North Carolina Herb Gardens

Varieties

• Common herbs planted in North Carolina herb gardens include those used for cooking such as basil, fennel, cilantro and oregano. Peppermint and chamomile herbs are used for tea making while lemon verbena and lavender are effective potpourri ingredients.

Requirements

• Herb gardens require at least six hours of sunlight per day and may be planted in regular potting soil mixed with compost. Plants grow best in areas that do not sit in standing water or receive run off from rain. In the mountains of North Carolina, herbs should be planted in pots or at the highest elevations in the yard.

Farming

• To compensate for the losses incurred by the tobacco industry in North Carolina, grants and funding are available for farmers willing to plant herb gardens for medicinal purposes. Common medicinal herbs grown in the state include milk thistle, dandelion, stinging nettles and ginseng.

Starting

• Farmers markets and garden shops in North Carolina offer gardeners an abundance of choices for starting herb gardens with seeds and starter plants. According to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, certain herbs grow most effectively when started with seeds while others transfer best as cuttings from larger plants.

Winterizing

• Many herbs survive North Carolina winters when they are protected by ground cover such as straw or mulch. Particularly hardy herbs include chives, mint and fennel.