Growing Herbs

Herbs are easy to grow, easy to care for, and easy to harvest. Most herb plants grow like weeds, thrive on neglect, and are nearly impossible to kill. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a green thumb, chances are you will still be able to grow herbs. Besides, herb gardening is fun!

If you are fortunate enough to have a patch of land large enough to grow an herb garden on, you can choose from an amazing variety of herbs for your home herb garden. You don’t need a very big garden plot to get started herb gardening, but your plot should be in full sun for as many hours of the day as possible. The full sun is loved by most herbs.

Herb Basket

A fun way to get started herb gardening is to make an herb basket. Pay a visit to an herb gardening store and buy a variety of fresh herbs. Look for diversity in the herbs’ height, growth patterns, and leaf color. Basil is one plant that comes in green and purple leaves, why don’t you get one of each for your basket. Purchase five to nine herbs, depending on the size of your basket, in 2″ or 4″ pots.

Take a flat-bottomed, shallow basket, and line it with a plastic shopping bag that has had several slits cut in it for drainage. Have the plastic-lined basket filled with potting soil, then start planting the tall plants with an upright habit in the center and the creeping and spreading plants around the edges. Have the basket put under full sun and do water the basket thoroughly. Clip herbs as you need them, and water the basket two or three times a week.

Herb Topiary

Topiary is the art of shaping plant material as it grows, often with the aid of a wire form. Several herbs, rosemary among them, lend themselves especially strongly to use in herb topiaries. Herb gardening with topiaries is quite popular and is attracting enthusiasts from around the world. Nearly every state or county fair has competitions for topiary art.

Herbs in Containers

Container herb gardening indoors is a great way to grow herbs, although you must be certain that they get enough sun. A south-facing window is usually adequate, although some varieties may lose their vigor over winter when daylight is weak.