Herb Gardening Basics

Many people overlook herbs when they decide to plant a garden. But there are many great reasons to plant an herb garden as herbs have many uses. Herbs can enhance gardens by adding color and many great fragrances. They are also used in many recipes making them well worth the effort of growing them.

Once you have decided to plant herbs, you should plant them where they will be easily accessible. This is because they can be frequently harvested. You don’t have to put them in a garden; they can also grow in containers or window boxes. You can also plant them on their own, separate from your vegetable garden.

There are many types of herbs to choose from, something you probably know if you’ve done a lot of cooking. There are annuals, biennials, and perennials. Basil is a good example of an annual herb, which means they are seeded each year. A biennial herb is parsley, which needs two seasons of growth. Perennial herbs, such as chives, grow back on their own each year. Most herbs will require the same growing conditions, which are six hours at least of sunlight per day, good soil drainage, and rich soil. A little fertilizer will also help.

When you decide to plant you will want to use about two pounds of 5-10-10 per 100 square feet during soil preparation a day or two before you plant. Growing herbs is a trial and error process. You may need to dig up an herb and move it to a new location if it’s not doing well.