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HERBS |
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People use herbs to flavor foods, repel insects and dye cloth. Herbs also are used as scents, teas and medicines. They also are enjoyed for their beauty in the garden or dried for wreaths, flower arrangements and potpourri. Herbs can be grown from seed, propagated asexually or purchased from garden centers.
As a plant group, herbs are
nonwoody annuals, perennials and biennials. They contain
chemicals in their seeds, flowers, leaves, fruits or roots
that enhance their flavor or aroma. Recently gardeners have
become more interested in growing and using herbs. Although
herbs are fashionable now, herb gardens and uses of herbs
have existed since ancient times. Ancient peoples used herbs
as medicines. Many modern medicines are derived from
plants. This chapter covers the
selection, care, harvest and uses of herbs.
KEY CONCEPTS
I. Site
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SITE
Many herbs are tougher and more disease resistant than other garden plants. Many are native to the Mediterranean coastal area. There they grow wild on stony ground in a warm climate. They can survive and even flourish in nutrient-poor, but well-drained soil. However, there are herbs for nearly every garden condition.
Ideal soil for herb growing has sufficient nutrients to encourage steady growth. Add amendments and fertilizers based on the recommendations of a soil test. The home gardener in Ohio may need to amend the existing soil to improve soil structure. The soil should be coarse enough to have adequate drainage, yet fine enough to hold some water. Adding a bulky, organic humus or straw-based, well-rotted manure will help to create the desired soil structure. Most herbs grow best in a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Excellent drainage is critical for growing most herbs. Before planting, loosen soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. Add bulky, organic matter at a rate of 1 part organic matter to 4 parts native soil to improve drainage if necessary.
The home gardener may decide to use containers, raised beds or mounds for growing herbs. Not only do raised beds drain better, but also they allow soil to warm earlier in spring. Herbs should be planted in warm soil. Avoid heavy clay soil, especially for the herbs of Mediterranean origin. Clay tends to remain waterlogged and cold, promoting diseases.
Eight hours of full sun are necessary for growing most herbs. If the gardener has a site with hot sun and dry soil, choose from the following list of herbs that grow well with these conditions: thymes, sages, santolinas, artemesias, lavenders, rosemarys, winter savories and hyssops.
These herbs grow well in partial shade as well as sun: lemon balm, sweet cicely, parsley, chervil, tarragon, sweet woodruff, mints, costmary and bergamot.
Herbs stay healthier and look more pleasing if they are not crowded. Ample space between plants allows good air circulation while better displaying their interesting foliage. Space your herbs properly, allowing for the mature size of each plant. Plants will grow to their mature size based on the availability of light, nutrients, proper soil structure and water.
Herbs are good candidates for container growing. If there isn't a sunny location in the yard, herbs can be grown in containers placed on a sunny porch, terrace or patio. Herbs also can be used in window boxes. Those easily grown in containers include thymes, mints, parsley, basil, sage, marjoram and oregano.
If CULINARY herbs are grown, it is wise to grow them close to the kitchen, where they can be easily harvested for cooking. Common culinary herbs are parsley, basil, oregano, dill, chives, thyme, sage, garlic and mint.
Use creeping or mat-forming herbs as ground covers. PROCUMBENT varieties make good ground covers. Creeping herbs can be grown between patio and pathway stones. Used like this, herbs give off a pleasant scent when stepped on. They also serve as a deterrent to weeds that compete for these nooks and crannies.
Certain herbs are beautiful additions to wall plantings. Following is a list of herbs suited to wall planting, to use between stones and as ground covers: mother-of-thyme, woolly thyme, creeping thyme, Corsican mint, creeping golden marjoram, Roman chamomile and creeping woolly yarrow.
Intersperse herbs with flowers or vegetables, or use as borders. A traditional herb garden design is a geometrical pattern that highlights contrasting shapes, colors and textures. The
following illustration shows an example of a colonial herb garden plan. Bricks or other border materials and small paths are characteristic of this type of herb garden.
[drawing from F.S. 682 Living with Herbs]
When choosing sites in the landscape for growing herbs, be aware that thyme and mint flowers attract bees. This can be a plus or a minus. Place these plants away from areas where people enjoy outdoor activities if bee stings are a concern.
Mints are vigorous and invasive growers that spread by runners. They can become nuisance plants in the garden, quickly crowding out other desirable specimens. To avoid problems, plant mints in drain tiles or other bottomless containers sunken at least 12 inches deep into the soil. This will deter their roots from spreading into other sections of the garden.
Introduction | Botany | Soils and Fertilizers | Entomology and Pest Management | Plant Pathology | Plant Propagation | Houseplants | Lawns | Herbaceous Ornamentals | Woody Ornamentals | Vegetables | Herbs | Fruit | Glossary