It’s time to get the herb garden growing.  I have plans for a creating a new Kitchen Garden this summer but it’s not going to be ready for this season.  So I’m planting herbs in my old bed one last time.

Some of my herbs are perennials such as the sage, lemon balm and oregano.  Others need to be seeded directly or grown in containers and transplanted.  I use both techniques depending on what I am planting.  Cilantro is seeded directly into the soil.  Basil on the other hand has to be started in a container and then transplanted.  This is because basil is so tasty that if I seed it directly into the ground the slugs will eat the new seedlings.  Every single one.  I learned this lesson the hard way.

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So to make sure that my basil survives I have several tricks up my sleeve.  First, I start the seeds in a container in my vintage window greenhouse.  Then when the plants are about an inch tall, I transplant them to my herb bed.  However, they still need protection.  So I surround them with tin cans that have the tops and bottoms removed.  This will protect them until they are about 4-5 inches.  After I remove the cans I will surround the plants with diatomaceous earth.

You might wonder why I go to this trouble when I can go to the store and buy a full size basil plant or 2.  The answer?  I love basil.  A couple of plants are not enough for me.  Instead I grow extra plants so that I can cook with it all summer and still have enough leftover to freeze all winter long.

Having an herb bed provides fresh herbs for cooking.  Herbs are so flavorful that just a small amount can change the taste of your foods.  Flavoring your foods with herbs can also help you to reduce the amount of salt that you use to cook with.  Try one of my 3 Favorite Basil Recipes below to see why I love basil so much.

Here are some perennial herbs to grow in your garden…

• Lavender
• Chives, regular and garlic
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Sage
• Mint
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Verbena
• Rosemary
• Tarragon
• Winter Savory

Here are some annual herbs to start from seeds or transplants…

• Basil
• Cilantro/Coriander
• Dill
• Chamomile
• Parsley
• Chervil
• Summer Savory

I have mentioned before that I am a cottage style gardener and my herb bed reflects this.  I have my perennial plants that return year after year.  Then I tuck in the annual herbs into the open areas.  If a cilantro plant pops up by the oregano I will leave it.  If a chamomile plant begins to grow in the mint then it has a new home.  This is not what a traditional gardener might do but as long as the plants are healthy and happy where they are, then I’m okay with it.

Over the years I have discovered techniques that are useful when growing herbs.  Here are some of the things that I have learned that might help you get started.

7 Tips for Growing an Herb Garden

1.  Give your plants plenty of room to grow.  This can reduce the risk of spreading bugs and disease.  I am not too good at following this advice however.  Planting the herbs closer together reduces my need for weeding and gives me more of that cottage garden look that I love.
2. To keep your herbs producing it is best to remove flowers that are starting to form.  This keeps the plants focused on producing new leaves.  However you might want to let some of the flowers grow.  I keep the flowers of the basil and cilantro pinched off to try to prolong the leaf growth.  However, I let the flat leaf parsley and oregano start to flower because I like to use them in my bouquets.  The herb flowers are also very attractive to the local bee population.  So despite traditional wisdom, I choose to let some of my herbs flower abundantly.
3. Dead head herb flowers before they go to seed.  This is especially important for the lemon balm and oregano.  You can enjoy their floral show but remove them before the massive amounts of seeds form.  Keep a pair of garden clippers close by to frequently remove the older flowers.  These plants are prolific re-seeders and if you don’t remove the spent flowers you can end up with plants all over your garden.
4. Plant mint in a container or it’s own bed.  Mint grows new plants on runners that spread very easily.  Decide where you want to contain your mint to and then remove all the rest.  You just pull up the plant and the runner will follow.  Do not compost these runners or you can end up with mint all over your garden.  Instead make sure they are thrown away.
5. As your plants start to grow, it’s a good idea to pinch off the tops to encourage branching and fullness.  When the plants are about 4 inches tall just pinch off the growing tops.  As the plants grow, harvest leaves and stems regularly to encourage new growth.
6. It is best to not use chemicals on your herbs.  Try to use natural ways to remove pests such as hand picking.  Honestly, I have never had any bug problems with my herbs.  Tomatoes and squash yes, but no problems in my herb garden.
7. Allow some of your herbs to flower and go to seed so that you can save them for next season.  I try to do this with cilantro, dill and basil.  The seeds of cilantro are actually the coriander seeds that are frequently used in cooking.

Herbs add such pleasure to our gardens and to our meals.  If you haven’t started an herb garden yet, maybe this is your year.  Start with something simple and easy to grow like the basil.  You can even grow it in a pot to make things simple.  As you begin to grow herbs I hope that you will discover the benefits of these beautiful, fragrant plants.  And maybe herb gardening will become an addiction for you too.