Information on Planting Herbs

Plant Selection

• For centuries, people have used herbs in cooking, in medicine and in cosmetics. Before planting your herb garden, you must decide what types of herbs to grow. A kitchen garden would consist of all culinary herbs like sage, parsley, rosemary and thyme. An apothecary garden would have all medicinal herbs like echinacea, St. John's wort, burdock root and chamomile. Theme gardens, such as these, are popular, but a mixture of different types of herbs grows just as well.

Sunlight

• Most herbs need six to eight hours of sunlight each day in order to produce the oils that give herbs their flavor. Although the herbs may grow in partial shade, they may be lacking in quality as a result. Angelica, parsley and mint are the exceptions to this rule and thrive in partial shade.

Soil

• Herbs grow well in a nearly neutral soil, ranging in pH from 6.5 to 7.0, with good drainage. Herbs do not need very fertile soil, but they do need soil rich in organic matter. If your soil is sandy or lack organic material, turn about 4 inches of peat moss or compost into the soil to improve its ability to hold water.

Fertilization

• Herbs need a light application of fertilizer during the growing season. Over-fertilizing will produce poor quality herbs that lack flavor, fragrance and oils. Choose a slow release fertilizer with about half the nitrogen recommended for vegetables for the best herb production.

Pests

• Most herbs have bug-repelling properties. Planting a variety of herbs will repel a variety of pests. Aphids and certain caterpillars may be a problem on dill, fennel and anise, and spider mites may be a concern during dry times. Proper plant spacing for air circulations and a population of lady bugs will take care of those aphids. Pick off the caterpillars as you see them, and mist plants during dry times to eliminate spider mites. If you do resort to chemical pest controls, read and follow the directions carefully

Harvest

• Harvest herbs in the morning, just after the dew has evaporated when the leaves have the most oil and are at the peak of flavor for the day. For herbs such as chamomile, harvest the flowers just after opening and let dry for use in teas and bath products. Root crops, such as burdock, should be dug up in early spring or late fall. Allow up to eight weeks for the root to completely dry before using.