How to Grow Your Own Herb Garden
There is little that is more satisfying in this life than eating food that you have grown. One of the quickest and easiest ways to start adding homegrown ingredients to your favorite dishes is to set up your own herb garden. Even if you have no experience at gardening at all, it is not hard to get started on the way to being a fully-fledged member of the green finger club.
Whether you want to grow basil, parsley, sage or thyme, the basic principles of growing herbs are always the same. To help you find your way, we have put together this step-by-step guide that should have you cultivating mouth-watering herbs of all kinds in next to no time.
- Find a Suitable Location
The first thing that you will need to do is decide where your herb garden will be situated. Choose an area of soil, either in a ground-level or a raised flower bed in your garden. Make sure the area receives plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
- Prepare the Ground
The next step is to prepare the ground to give your herbs the best possible chance in life. Clear away old soil, debris and weeds before adding some grit to the bottom to aid drainage. When you have done this, pour in some high-quality free-draining multi-purpose compost and spread it around so that it completely covers the bed. If you are using a raised bed, fill the area until it is 5-6 centimeters below the rim.
- Choose Your Herbs
Head down to your local garden center and find a selection of herbs that you fancy growing. Some of the easiest herbs to grow to start off as a novice are thyme, rosemary, chives and sage. Bear in mind that some herbs like mint need their own pots due to their invasive roots that can strangle those of other herbs.
- Plant Your Herbs
Now that you have your selection of potted plants, it is time to put them in the ground. Start by using a garden trowel to dig a hole which is a little larger than the pot that the plant is in. Then, remove the plant from the pot using a gentle massaging motion. This will ensure that the root structure remains intact. Tease out the roots slightly to help them take to their new home before placing the plant in the ground. Fill any gaps with loose earth and pat it down relatively firmly.
- Care for Your Herbs
When you have planted a number of herbs, leaving a reasonable gap between each plant to give it room to grow, make sure that you water them regularly to keep them lush and full of life. When you need some herbs, you can then cut or pinch off leaves to go with your food.
Growing an herb garden is much easier than you may think. If you follow the steps above, you should have a thriving selection of herbs that will liven up any meal!
