How to Plant an Herb Garden in Western North Carolina

Buy herbs that grow well in the area and are cold hardy for the western area of the state. Many perennial herbs are tolerant of North Carolina winters and may remain in the garden with adequate sunlight. Popular choices are anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, mint oregano, rosemary and thyme. You can purchase some herbs as seeds and others as small starter plants from nurseries or home improvement centers.

Find a planting location that receives at least six hours of sun per day and test the soil in that area to determine the levels of organic matter and nutrients. If the organic content is less than 3 percent, amend the soil with bark, peat moss or sawdust. Apply the organic matter and till it into the top 4 to 8 inches of soil. The organic matter will also improve the drainage of your soil.

Dig shallow holes approximately 3 to 12 inches apart in the garden to plant the herbs. Follow the instructions provided with the seeds or plants to ensure the greatest success, as the spacing requirements and planting depth may vary between varieties of herbs. Place the seeds or the starter plant in the hole and recover with the original soil. Make sure not to crowd the roots.

Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch around the herbs after you're finished planting the garden. The mulch will help the soil retain moisture around the plants. Water the new herbs in place without drowning the plants or seeds.

Apply a small amount of balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, to the herbs. The herbs will not grow well if you apply too much fertilizer, especially a formula high in nitrogen. If your soil is already high in nitrogen, use an incomplete fertilizer that has no or low nitrogen content.