Creating Your Own Herb Garden

To think of walking in an herb garden, with the delicate scents wafting up with each step is something out of a fairy tale. You can create your own fairy tale setting right in the back yard.

There are so many things to consider when you decide to plant an herb garden. The first is location. You need to remember that most of the plants in this garden are going to be used in the kitchen. The best place to put them would be by the kitchen.

It is always best to choose a section in the yard close to the door. You may want to have the fresh herbs available for cooking but easy access is always a key role in how many of them actually make it to the stewing pot. When the herbs are right within walking distance of the kitchen you are more likely to run out and pick a few leaves to use. If you have to go all the way to the back of the yard, you may not feel so inclined to add that particular flavoring to your dish.

You do not need acres of land to have a fantastic herb garden. You can have more than enough space for the most common herbs in a five foot square area. You must remember the fact that herbs tend to spread rapidly when growing. You can start out with five feet and within a few short months have the entire section full.

A sunny location is a good choice for your herb garden. One that gets partial shade in the afternoon is best. Herbs love the sun, but too much can make them wither or sprout up and go to seed quickly. Once an herb goes to seed, it can become woody. However when you do not allow the plant to have the light of the full sun, you can have spindly little plants. This is not what you want in an herb garden.

Along with proper growth is the essential oils that give the herbs their wonderful flavors and aromas. In the full sun the plants are able to develop luscious green foliage and intense oils. The flavors will come bursting out when you use them in the kitchen.

The bottom line to choosing where your garden is going to go is location, location, location. The right one will make all the difference.

You will find that because most natural herbs were once weeds, and in some cases still considered as such, they will grow in almost any soil. You must remember that they are plants and as such must be treated accordingly. You should use a natural fertilizer if you can. The herbs like to have a more neutral type of soil. Just by adding some dead leaf compost and tilling it under when planting can make the herb garden grow better than ever.

The better quality of the soil, the better your herb garden will grow. However, most herbs will grow anywhere. As a matter of fact, you may find they will grow right out of the nice bed you have prepared for them and into the lawn. There is an actual benefit to this; the smell is fantastic when you are mowing the lawn. Just walking past and brushing up against the fragrant leaves releases a wonderful aroma into the air.

The main problem many new gardeners face is what to plant and what to leave out. It is not advisable to try every herb all at once. The best way to enjoy your culinary garden is to choose four or five hardy varieties of an herb you will use in the kitchen. This will allow you to get started with the basics of growing an herb garden. It is a great experience which you will be able to enjoy year 'round.

Some of the more hardy varieties include basil, oregano, and mint. Most herbs are hardy enough to be grown anywhere in the country. There are some which are only going to grow in the more tropical climates. You should check the hardiness zones of the plants you want to grow before you purchase them. This can save you from disappointment.

Growing your herb garden is not hard at all. Most of the herbs tend to themselves.

When you finally decide on a sunny area for the garden, make sure it is tilled up smoothly. The rich dirt can be bolstered with nutrients if you like. A standard garden fertilizer is all you need.

You can either start the plants in the house during the winter, six weeks before the last frost, or you can sow the seeds directly into the ground. You must make sure if you start the seeds in the house, the plants are hardy and can take being transplanted.