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Grow Your Herb Garden Outdoors
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I began my first herb garden in my parents’ backyard, tucked over in the corner beside the storage shed, encircling small Bradford Pear tree. I laid out the bed with red bricks and divided it into four quadrants—one section for each group of herb plants. I planted different herb plants in each section.
Italian herb plants in one section, such as parsley, basil and oregano. In another section I grew a tea garden, full of peppermint, anise, chamomile and fennel. Another section had healing herbs, such as aloe vera, horseradish and calendula. The last quarter had cosmetic herb plants like for lavender, chervil and lemon verbena that I used in soaps, lotions and shampoos.
I was really pleased with the outcomes that first year. The second year did not go so well, because the mints I had started quickly took over, my chamomile crept way outside the herb garden, and my lavender died from overexposure.
The second year was unsuccessful because I hadn’t taken time to think about what my herb plants needed most: the right earth, the right kind of light and enough water.
While there are enough varieties of herbs to grow outside to fill a hundred gardens, including dill, rosemary, salvias, scented geranium and vervain before you begin your herb garden check out the optimal growing conditions that your herb plants will need. Each herb requires optimal conditions to persist and prosper. Try herbs like white willow, thyme, sage, poppies and lemon balm.
These are some other herbs that you can be successful with:
- Basil: If you plant basil, you’ll be on easy street because basil won’t need much help from you. Basil needs full or part-sun and can grow in a bed or pot, as long as it has good drainage, which reminds me to mention that you will only need to water it when the earth is dry. Use the sweet basil variety for your Italian dishes for an unmistakable taste.
- Lemongrass: I like the fresh, clean smell of lemongrass. It is one of the cheerful little grasses that will get pretty tall in a single growing season, adding a pop of bright green color your garden and a delicious lemon scent. For best results, I recommend that you get the plant rather than starting with seeds, and before you know it you will have another ingredient for your Indian and Thai meals!
- Cilantro: I must admit that cilantro is my new favorite herb to raise in my garden and use in my cooking. Its distinctive flavor makes it an awesome addition to your Tex-Mex dishes and it is easy to grow.
- Chamomile: To add some extra sparkle to your hanging baskets, try the German type of this chamomile. Snip off a few of the leaves to use in your calming tea or even your bath for some added luxury. Its light, woody, apple scent is seductive to your senses, while its white petals with bright yellow centers remind me of happy little daisies, so how can you go wrong?
So experiment, have fun, go dig in the dirt and get your hands dirty …there are a lot of ways to herb garden outside and none of them is the only way to do it—there is no right way, there is only your way.
Good luck with your herb gardening outside. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Herb Garden Designs. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
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