Herbs have long been valued for their culinary and medicinal properties. Different people adore herbs for different purposes like Chefs adore fresh herbs because they add distinct flavours to a variety of foods and beverages. Gardeners adore them for all of their wonderful characteristics, including their vitality, ease of care, and inherent pest resistance.
Understanding what a herb is, can help you learn more about herb gardens. Herb gardens come in many different varieties, each with its own set of functions.
What Is a Herb?
Herbs are plants that have aromatic or fragrant properties. Herbs can be used to flavour food, as fragrances, and even as a component of natural medicines. Some herbs are used in industry or dye coloring. Since ancient times, people have used herbs in teas and balms to treat physical diseases like unsettled stomachs and illnesses brought on by stress. A garden that is used only to grow herbs is called a herb garden.
There are three types of herbs: biennials (plants that last for two seasons), annuals (plants that only last for one season), and perennials (plants that come back year after year).
To start growing herb garden follow the instructions given below:
1. Choose Your Space
Herbs thrive in almost any place that receives at least six hours of sunshine, whether you live in an apartment with a balcony or a neighborhood with a sizable garden. Don’t
give up if the only places you can grow are a little shady. Some plants, such as cilantro, parsley, and mint, can thrive with only three to four hours of direct sunlight per day.
Check the tag on a plant to find out how much light it requires. A local water supply is also essential.
2. Pick Your Growing Style
If your yard has good, well-draining soil, is sunny, and has no competing trees or plants, a herb garden in the ground should thrive. A raised bed garden, on the other hand, is a fantastic option if your soil is less than ideal.
However, if your growing space is limited, you may want to consider growing in pots. From wooden window boxes filled with trailing thyme to pretty ceramic pots filled with parsley, containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Use these guidelines to choose the right container size and design, and make sure it has drainage holes.
3. Choose Your Plants
List your favorite flavours and the things you want to do with your herbs. If you enjoy cooking, include herbs from traditional culinary collections, such as Herbes de Provence (rosemary, marjoram, thyme, oregano, and savory).
4. Build a herb garden
You should now start planting your herbs! Examine the plant tag to determine how much space to leave between each plant for healthy development and adequate ventilation. Dig a hole and plant the herb at the same depth it was in its container. Fill in around the plant, carefully pat the soil down, and then thoroughly water. To keep it from spreading and taking over the garden, plant any member of the mint family, including lemon balm, in its container. Whether you’re growing in a raised bed or on the ground, simply bury the container in the ground.
5. Treat Your Plants Well
In the summer, or if you’re growing in containers, which dry out faster than in-ground herb gardens or raised beds, check them frequently to see if they need watering. If the top inch of soil is dry, thoroughly water the area. Then, every two to three weeks, feed herbs with liquid plant food to keep them growing vigorously throughout the season.
6. Harvesting regularly
Herbs respond strongly to harvesting, and as a result of repeated cutting, they become thicker and bushier. Harvest early in the day with a pair of garden shears or kitchen scissors for the best results. Never take more than one-third of the plant away to allow the plant to recover and develop throughout the season. Also, keep in mind that herbs taste best before they bloom. For example, if you pinch back basil as soon as blooms appear, you will extend the herb’s useful harvest period.
