There is just a few things herbs need to grow among these are the right soil, a sunny spot, and at least 6 hours or more of sun. Getting the plants to thrive indoor or outside and develop the oils in the stems and foliage is dependent on the amount of light the plants receive. If growing plants indoors, say on your windowsill, pots with drainage holes are preferred. Outside raised beds are preferred because they are easy to maintain.
The PH of the soil should be in the range of 6 to 7.5 and the soil should drain well. Adding amendments to a heavy clay soil will need to be made to enhance its ability to drain. Be careful when adding nutrients to the soil, as it does not take overly rich soil to grow herbs. If you have a nursery near you, you can buy starter plants or seeds.
Starter plants should not be planted deeper than the pot that contains them. Instructions on how far apart they should be planted and how much water they require should accompany most of these plants. If you are using a seed packet follow the instruction on the pack itself on how deep and far apart the seeds need to be planted. To remove the air pockets, pat the soil down.
You should water the plants well after planting and then water as needed. If you used seeds then they may require a little more attention until they sprout. Watering thoroughly to about 8 inches down once a week after the seeds have sprouted may be necessary. Container plants grown outdoors need watered more often, if it is hot they may require water daily.
After a good rain you will have to judge the soils moisture before watering again. The plants should not sit in soggy soil. Indoor plants require watering as the soil dries but care should be take to prevent the soil form becoming to dry and the herb plants wilting.
When growing herbs outdoors the beds should be fertilized once a season. For every 10 feet of plants apply about 3 ounces of 5-10-5 commercial fertilizer. If the plants are not growing well a little more may be applied but care should be taken.The use of a half strength liquid fertilizer applied about every month and half is good for indoor herb plants. Apply this same fertilizer on your outdoor potted plants about once a month.
Mulching can not only hold moisture in but also keep weeds out. Weeds can rob the herbs of nutrients they need to grow. Also the ground will stay warmer in the cooler times if mulch is used. Compost, leaves, straw are good mulches for the winter for any perennial herbs. These mulches can be used other times of the year too.
You can dry them or in some cases freeze them after harvesting. It is always nice to have fresh herbs but this is not always the case when growing them outdoors. To enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs all year long you can try an indoor gardening system. Indoor planting systems are readily available so you can enjoy the taste of fresh herbs all year long.
Learn more about Enjoying A Herb Garden. Stop by Jefferson Haynesworth's site where you can find out all about Herb Garden Information and what it can do for you.
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