Herbs are plants with aromatic properties that are used for seasoning or flavouring food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. They have a fleshy or juicy stem when they’re young. The stems of some herbs develop hard, woody tissues when they grow old.
If you are thinking of starting an herb garden at home, all you need is – well-drained soil, a little sunshine, water, and a little fertiliser. You can grow herbs in decorative pots or existing flower & vegetable beds. They are highly adaptable that will grow in the garden, on a balcony, patio or even indoors.
Here is a list of simple steps to help you start an herb garden.
Choose the right location
When planning to start an herb garden, you need to look for a location that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.
Prepare the soil
If the soil is sandy or heavy, add plenty of compost. Digging with a large garden fork loosens soil that has become hard over the years. It will make space for roots to reach down into the soil & allow water to drain. Use composted manures in the herb garden. It will provide nutrients to the herbs while they’re growing.
Select your herbs
Pick the herbs that you’d like to grow. Herbs can be started from seed or planted as plants. Some of the common herbs to grow when starting an herb garden are- basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, coriander, lavender, fennel, parsley, sage, etc.
Choose your container
After you have picked the herbs you’d like to grow, you need to find the right container. You can put them in a variety of containers, including ceramic pots, wooden boxes, vases, and metal boxes. Planting herbs in a container allows you to move them indoors when the weather turns cold. You can move them outdoors when the weather is ready for them. Either place your herbs in individual containers or plant herbs with similar growing requirements together in a bigger container.
Feed your Herbs
Once your herbs are planted, make sure to water them regularly, especially in the summer months. Do not over-water. It can lead to diseases or poor growing conditions. Herbs are easy to maintain; they don’t require fertiliser as long as you use high-quality potting soil. Make sure you check the plant tag for the special needs of each herb.
Harvest your herbs
Harvest before your herbs start flowering. They taste best before flowering. Never remove more than 1/3rd of the plant, so that it can continue growing throughout the season. Just pinch off individual leaves not the whole stalk. By cutting close to a leaf intersection, your herbs will grow back quickly.
Growing your herbs is a lot more convenient. It not only saves money but also makes you taste the difference and add a variety to your dishes.
