’t want the seeds and you don’t want to be removing seedlings. Add to dishes

at the last minute for best flavor or use it raw in refrigerator pickles or salads.

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5. Mint

Mint is another extremely easy herb to grow. In fact, be careful where you choose

to plant it as it can become invasive and take over. Mint likes a lot of water. Mine

in south Florida is very happy when our every afternoon showers start. I do have to

keep it in the dappled shade though as it gets really hot here. To plant, use a

purchased plant or herb cuttings, as they do not come up true to type. (If you plant

a mint seed you might get peppermint, spearmint or common mint) Mint likes a

moist, well-drained soil. It makes a wonderful tummy settling tea.

6. Oregano

Oregano is not only flavorful but

medicinal, too. It thrives in a warm

climate and, if brought inside in

the winter, will continue to grow

year after year. Water the plant

when the soil is dry to the touch,

and make sure the soil is well-

drained. It can grow to about 2 feet

tall. So give your oregano enough

space. Your container should be at

least 12 inches wide and

deep. Oregano has antibacterial

properties and makes a healthful

tea for sore throats.

7. Parsley

You can grow parsley from seed, but you might want to choose seedling as they

can take a while to grow. Parsley is in the carrot family so be aware that it also

takes a long time to germinate. Parsley comes in two different varieties, flat leaf or

curly leaf. The plant is pretty drought-resistant but they’ll thrive in moist soil and

plenty of sunshine. A friend once told me her mother said to eat the parsley on her

plate and throw the rest away as the parsley was by far the most nutritious part. I

wouldn’t go that far, but tossing some in anywhere you can might be a good idea.

It’s also wonderful for combatting bad breath

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8. Rosemary

Since rosemary grows very slowly and can take months to mature, I recommend

purchasing a large rosemary plant from your local garden center or grocery store.

If you are in a cold climate, plant it in a container that you can bring inside (under

lights of some type or near a sunny window) to grow in the winter. A rosemary

plant can grow for years. Avoid mildew by not over-watering and keeping their

leaves dry and give them space so they get enough air circulation. Make sure the

herb gets plenty of sunshine each day. Rosemary is known as a brain tonic, helping

to boost memory. It also makes a great hair rinse and it smells wonderful!

9. Sage

This versatile herb needs full sun but hates extreme temperatures. Avoid over-

watering, as mildew can wreak havoc on this drought-resistant plant. Sage will

grow as a perennial in zones 5-8, but is usually grown as an annual in the other

zones as it just doesn’t like temperature extremes. Its flavor is best when fresh.

Sage is high in nutrients especially Vitamin K and is believed to aid brain health.

10. Thyme / Lemon Thyme

Since thyme is difficult to get started, (and lemon thyme seeds are hard to find.)

It’s easier to buy the plant instead of growing them from seeds. There are many

different varieties to choose from, so find your favorite and since it is a perennial it

will be with you for years. It has the same needs for growing as rosemary. This

herb needs full sun and doesn’t like to be over-watered. Mildew can be a problem

with thyme. Thyme is an easy herb to grow because it’s very low-maintenance and

will do perfectly fine with little fussing from you. But cut it back often and it will

come right back. There are many believed health benefits with Thyme. So throw it

in everything. Then make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy!

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Taking the time to plant an herb garden is very easy and

satisfying. By starting an herb garden and growing herbs, you

can add beauty to your garden, flavor to your kitchen and

health to your body.

I believe everyone can grow at least part of their own food!

Let me show you how.

copyright: lifeisjustducky€¦ · 4. dill dill is also known as dill weed and is best grown from...

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