Grow fresh herbs from the comfort of your home and enjoy them as your heart desires. They serve many purposes to the home from adding flavor to food to organically keeping away unwanted pests. Starting an herb garden may seem overwhelming, but with a few simple tips, you can easily grow a thriving garden
Getting Started
The first step to getting started on your herb garden is to choose which herbs you would like to grow and determine the best way to start growing them. Depending on the time of year, some plants are best grown from starters, while others are still okay to start by seeding. It is best to look up individual herbs’ needs and determine your best start from there.
The next choice you have to make is to decide whether you would like to grow a small garden or plant into containers. Spreading herbs, such as mint, can be more beneficial to grow in a pot. While others with more condensed growth habits, like lavender, work well in the garden.
Herb Suggestions
If you are new to using herbs and are unsure of which ones to start with, we have a few suggestions.
Fragrant: Lavender, Rosemary, and Mint are highly fragrant herbs that can add an aromatic touch to your home. As an added bonus, their strong scent tends to repel deer, making them great companions for less deer-resistant plants in your garden.
Italian Herbs: Basil, Oregano, and Thyme are the building blocks behind most Italian-style dishes such as pizza, pasta, and dressings. If you enjoy this style of cooking, then having these three around at all times can be a huge convenience in the kitchen.
Mosquito Repellent: Cilantro, amongst other fragrant herbs, is wonderful for repelling pesky insects like mosquitos. Instead of using harsh chemical repellents, this is an excellent alternative for keeping an area clear.
Pollinator-Attracting: Rue, Dill, and Parsley attract butterflies due to their ability to be great hosting plants for caterpillars. They feed and nest until it is their time to leave.
Choosing A Spot
Once you have determined which herbs you would like to grow, the next step is to choose the best spot for them to thrive in.
Important factors to consider include:
Lighting: Most herbs prefer 7 to 8 hours of sunlight, but can handle at least 4 hours. The amount of direct vs. indirect sunlight will vary depending on the herb.
Water: These plants prefer to be evenly moist. They do not like to be too wet or dry out completely.
Soil: Well-draining soil is essential for the health and survival of herbs. Whether you are planting in the ground or in a container, it is a good idea to add chunky amendments to prevent root rot. If you are choosing to use a container, make sure to choose one with plenty of drainage holes.
Growing Indoors
While ideal conditions for herbs are outdoors, under the proper conditions, some herbs can be grown indoors.
For the best chance at success, you’ll want to either have them in a very sunny window, or use grow lights to supplement proper lighting. Herbs like mint, parsley, and chives do the best indoors.
Cutting Back Herbs
Don’t be afraid to cut back your herbs once you are ready to use them. Cutting them back does not hurt the plant.
Herbs At Patuxent Nursery
Here at our nursery, we have many varieties of herbs available from seeds to annuals and perennials. Visit us in store to see our full selection or shop select perennial herbs on our website.
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