As I begin to work in my Spring garden I start to dream about all of the great veggies I will soon be able to bring to my dinner table. I also begin to think about the herbs I can grow and use when cooking those great veggies.
Herbs make ideal low-maintenance container plants, mainly because most thrive on minimal water and food — within reason, of course. In the case of mints, a pot is the only way to go unless you don’t mind them galloping through your garden beds.
Herbs make ideal low-maintenance container plants, mainly because most thrive on minimal water and food — within reason, of course. In the case of mints, a pot is the only way to go unless you don’t mind them galloping through your garden beds.
Another practical reason to tend a herb garden above ground is convenience for the cook. I have a friend who clusters several terra-cotta pots, overflowing with wonderful herbs, around the base of a fig tree near his kitchen door. It’s easy him and his wife to just step outside and snip a handful of whatever their needs are at that moment. That is a great tip too, keep herbs and your most used vegetables in a garden near the kitchen. The closer it is to the kitchen, the more likely you are to use it, and the bounty it provides, everyday.
Many herbs are ornamental, such as variegated sage and lemon thyme. Rosemary and bay can be trained into topiaries. Purple basil adds contrast, as will a few pots of edible flowers, such as nasturtiums, calendula, violets or lavender.
Many herbs are ornamental, such as variegated sage and lemon thyme. Rosemary and bay can be trained into topiaries. Purple basil adds contrast, as will a few pots of edible flowers, such as nasturtiums, calendula, violets or lavender.
At the end of the season, in many parts of the country, you'll need to thoroughly water the perennial herbs and store them in an unheated garage over winter. Personally, where I live in Central Texas I do not have to do this for most of my herbs – they overwinter very well in place. If you think of it, you may want to check them again in January and February, give them a small spritz of water if they seem bone-dry, otherwise let them they stay dormant and undisturbed until spring when you can easily haul their pots back outside, put them in the shade to acclimatize for a few days.
Once new growth commences in spring, everyone needs a trim and a rather weak dose of organic fertilizer. Then it’s back to the back door, in full sun, where they can be available to provide you with another reliable supply of fresh herbs right at your fingertips.
Grow Herbs, in the ground, in raised beds or in pots - JUST GROW HERBS!!
Happy Gardening!
Grow Herbs, in the ground, in raised beds or in pots - JUST GROW HERBS!!
Happy Gardening!
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