Many herbs that grow well in the desert environment are actually of Mediterranean origin. Desert plants share many of the same characteristics that Asian herbs have. Soil types, hot climate, low precipitation and above all, plenty of sunny days on a year round basis to allow these more familiar desert herbs to flourish in even low desert gardens. This short guide to planting herbs in a desert garden should help the beginner or experienced gardener to get started off successfully. It details the best types of soil, climate, light and watering requirements and also lists some of the more popular deserts herbs.
Growing herbs in any kind of soil will depend upon whether you are growing herbs for culinary, medicinal or ornamental purposes. Culinary herbs include basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro and marjoram. Medical herbs include echinacea, thyme, tarragon, Rosemary, sage and thyme.
Perennial herbs will flower and die back in the winter months only. The blooms come back again in the spring with new shoots. If you are planting in a bed or a garden and using annual herbs such as cilantro, summer savory, chives and scented geraniums, be sure to place them in a deeper container prior to planting. Most perennials will return to a full bloom in the spring. If you are planting for the whole season, be sure to plan ahead by planting annuals first and then planting perennials so that the flowers and foliage come out in the early spring.
If you want herbs that grow in the desert, you have to be sure they get regular watering. Even those plants that are known as drought tolerant and sun loving plants will still dry out if they do not get an adequate amount of water. You can also use pre-emergent herb seeds to avoid planting in the winter. This is especially true if you are planning on planting them in a garden.
Sun loving herbs prefer full sunlight. mint, basil, chives, dill, sage, tarragon and thyme will all grow better in full sun. On the other hand, mint, chives, dill, sage, basil, chives, tarragon and summer savory will all thrive well in partial shade. Some herbs like burdock, sage, coriander and red sage prefer a little less sun but all will tolerate some shade during the hot part of the day.
For culinary uses, the Mediterranean is an excellent source of herbs. It is very easy to plant your own Mediterranean herbs in your own home garden. Of course, you can buy your Mediterranean herbs at a good price at your local nursery. But if you are not sure about where to find them, you can also purchase your Mediterranean herbs online. There are many reputable web sites that will ship the products to you or at your door. Many people choose to build their own home herb garden and grow many different types of herbs for culinary and medicinal uses.
If you want annual herbs that grow in the desert, you will need to have an area that is either covered with sand or has a little bit of shade. Annual garden plants can withstand more heat than their perennial cousins and are great for the beginning gardener as well as the experienced gardener. Most annuals that grow in the desert are native to the area and do not need any kind of special treatment to thrive.
Biennials are also very popular as they grow best in sunny conditions. However, you do have to make sure that the conditions are just right if you wish to have a successful biennial. Biennials are also quite hardy and will survive just about any kind of drought or heat. You can often see these as the most beautiful of all the types of herb gardens and the flowers often outnumber the seeds. Biennials are the types of herbs that grow best in the desert and for this reason, they are perfect for anyone who is looking for a theme for their home or yard.