Where is the best place to plant herbs? It’s not always where you think. You see, not all of us have the same growing conditions in our backyards. If you are thinking of planting herbs, here’s what you might want to consider before you begin digging in the dirt.
Plant your herbs in a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunshine each day and has rich, natural soil with good drainage. Most herb seed packets and plant labels for herbs specify that they are to be planted in a southern exposure. That does not mean southern exposure means sunny skies all day long. In general, herbs do well on about 6 hours of light per day. Thyme and Rosemary will do best in full sunlight, while lavender can be successfully planted in partial shade.
Thyme and Rosemary are perennial herbs that love full sunlight but they also like the afternoon breezes. Both herbs can thrive even in shaded areas provided that they are planted early in the morning or late in the evening. Basil is a perennial herb that grows pretty well in shady areas as long as it is given a bit of sunshine during the hottest part of the day. Like other herbs, basil will grow better when it is planted in the edges of your garden. That way it will keep its nutrients where it needs them most – in the soil.
If you want to grow basil, you’ll have a lot of choices. Do you want to grow it in a potted garden so that you can have basil all year-round? Or do you want to start growing herbs so that you can keep your garden and its resources free for the gardening friends who drop by when you’re planting out flowers? If your answer to either of these questions is yes, then you may want to consider growing friendly varieties of herbs like mint, tarragon, chives, marjoram, basil, parsley and thyme. Each one of these has special traits that make them great for growing in pots and containers and in the ground.
Most people want to grow mint and thyme. Mint is full sun, attractive, and aromatic and it’s an excellent companion plant to sage, Rosemary, basil and other types of herbs. However, if you want to have more than mint, you need to add a second herb to your garden if you want to have a mint and thyme with each plant. That’s why oregano is such a great herb to plant along with Rosemary and basil.
Growing basil in the soil is very easy provided that you learn how to control its growth. The most important thing to keep in mind when growing basil is that it should be kept relatively dry, so that it will bloom properly and last for a long time. You also need to plant it in partial to full sunlight, since southern exposure is best for growing basil. Planting it in full sun, on the other hand, will provide it with too much heat which will stunt its growth.
In growing basil from seed, you can plant it in the ground, keep it contained, fertilize it regularly, and allow it to go through its growing phase in the summer under shady conditions, then transplant it into containers or pots during late winter or early spring when the weather is warm enough to encourage its growth. Tarragon and mint will do well if you plant them in a pot rather than just in the ground, since they can also be kept in small containers. However, they are better off in a large pot or tub.
Oregano is an ideal plant for growing in the garden if you have it as a perennial, since it will grow very well no matter what way you plant it. However, for some reason, it does not do so well if planted in the ground. A common way to grow oregano is by growing it in a hanging basket. This method works best if you plant mint, basil, or tarragon in a large container, and if the plants are placed about three feet tall. If you use this method, however, make sure that you have a strong support, since oregano will begin to die if it’s left on a weakly supported support.