grow an herb garden

to a local nursery that has the most beautiful container gardens here in the wilderness. They hold free workshops for the public to answer any questions and of course make sales.

I was amazed. They are like plant doctors. Something tells me we will become very good friends. ;)

10 nice ceramic pots of different herbs this Fall. I am also planting mint and rosemary in the flowerbed for good measure.

I’m thinking sage, tyme, basil, oregano, tarragon, chives…

need 4 more herbs. oooh ooh…parsley and chervil sound wonderful…okay now I need 2 more!

has some great tips to share with us:

Herbs for Beginning Gardeners

Beginning herb gardeners may have a problem deciding which herbs to plant because of the large number of herbs from which to select. A quick check of your supermarket shelf will give you some idea of the types of herbs used in cooking and also will serve as a planting guide. Many cookbooks also offer information on uses of various herbs as flavorings.

Following is a good variety of flavors and uses of recommended herbs for beginners:

Strong herbs—winter savory, rosemary, sage

Herbs strong enough for accent—sweet basil, dill, mint, sweet marjoram, tarragon, thyme

Herbs for blending—chives, parsley, summer savory

As your interest and needs increase, you can add to the variety of herbs in your garden.

Keep in mind that herbs can be annuals, biennials, or perennials when selecting herbs to grow for the first time.

made me a green tea with ginseng, basil and mint out of his garden. I added a dollup of flower honey…

a very soothing, tasty repast.

in containers was the subject of a show on HGTV this morning.

It was very informative…

Some DO’S and DONT’S:

Always use pots 12” or larger.
Planting your herbs in wide mouthed pots are best.
Consider the height and depth for your root system.
Mix your own potting soil (1 part sand to 2 parts potting soil add in pebbles for drainage).
Don’t use saucers under the pots. Plants like to be watered from the top down.
Don’t water your plants with cold water use water heated to air temperature in the shade. Cold water sprayed on foliage causes white spots from shock.

Inspired me to go to the nursery and find some of my favorite herbs…