Herb GardeningFor a novice gardener learning how to garden herbs is easy than learning how to grow flowers. Herbs are natural to plant and to maintain than flowers are, plus herbs still smell great, and at the end of the day you get to eat them as well. The gardeners who state that nobody should learn to garden with herbs as these are totally green are wrong. Herbs are more varied than even eGuide for Beginners
Beginning the herb garden.
To start the ball rolling, you will need to choose between growing individual plants in their own pots or building your herb garden. If you have never tried gardening before then starting by growing a single plant in its pot one at a time is easily the best thing to do.
After all, you will only need to make sure that each plant gets enough water and light as there is already enough nutrients in the soil that came with the pot.
After a while, the plants will be repotted as they grow too big to stay in the original pot. Some types of the herb can have roots, which eventually grow to be 6 foot long if not longer. With herbs that grow larger at some point, you will have to consider planting them in a garden.
Large herbs may suffer from stunted growth if they are not transferred into soil and remain in a pot that is really too small for them. Bearing in mind that plants will need to be put into the garden it makes more sense to select growing the herb garden in the first place.
It needs you to pay more attention in the first few weeks to make sure that the area you have put aside to be the herb garden has enough nutrients in the soil. Just make sure the herb garden can get enough sunlight and is amply watered. Making sure the herb garden has the main thing to succeed.
The priority thing to do is to make sure that a herb garden succeed is to put it in the right place. Providing summers are not hotter than 90 degrees on average the herb garden can be entirely in the sun. If it gets warmer than that in the summer, then more shade is needed through the garden will require at least 4 hours of sun a day.
Planting the herbs
For the majority of herbs, you will space of between 1 foot and 4 feet. Here is a rough guide to sizes: 3-4 feet – Rosemary, sage, and mint 2 feet – Basils, thyme, and savory 1 foot – Chives, dill, and parsley.
Prepare that soil
To get the ground ready for the herbs you need to make sure that the soil is broken down. Use a fork to go through the compacted ground, so that the soil will drain better after you water it or if it rains. It would help if you made sure the soil is broken down as roots will spread easier.
You can also put a thin layer of compost over the top to improve drainage and make sure that there are enough nutrients.
Plant healthy plants.
Before you put the herbs in the ground make sure that the plants are healthy. Then make sure that the plants are getting the right amount of water, too much can cause as much damage as too little. You need the soil to be moist instead of dry or waterlogged.
Harvest the plants
You will need to harvest your plants regularly as it promotes growth. Generally, harvest when the plant reaches 8 inches in height. With plants like parsley that grow in the center cut off all of the older branches.
Growing herbs in containers
Herbs are simpler to grow than general houseplants. Provided they have access to sunlight, enough water and nutrients in the pot then they will thrive. Put the pots on patios or decks exposed to the sun, and the herbs will grow strongly.
Remember when the plants are in pots, you may have to water them more often and make sure there is enough sunlight.
For planting herbs in containers you need:
Make sure that there is enough soil to cover the plant and add fertilizer according to the instructions on the packet. Place a saucer under the plant. A large enough pot, between 8 and 18 inches either made of clay or plastic. Good quality soil in the container to make sure plants get enough nutrients.
Plant fertilizer – a herb or vegetable fertilizer would be best.
Hose or watering can.
Herbs will need at least an 8-inch pot to be put in, with room in the container for the plant to grow.
Make sure that there is enough soil to cover the plant and add fertilizer according to the instructions on the packet. Place a saucer under the plant.
Plants should be taken out of the original pots and placed upside down into the container, then dig a hole and put the plant into it. Then water the plant. After that only water the plant when the soil feels dry.
As previously mention the herbs will need at least 4 hours of sunlight every day, and place in the shade if it gets excessively hot in the afternoon.
The easiest herbs for a beginner to grow, Sometimes it is best to start with the easiest herbs to grow to build your confidence. So pick herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, and mint.
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