How to Grow Herbs in the Desert

The desert might be the most difficult place to grow herbs, but it can be done. In fact, there are many herbs to be grown in this arid environment and dry soil. Growing herbs can greatly affect your health, mind, body and spirit. It connects one with her natural surroundings, saves money and opens a new world of cooking. Herbs can be of medical value, with never-ending remedies abundant in their resources.

Gardening tools
Planters, windowsill pots, or other holders for planting

Instructions

- 1
  
  Consider location when choosing herbs. If you choose a partial sunlight window, you can grow any types of herbs at any time. Balconies, windowsills, porches and courtyards are the best places to grow herbs and shrubs. When planting on balconies, window sills and porches, you will have to water the plants more than if they were in the ground.
- 2
  
  Determine whether you want to plant in pots or in the ground. The best way to grow a large variety of herbs is to grow them in pots with sterilized soil with nutrients from a nursery, so you do not have to deal with the rocky, sandy soil of the desert landscape. Also, remember if you do grow herbs in pots, soaring temperatures over 100 degrees will cause the soil temperatures to rise. This, combined with the limited water intake capacity of the pot and soil, could kill your plants quickly.
- 3
  
  When choosing to plant trees, herbs or shrubs in the ground, pick ones that are very good at sending long roots into the ground to seek water. Species such as Eucalyptus, Myrtle and Bay all produce beautiful, lush green leaves all year. Any type of Mediterranean plant will flourish in arid environments, as well as herbs such as chives and lemon balm. They will grow best with drip irrigation and mulch. Herbs that actually thrive in the desert include chervil, garlic, mint, chicory, dandelion, elderberry, flax, mustard, onion, parsley, roses, sage, many types of basil, thyme and sunflower. Because herbs have always been wild plants, it helps to place them in a habitat that is identical to the one from where they originated.
- 4
  Do your research in order to choose which herbs should be placed in full sun, partial sun and full shade. Herbs that require full shade are usually quite potent and sometimes poisonous. They include St. John's Wort, lungwort, sweet violet and evening primrose. There are more herbs that flourish in partial shade, partial sunlight, that are best planted close to a wall, or under the shade of other trees or plants. And the largest list of herbs are herbs that savor full sun, surprisingly. This list includes sage, garlic, lavender, fennel, bay, oregano, basil, sweet marjoram, rosemary, sunflower, raspberry, myrtle and dill. Most of these species developed in the Mediterranean. The special cell structure in these cells causes strong essential oils to be released once exposed to copious amounts of sunlight, which can be utilized for medicinal purposes and other oils.
- 5
  Know which herbs fare best in different seasons in the desert. Autumn is a prime time for planting herbs and shrubs, either in the ground or in pots, because of the contrast of the warm soil still cooling from summer temperatures and the cooler air. In some deserts, the night can become quite cold, so if the herbs haven't been planted too long and are still very young, they should be placed in a warmer area such as inside (of course this is if they are in pots). But if planted in autumn, they should be strong enough by the time desert winter temperatures reach the area.

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