Create a Low Maintenance Herb Garden

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Create a Low Maintenance Herb Garden

Thursday, March 4th, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed

When it goes right, you just cannot beat it! If you grow herbs in your garden, you’ll have that same success. What you need to do is create a spot for your herb to grow, focusing on water, sunlight and dirt condition.

Here’s a list of herbs that once you start them and get them going, they will take care of themselves:

Borage: The long, fuzzy and prickly leaves may be difficult to swallow, but you can certainly feast on these and savor the flavor of cucumber. The borage herb appreciates dry, dark earth and full sun—the blue or purple star-patterned flowers are cute as can be. Start your seeds in late spring and by Independence Day your herb will have grown to up to two feet high.

Caraway: Even though the foliage of the caraway can look like that of a carrot in its first growing year, don’t confuse it with a carrot. When year 2 comes around, white or pink flowers that sit in umbrella-shaped clusters replace the carrot-like foliage on 1 to 3 foot stems. Give your caraway plant full-sunlight and also make sure it has well-drained dirt for the best outcome. Sow the seeds outdoors in spring or fall. They will self-seed if you don’t pick off the dead blooms.

Dill: Dill is one of my favorite herbs to grow because of its thin, fern-like leaves. Your herb will sprout fast for you as long as you give it with well-drained soil and full sun. Don’t let your herb get more than three feet high before you begin using it in your dishes; you can start harvesting once your dill reaches a foot. Dill is great for floral arrangements because of its pretty, yellow umbrella-like heads, which can also be used as a seasoning. Begin with seeds and you’ll end up with a full-grown plant soon, so don’t fret about starting too early.

Fennel: Don’t confuse your mature fennel herb with dill because the two look similar, but dill tastes nothing like the licorice flavored fennel. If you sow your seeds in early summer, you’ll have a full-grown, 4-foot-tall plant in only a few short weeks. Plant it in full sun in well-drained soil for the best results. The seeds are the delicious part. You’ll want to harvest them before they get fully brown. Did you know that you can use your dried stems in all kinds of culinary creations, including soups, stews and goods?

Lemon Balm: The lemon-scented lemon balm perennial has lovely heart-shaped leaves will do well in well-drained dirt with either full sun or a little shade. Don’t bother with growing it from seeds, buy a little plant at the nursery and let it grow for you. You’ll soon be able to divide it and replant it. As a self-sower, lemon balm will quickly spread so give your herbs plenty of space. Pinch off the dead flowers to prevent lemon balm from self-sowing.

Sweet Cicely: This perennial grows in light shade as long as you give it loose, rich soil. Be sure to plant it with mulch and organic compost. Purchase your initial plants and it will spread out from there through self-sowing.

These aren’t the only good ones either … there are plenty more to choose from, including Queen Anne’s lace and dandelion.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Home Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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