Tips on Different Ways To Grow an Herb Garden

If you love to garden and cook, you should consider growing an herb garden to enhance both. Growing fresh herbs can heighten the flavor in any meal. For some reason, many people never consider an herb garden, thinking it is too difficult. Herb gardens do not require special soil, they only require sunlight and water, this is the easiest garden to grow. You could plant the variety of herbs you like most and have wonderful fresh flavors to enjoy all year long. Herbs can be grown in containers on a window sill, they are great for people living in apartments or homes without yard space.

The best time to grow an herb garden starts in early spring with tiny seeds. As the weather becomes warmer, the young plants could be transplanted outdoors. For the seeds, these would be grown in four inch pots and then placed in a location with lots of sunlight. Keep in mind that while standard containers work well, any type of container could be used as long as the seeds have room to grow. Most important, if you choose anything other than a new container, use a mixture of three teaspoons bleach to a gallon of water to wash it out carefully, rinse, and then dry to kill any organisms.

If you choose a larger container, then several herbs of the same kind or different herbs could be grown together. For the best flavor from fresh herbs, flower heads need to be removed. When choosing herbs, there are annuals, which grow only one year, and perennials, which return each year. Some of the favorite choices include basil, oregano, and parsley. If you want to grow a herb garden outside, you could choose larger plants that include lavender and rosemary, among others. Then, for perennials, you might think of herbs such as chives, mint, sage, etc. Along with pinching off flower heads, if herb plants get leggy, the stems would also need to be clipped back.

If you have poor soil such as heavy clay you may want to consider growing your herb garden plants in a raised bed. Raised bed planter boxes can be made easily and filled with a rich soil mixture. These boxes provide great drainage that most all herbs require. Place the planter boxes in an area that receives plenty of sun, possibly even a spot near the kitchen for easy access. These planters are also great for planting and growing summer veggies or spring and
summer flowers for cutting.

Growing an herb garden is really easier than you think. You can begin today to grow your own herbs such as basil, chives, tarragon, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, and sage today. Freshly cut herbs add so much more flavor to any recipe.