This is intended as a guide for anyone wishing to start growing herbs.
Most people begin with the basic culinary herbs and so this page deals mainly with herbs for the kitchen and their successful cultivation.
How do I start
growing herbs?The best starting point is to buy a small selection of the common herbs that you would like to use. Raising plants from seed can be appropriate (see below) but single plants are really all you need to start with. They will be ready to use almost immediately saving all the bother of sowing seed and waiting for them to develop. The plants should be planted in the garden as soon as possible. Make a small hole with a trowel, watering it if the soil is very dry), remove the pot, place the plant in the hole and firm soil gently around the roots. Keep the plant at the same depth as it was in its pot. Water well with a watercan fitted with a rose. If the weather is dry then a daily watering would be beneficial for the next few days, adding at least 2 pints of water each time.
Where should I grow
my Herbs if I only have a small garden?Most herbs prefer a sunny open situation if possible, with well drained soil. This is only a general rule however and most garden soils will grow herbs quite adequately. Herbs are often grown in 'Herb Gardens' but will of course be quite happy growing alongside other plants in beds and borders where space permits. A small sunny corner that is convenient for the kitchen is probably an ideal place to start a few of the basic culinary herbs.
What Herbs should I
grow?The simple answer to this question is that you should grow what you would like to use. If you dislike the taste of Coriander there is no point in growing any! Your taste should also dictate the amount of each variety that you grow. Parsley and Chives are two of the most frequently used herbs and so these are best grown in quantity, whereas a single bush of Sage will provide more than enough for most households.
I would like to use
fresh herbs but I don't have a gardenIt is perfectly possible to grow herbs successfully in pots. These can be sited on balconies, porches or patios. As herbs are mainly outdoor plants, growing them inside is not always successful; it is often too warm and there is not enough light. (see 'Basil' below.) Inside the plants often pick up pests and diseases too easily and tend, therefore to be short lived.
Why do some Herbs
last longer than others?Herbs can be divided into three categories, Annual, Biennial and Perennial. These three terms cause confusion and it is important to grasp their correct meaning.
Annual
Plants : Borage, Basil, Chervil, Coriander, Dill
Annual means that the plant only lasts one year. Annual plants grow, flower, set
seed and die all in one growing season. This is their natural growth pattern and
the way you look after the plant can speed up or slow down this process. Further
confusion arises because some annuals can produce seeds, these fall on the
ground and may germinate and grow the following season giving the impression of
being perennial.
Biennial Plants : Angelica, Caraway, Parsley
Biennial plants will grow normally during their first season and then flower,
set seed and die during their second season. Like Annuals they will often
produce seed that will germinate in the following season.
Perennial Plants : that die down - Chives, Lovage, Mint, Tarragon
evergreen
- Marjoram, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
Perennials will last many years and can be divided into two categories - those
that are evergreen and therefore can be used all year round, and those that die
down in the winter but will regrow when the warmer weather returns.
I never seem to be
able to grow enough CorianderBoth Dill and Coriander (annuals) are difficult to grow successfully. They are often required in quite large quantities and a single plant of each may be unable to fulfill the likely demands. They have a tendency to flower and set seed rather too quickly and therefore produce few leaves. Both are best grown from seed where you sow a small row of seeds every few weeks. The plants should not be allowed to get more than 6" high, removing and using the new growth on a regular basis. This should prevent the plants from flowering and will give you a regular picking.
Basil is so
expensive, can I grow it myself?The main problem with Basil is that it likes a warm even temperature, something that our summer weather seldom provides. It can only be sown successfully between May and August and has to be grown inside if you wish to have Basil available for more than four months of the year. As it is one of the few herbs that can often do better inside than out, try a light windowsill. One plant can grow quite large (18"-24") if put in a good-sized pot. A greenhouse or conservatory is probably the ideal location. Outside a warm sheltered garden is essential.
What is the secret
of growing Parsley?Parsley is a vigorous fast growing biennial and really thrives when growing in a rich deep fertile soil. The seed can be slow to germinate if planted in the spring when the soil is still cold and damp. In fact the best time to sow Parsley seed is late summer, being a biennial it will then be at its best the following spring and summer. If planting seedlings try to ensure the roots have as little disturbance as possible. If the soil is poor it is worth digging out a planting hole and enriching with compost or peat and fertiliser.
Herb plants bought
from the Supermarkets don't seem to last very long?
The herb plants now being sold by the leading Supermarkets are grown in massive glasshouses with artificial levels of heat, light and nutrition to stimulate rapid growth. They should be considered as a good alternative to using dried herbs but they are not garden plants and will have only a limited life. Because of the way they are grown their flavour is also far inferior to conventionally grown herbs.
Why do herbs growing
abroad smell so much stronger?The flavour/fragrance of herbs occurs because of the presence of essential oils in the foliage and stems of the plant. The heat of the sun during the day brings these oils to the surface of the leaves, air currents then carry the fragrance away. Essential oils are present throughout the year but their concentrations increase as the weather warms. A warmer drier climate therefore encourages their production and a stronger flavour/scent. Growing aromatic plants in poorer quality soil will have a similar effect, enhancing their scent, keeping them compact and stimulating good flowering. This is especially true of Lavender and Rosemary that do not thrive in rich fertile soil.
When should Herbs be
picked?Following on from the above; they should be picked early in the day while the essential oils are still present in their leaves but after any dew has dried. The essential oil concentrations also reach a peak as the plant comes into flower, this would be the optimum moment for picking. Choose this time if picking to preserve whether drying, freezing, in oil or whatever. Similar rules apply if picking aromatic plants, Lavender for example, to preserve its fragrance for lavender bags or pot pourri.
A leaflet pack is available to all UK residents by sending a SAE to The Herb Farm, Peppard Road, Sonning Common, Reading, RG4 9NJ, United Kingdom.
Alternatively you can telephone us on 0118 972 4220.