Basic Herb Garden Tips

Most require only sunlight and good drainage, with average soil. They vary widely is size, from small ground huggers to large bushes.

Knowing the basic requirements and ultimate size of individual plants are basic herb gardening tips that will produce a successful and abundant harvest of fresh herbs for cooking, healing, cosmetic, and aromatic uses.

Know your Environment

Study your environment before starting any beds. Note where the sun is at different parts of the day and where shadows are cast by surrounding trees and buildings.

Look at the soil in different parts of the area. Are there places that don't drain well? Is there a slope that water runs off quickly? Is the soil heavy clay or sandy?

Knowing these things about your garden area will make the job of starting a basic herb garden easier and will help you place the correct herb plants in the garden.

Start with the Best Plants

When you visit the nursery, look for plants that are healthy. Check for bare spots on the stems, flowering on leggy plants and a shortage of foliage.

Plants that have uneven shapes haven't been pinched back properly during early growth and won't produce well. These are all plants that you should avoid.

Don't assume a larger plant is better; if it's leggy or roots are growing out of the bottom of the pot, it hasn't been given the care it needs.

Select Plants for Sun Exposure

Most herb plants need at least four to six hours of sunlight daily. These include lavenders, caraway, marsh mallow, lovage, comfrey and catnip.

However, some prefer dappled shade, especially those with gold and yellow in the leaves. Always check the tags on plants or seed packs and give plants the correct sun exposure.

Select Plants for Soil Type

Though most herbs tolerate any garden soil, some prefer a sunny spot with soil that stays damp, like angelica, coriander, mace and bergamot.

Others actually like damp shaded areas, including parsleys, hyssop, gingermint, and pennyroyal. For planting along the edge of water, try comfrey, meadowsweet and rosemary.

By giving herbs the correct growing conditions, you're providing the ideal environment for them to thrive.

Keep seed packs and labels during the growing season and refer back to them if you need to move or divide plants.

By utilizing these basic herb garden tips, you'll have a lush and rewarding season in the herb garden.