Herb garden ideas

[marla]

Does anyone grow a herb garden here? I don't have a green thumb so I need something that isn't difficult to grow. I think a herb garden might work as long as it doesn't take too much effort. I would also like to use the herbs for cooking or other things if possible. Does anyone have suggestions of what could be good for this?

[DivaJen]

Some that have been easy to grow from seed for me include parsley, cilantro, basil and oregano. I also have rosemary and sage, but those I bought as plants.

If you plant in containers, make sure to water regularly. Also, you don't want your plants to "bolt" or flower - once they do, they're on their way to going to seed and being done for. (Unless you want to collect their seeds - I've done this with cilantro and gotten tons of coriander seeds.) If you plant mint, do it in a container, as it is really invasive. (Of course, you can plant it in the ground if you don't mind it spreading all over.)

What herbs do you like to cook with? I'd let that be your guide if you don't have a lot of room to plant lots of different things.

[SeeAPenny]

I really love my small herb garden! I have a shady yard -- but manged to find a little spot along the side of my driveway to grow my herbs. I'm in the midwest, and plants that have done particularly well for me are sage (my lone plant goes nuts every year), mint (in a container like Diva Jen said), and chives. These are my only 'perrenials' (the mint isn't technically, but it does always reseed itself), that return faithfully every year with precious little attention by me. Otherwise, I plant basil (an absolute must), parsley, cilantro, and dill every season (the dill, which typically is also usually highly invasive, just doesn't 'take' for me for some reason, and I never get much of a crop). I've dabbled with rosemary (fickle) and oregano as well. Thyme too. Depending on your area and climate zone, you may get varying degrees of success -- I say just start experimenting to figure out what works for you. Herb gardening really is a satisfying hobby!

[mom-from-missouri]

garlic is easy-and it comes back every year. In fact, around here some people complain they cant get rid of it once they plant it

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

garlic is easy-and it comes back every year. In fact, around here some people complain they cant get rid of it once they plant it

Speaking of garlic - if you ever have garlic or onions that sprout before you use them you can plant them sprouting side up and grow new ones! I've done this before.

[mom-from-missouri]

Thats how my garlic got started-with 3 cloves left over, that were sprouting in the kitchen because I didn't use the bulbs fast enough. Now 3 years later, I have 2 rows, 10 foot each that come up every spring on their own.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

Thats how my garlic got started-with 3 cloves left over, that were sprouting in the kitchen because I didn't use the bulbs fast enough. Now 3 years later, I have 2 rows, 10 foot each that come up every spring on their own.

Wow! That is so cool! I have onion in a pot right now. It started out as one and became three in no time at all. I don't feel so bad about buying that one onion and then not using it.

[Duchesse]

I have thyme , chives, basil, lavender, chocolate mint, sage, and cilantro/coriander. All were from plants I bought from the nursery. Hopefully all that are perinnials will do well next year. I may still add oregano and rosemary. I want to bring in a piece of each for the winter. Since it's easy and a perinnial I'll try garlic next year.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

What I grow varies from year to year, except for my perennial herbs: Every year chives and garlic chives, several kinds of mint, though a friend gave me a mint so good that I am think of eradicating the others. Mints are very easy. Lemon balm is either perennial or self seeds in place so easily as to appear perennial. Lavender I have trouble keeping alive as our summers are a bit too humid with the heat, but I recommend the "Lady" variety if you want to start from seed. Pennyroyal is forever unstoppable, though I do not find it to be the good mosquito repellent it is touted to be, nor would I even try it for its supposed abilities to "regulate" (what does that vague word mean?) menstruation. I have two species of Santolina which I use ornamentally only. I try every now and then to grow oregano and thyme, but usually lose both before their second year. Rosemary I have never been able to overwinter, so if you live in a colder than zone 7 climate, I do not recommend it, not even the twp supposedly hardy varieties out there. Also it is another which can give you trouble if you are in a humid, hot summer area. Sage is easy and beautiful with its spring flowers.

Basil is an easy annual, but do not stat it too early in spring, as it is susceptible to mildew in chilly days. Cilantro is very easy for first time growers, but harvest it quickly as it goes to seed quickly. Parsley can be tough to get germinated as a first timer, but if it does germinate, it is easy to grow there after. A beautiful plant, to boot. Dill is easy from seed and will attract butter flies. Agastache, very easy. Lovage, easy.

For most things herbs, I prefer the soil in the ground to growing in pots. I just don't find the plants produce enough in pots. With herbs that keep well, I like to grow enough to put away for at least a year, so that I can change what I grow from year to year.

Duchesse, garlic is best planted in autumn --from September to November in most areas.