

#GROWING THYME FROM SEED OUTDOORS FREE#
Free the plant from the pot and, if necessary, carefully loosen the root ball with your fingers. To do this, use a spade or trowel to dig a sufficiently deep hole. The pots that young herbs come in are often already heavily rooted, so plant them out as soon as possible after buying. Planting a herb garden: step-by-stepĪfter loosening and preparing the soil, you can start planting your herb bed beginning around mid-May. We have a whole article devoted to answering the question “ Which herbs go together?” if you want to find out more. Herbs such as watercress ( Nasturtium officinale), dill, parsley, chives, lovage ( Levisticum officinale), peppermint ( Mentha x piperita) and camomile, on the other hand, are not as dependent on sunshine, and, unlike the Mediterranean herbs, they prefer humus and nutrient rich, slightly moist soils. Because of their Mediterranean origins, herbs like savory, rosemary, basil, lavender ( Lavendula angustifolia), oregano, sage and thyme all tend to like sunny locations with lean soils and dislike waterlogging. Their site requirements also give an indication of which herbs grow well together. Basil is a great companion plant for other herbs Among the perennial herbs, savory, oregano and sage grow very well together. Basil is perhaps the most tolerable annual herb species, making a good companion plant for lots of other herbs. The wrong neighbour can have negative effects on growth and can increase susceptibility to diseases. However, it is much more important that herbs planted next to one another grow well together. To make your life easier, it makes sense to plant annual and perennial herbs separately. Basil, lemon verbena ( Aloysia citrodora), rosemary and bay ( Laurus nobilis) should be overwintered indoors and are, therefore, only suitable for herb beds to a limited extent. Some Mediterranean herbs do not fare well in colder winters. On top of this, there are biennials, like parsley ( Petroselinum crispum) and chervil ( Anthriscus cerefolium), which flower in the second year and then die (unless they have already been harvested).Īnother factor to consider when choosing your herbs is frost sensitivity. Some well-known annual herbs are dill ( Anethum graveolens), chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla), borage ( Borago officinalis) and nasturtium ( Tropaeolum majus). Keep in mind, some perennial species that are not winter hardy can act like annual herbs in places with cold winters. Therefore, they must be resown each year. Thyme is a perennial herb Īnnual herbs, on the other hand, only flower for one season before forming seeds and dying back. Some of the most well-known perennial herbs are thyme, oregano ( Origanum vulgare), sage ( Salvia officinalis), chives, fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare), mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris), wormwood ( Artemisia absinthium) and savory ( Satureja hortensis). Most herbs are perennial and can even survive temperate winters outside, sprouting again in the spring. Best herbs for an outdoor herb gardenĪs a general rule, we divide herb plants into two main groups: annuals and perennials. All in all, it is up to personal preference and the needs of the gardener. Some plants are also extremely decorative or beautifully fragrant. There are so many herbs to choose from for cooking or brewing herbal teas. We suggest choosing herbs for your garden based on how you would like to use them. Incorporating organic matter, such as compost, has the added bonus of improving soil structure and soil life.

These are mostly used for planting in pots or planters but can also be used for enriching garden soil. You can also find soil specifically made for growing herbs in shops. If the soil is too sandy and permeable, it can be improved with high-quality potting compost. Loamy and heavily compacted soils should be enriched with sand. Many herbs prefer well-drained, nutrient-poor soils. The cold temperatures in winter also help break down larger chunks of soil into small crumbs, making it much easier to work with the soil in spring. The soil can then rest over the winter months. Autumn is the best time to dig up the bed and remove any weeds.
#GROWING THYME FROM SEED OUTDOORS HOW TO#
Lavender prefers drier locations How to prepare the soilĪfter choosing the right location, it is time to prepare the soil. A sheltered spot next to the house, for instance, is ideal and handy for picking too. Even though many herbs that are native to temperate regions are adapted to cooler weather, it is still important that the herb bed is protected from wind. Whereas many herbs native to temperate regions, such as mint ( Mentha) and chives ( Allium schoenoprasum), prefer a shady or partially shady area − they can also be planted under a tree or in places that are not suitable for Mediterranean herbs. Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis) and thyme ( Thymus vulgaris), usually prefer a sunny, quite dry location.
