Modern farming techniques and groceries made herbs more available and the home herb garden saw a rapid decline.
Today, however, many gardeners and home cooks are revisiting the idea of a home herb garden. They are also rediscovering the differences between herbs fresh from the garden and herbs bought at the local grocery chain store.
Here is a good list of beginning herb gardeners and some helpful planting tips.
Herbs with Strong Flavors and Scents
- Winter Savory
- Rosemary
- Sage
Herbs to Accent Foods
- Dill
- Mint
- Oregano
- Sweet Basil
- Sweet Marjoram
- Tarragon
- Thyme
Herbs for Garnish or For Special Flavoring
- Chives
- Parsley
- Summer Savory
Remember that some herbs are annuals, some are biennials, and many others are perennials.
Annuals - These Grow One Season and Then Die
- Anise
- Basil
- Borage
- Chervil
- Coriander (Cilantro)
- Dill
Biennials
- Caraway
- Parsley
Perennials
- Catnip
- Chives
- Lavender
- Lemon Verbena
- Mint
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Tarragon
Growing Herbs
First, determine the size of the herb garden. Many gardeners incorporate their herbs in the rest of their garden. For instance, oregano and thyme make great ground covers for flower gardens. Roses especially love these herbs. Keep invasive herbs in pots or in plots where they can be tended and their aggressiveness curbed. This is especially true with mint, and many a gardener has regretted planting mint and letting it go. It’s so aggressive that it will literally take over a garden in no time.
Drainage
Drainage is one of the most important considerations in herb gardening. That’s because herbs like well-drained soil. Most herbs do very well in raised beds, with a mixture of soil, compost and green sand.
Fertility
Most herbs are not very particular about the fertility of the soil. In fact, if the soil is too fertile, chances are the herbs will have reduced flavors. In the herb garden, tread lightly with fertilizers, even organic ones.
Growing from Seed
Almost all herbs grow readily from seed. Plant indoors in early spring and transplant outside when all danger of frost is past, or plant seeds outdoors after last-frost day.
Controlling Mint
Aggressive herbs like mint need to be restrained. Planting mint in pots works very well. Another method is to sink a clay pot, hollow cement block, drain tile, clay chimney riser, or any other similar container about six inches into the soil. Fill the container with soil and then plant the mint. This should keep them under control for a few seasons.
Harvesting
Pick new and fresh tender leaves of the herb plant. The best time to pick herbs is late early morning – after the dew has dried off and before the sun gets too hot.
Winter Care
Herbs generally have shallow root systems, and are susceptible to frozen ground and to heaving during thaws. Apply pine needles, straw, leaves or other natural organic material mulch to the soil over the plants. The mulch should be at least four inches deep and should remain until the plants begin showing green growth in early spring. Removing the mulch too early could cause frost damage.
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