Herb Gardening: Also For Beginning Gardeners
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Although herb gardening is quite feasible even for beginning gardeners, you will need to know something about herbs. So, do a little investigating. Are you gardening biennials (two-year life cycle) or annuals? Will they transplant well? Which of them can tolerate shade? If you are not growing them yourself, do you buy seeds, seedlings or plants? Do you want to grow your garden indoor or outdoor?
Cultivation You can grow biennials and annuals from seeds. Parsley, dill, borage, cilantro are examples of herbs that you can successfully garden from seeds. If you are in doubt, your local nursery can help. Give Your Herb Garden a Good Start If you prefer to buy seeds, check that the date on the seed packet is for the current year. If you decide to buy herb plants, choose those that are young and healthy. Young plants are easier to transplant than those that are old. Inspect them carefully for signs of disease, insect eggs, and larvae. You can also buy seedlings, but it is really best to grow your own if you want to go that route. Dill and cilantro, for example, if root bound or subjected to dry conditions and other stressors (conditions you normally find in stores), can sprout leaves and blossom quickly before you can even repot them. Soil Preparation Prepare your ground as you would if you were planting a vegetable garden. Think mulches and compost for weed control and to keep the garden soil moist. Your soil should be somewhere between 6.5 to 7.5 pH and well drained. A pH tester is a wise investment. Ensure Good Drainage Raised garden beds are wonderful, but you can use pots, hanging planters, or boxes; just make sure that the drainage holes are not blocked. Group Herbs Accordingly If you plan on multiple varieties of herbs, plant them in groups in accordance with their need for light, soil, and irrigation. Pest Control Normally, herb plants are pest and disease-resistant. However, you will still need to observe your garden for the first signs of disease or infestation. That is the best time, when it is still early. The best and the easiest way for pest control is to handpick the insects you find in your garden, preferably during the larvae stage. Do not use insecticides on your culinary herbs. If you have a severe infestation in your garden, you may try some insecticidal soap. Greenhouse Herbs If you are cultivating herbs in your greenhouse, they will need a readjustment period to make it outdoors. For three consecutive days, bring your herbs outside for their share of sun but protect them from strong winds. Bring them inside the greenhouse at night. On the fourth day, you can bring them out at the gardening spot. Let them stay there for 24 hours. You need to put a protective cover, like an old light blanket or a plastic tarp, on your herbs when it gets too windy, too hot, or too cold. On the fifth day, when you can transplant the herbs, generously feed them first with plant food dissolved in water. Give your garden reasonable care, and it will make herb gardening easy. More on Herb Gardening!
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