Tips on Planting a Spice Garden

Location, Location, Location

• When growing an herb and spice garden, it is most important to consider location. Herbs will happily soak up as much sunlight as you can give them, and this increased sunlight also provides thicker, bushier growth that has more of the flavor and oils you want. The occasional shade is OK, especially for some mint varieties, and herbs only really need about six or seven hours of sunlight to be at their best, so don't be afraid of a location that gets afternoon or morning shade. But the general rule is the more sunlight, the better.

  It is a common thought that herbs will grow in almost any soil. While this might very well be true, herbs are just like any other plant in that they will flourish in healthy soil. Make sure it is loose with good drainage. As well, adding mulch can benefit the chunky nature of herb roots. Adding in compost before planting will also work wonders in providing needed nutrients and helping aerate the soil.

  If you plan on using your herbs for cooking or other household uses, make sure the location is convenient enough that you can actually reach the herbs when you need them. Keeping in mind both sunlight and soil needs, put the garden as close to the kitchen door as you can.

Maintaining

• Herbs require about an inch of water every week. If they are not in a location that sees regular rainfall, you will need to water them weekly and keep a close eye on soil conditions. While hot or dried soil won't immediately kill your garden, it certainly won't help it grow well and will eventually result in plant death. Keep the plants watered but avoid drowning them. If your soil has good drainage, this shouldn't ever be a worry.

  Herbs also don't respond well to fertilizer. True, fertilizers will promote abundant growth, but they tend to drain all the flavor and oil from herbs. Your thyme may look fantastic, but it certainly won't taste the way you want it to. The best way to provide nutrients is through compost. Working it into the soil also helps keep the soil loose and aerated.

A Word on Mint

• Mint is a highly aggressive plant. It will grow in most conditions with hardly any effort on your part. If left unchecked it can, and will, choke out your other herbs. If you choose to plant it in your garden with your other herbs, leave a good 12 or so inches between it and other plants, and prune it regularly. As mint is a desirable flavor in many dishes, this shouldn't be a problem. The best bet, however, is to grow mint in its own pot separate from your garden.