How to Create an Herb Garden

Preparation

• 1

  Decide whether you would prefer to grow your herbs in the ground or in pots. Growing herbs in the ground gives them plenty of room to flourish and adds beauty to your garden beds, as you can mix them in with flowers or borders. If you prefer, most herbs are compact enough to do very well in pots, and the benefit of pots is that they can be moved around easily or taken indoors when the weather gets cold.

• 2

  Choose a location for your herbs that gets at least six to eight hours each day of sunlight. If you are planting them in the ground, measure the area to get an idea of how many plants you will be able to fit in the space. A square foot of soil each is enough for most herbs.

• 3

  Prepare your garden bed if you are planting herbs in the ground. Turn the soil by digging into the plot with a spade and literally turning the earth over to break it up. Dig at least 1 to 1 1/2 feet deep into the ground. Remove any rocks, branches, weeds, old plants or debris from the area. If you are planting in pots, you won't need to prepare until you transplant your herbs.

• 4

  Purchase a soil testing kit from a garden center. Take a sample of your soil as per the instructions on the kit and follow the directions to send the sample in for testing. Be sure to note that you are planting an herb bed. The soil testing lab will evaluate your soil and send you a report on its quality, along with suggestions for additives to improve it for your purpose. If you are planting in pots using purchased potting soil, this will not be necessary.

• 5

  Spread a 2-inch layer of compost on your herb bed. You can use homemade compost or purchase it at a gardening center. Also add any soil fixes that the lab may have recommended. Work these into the soil by mixing it with a spade or rake.

Starting Seeds

• 6

  Select seed packets for herbs that you wish to grow. Some popular and easy herbs to grow are parsley, cilantro, sage, thyme, oregano, rosemary, chives, dill or one of the many varieties of mint.

• 7

  Check the back of the package to ensure that this plant will grow well in your hardiness zone, and for the best months to plant them. Your hardiness zone can be found at the USDA map in the references below.

• 8

  Place your peat pellets into the plastic basins and prepare them as directed on the package. When they are ready, sprinkle herb seeds onto the peat pellets and cover lightly with the peat moss. For each plant you want, sow seeds in two peat pellets. For example, if you want two parsley plants, sow seeds in four peat pellets. This will ensure that if one plant fails to grow, you will have a back-up. If they all grow, you can always give away your extra seedlings.

• 9

  Record which seeds you are putting in each peat pot as you go along so you will know which plants are sprouting when they begin to grow. You can do this by making a simple diagram on paper or labeling the rows on the side of the container.

• 10

  Place your seeds in a sunny, warm location. Keep the peat pellets moist by regularly adding water to the bottom of the container, but don't allow them to be too damp or soggy. It may take up to a week or two for some types of seeds to sprout. In approximately two months your seeds will be ready for transplanting.

• 11

  If you'd rather not start your plants from seeds, you can purchase seedlings directly from a garden center or nursery.

Transplanting

• 12

  Make plant markers so that you can mark your plants as you go along. Write the name of the herbs on top of a paint stirrer with a permanent marker. Make one marker per plant and carry them with you as you transplant your seedlings so you can mark them as you go along.

• 13

  Dig a hole in your ground garden deep enough to encompass the peat pellet or your starter seedling pot. Be sure to space out your plants at least 12 to 18 inches to give them room to grow. Drop the whole pellet with the seedling into the hole, or loosen the seedling from the pot by gently squeezing it until the soil dislodges and place it in the hole. Fill the rest with soil. If you are growing herbs in pots, fill your pot with potting soil, make a hole in the center and drop the pellets into the center of the pot. Place the marker in the soil near the plant or at the edge of the pot.

• 14

  Fill the rest of the hole with soil around your seedling. If you are growing herbs in pots, fill your pot with potting soil, make a hole in the center and drop the seedlings into the center of the pot. Place the marker in the soil near the plant or at the edge of the pot.

• 15

  Add a layer of mulch around your seedlings. Mulch will help retain water in the soil and discourage the growth of weeds.

Care

• 16

  Water your herbs regularly. Your soil drainage, how wet or dry your climate is, or the types of pots you plant in will determine how much and how often you will need to water. Check your soil every day to ensure that it is moist, but do not oversoak them or allow the soil to dry out entirely. After a lot of rain or if your soil gets too muddy, allow it to dry out a little so your plants don't drown.

• 17

  Every six to eight weeks, "side dress" your plants by watering with a tea made of compost, or mixing a food safe chemical fertilizer, such as Miracle Gro, with water. Pull any weeds you might find.

• 18

  Once your herbs are full grown and bushy, prune often by harvesting and using the herbs. Regular pruning will encourage more growth.