Outdoor Herb Gardening

I started 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. Each section was used for a different type of plant.

In one section I started an Italian herb garden that included oregano, basil and parsley. In another area I grew my first 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.

It was a wonderful success that first year and I liked the experience, but in the second year, my mints took over and my chamomile crept away while my lavender died a painfully tragic sunlight-related death.

It did not work, because I had not looked at the most important thing: what my herbs need in soil, light and water to persist and thrive.

Before you plant a single herb, be sure to check out the place where you will eventually plant your herb plants so that you’ll know the best herb plants for that location. Each herb requires optimal conditions to persist and prosper. Try herb plants like white willow, thyme, sage, poppies and lemon balm.

Here are some other herbs that you can be successful with:

• Basil: If you plant basil, you will be on easy street because basil won’t need much help from you. What you need to do is plant it in a bed or pot where it will have good drainage and where it will have either full-sun or part-sun part-shade … and of course, water it at least once or twice a week in spring and fall and every other day in the hot months. If you are going to be cooking with your basil, be sure to use the sweet basil kind of the plant for best results.

• Lemongrass: I love the fresh, clean smell of lemongrass. It is one of the happy little grasses that will get pretty tall in a single growing season, adding a pop of bright green color your garden and a mouth-watering lemon scent. For best results, I suggest that you get the herb 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 grow in my garden and use in my cooking. Its distinctive flavor makes it an awesome addition to your Tex-Mex meals and it is simple to grow.

• Chamomile: To add some extra sparkle to your hanging baskets, use the German type of this chamomile. When you walk by it you can clip off a few leaves, rinse them, chop them up and brew them into a calming, soothing tea and try it in your evening bath. Chamomile is considered to be a sensual plant because it has a light and woody apple scent that can heighten your senses. It can also make you smile because it looks like a daisy with white petals and a yellow center.

So experiment, have fun, go dig in the dirt and get your hands dirty …there are so many 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.