Herb Garden Plants
If you’re serious about herb gardening, you need to plan your trip to the nursery, green house or home improvement store like you’re going on vacation or planning for a wedding. It takes time. You shouldn’t decide one day to become an herb gardener and then head off to get your plants right then. Take your time. Savor the planning period. It’ll reap its own rewards.
There are four different qualities to consider when choosing your herb garden plants – whether they go in sun or shade and which go in moist or well drained soil.
It’s important to keep in mind where you’ll put your plants once you get them. While some herbs like a lot of sun, others like the shade. Still others like a mix of sun and shade. The ones that like sun, usually also appreciate well-drained soil. Shade loving plants like to live in moist soil that has a lot of compost. You probably guessed it, but those that like both sun and shade like well-draining soil that has some good compost too.
Here are some of the best herb garden plants for well-drained, sun-filled spots:
• Lavender: This perfumed herb adds a delightful sweet smell to your house and garden.
• Fennel: If you like licorice, this is the herb for you. The whole plant is edible and the smell can be intoxicating.
• Rosemary: This herb looks like a relative of the pine tree. It has a pungent flavor that can add great flavor to your food and drink. The foliage is also unusually beautiful.
Here are some of the best herb garden plants for moist, shady spots:
• Mint: There are so many varieties, such as peppermint and spearmint, that it will be hard to choose just one. Just walking through a field of mint will produce a sweet smelling experience that will improve any stroll.
• Parsley: It’s not just a garnish! It’s clean, fresh flavor will add to any meal. It also looks good in the garden.
• Sweet Woodruff: With beautiful white flowers, this one is great for your dried floral arrangements. It will even retain its fresh, clean fragrance.
Another thing you should consider is your climate. While some herbs thrive in cool climates, others like it hot. This doesn’t mean that you can’t grow an herb if you have a different climate, you just might need to pick the right season to grow it. For example, basil likes warm climates (it is originally from the tropics of the Pacific), and you can easily grow it in the summer, almost no matter where you live and you can certainly grow it indoors too—just make sure it gets plenty of direct sunlight.
Here are some of the best herb garden plants for warm climates:
• Basil: Some people might say that the leaves taste like cloves, but I think that the leaves of this herb are in a class all their own. Grow them in the summer—frost will kill this one for sure.
• Mexican Mint Marigold: Unlike the flavor of most marigold plants, Mexican mint marigold has a licorice flavor that matches its small, daisy-like flowers.
• Sweet Bay: This one grows as a small tree, which sets it apart from most other herbs. The intense smell from the leaves will make you want to cook soups and stews and vegetable dishes every day.
Here are some of the best herb garden plants for cool climates:
• Arugula: Do you love salad like I do? Arugula is a great salad green that, like mustard greens, tastes a little bitter and loves cooler climates. If you’re in a warmer climate, try growing in the spring or fall to catch the cooler temperatures.
• Cilantro: This one’s getting more popular by the minute. This sweet-smelling, aromatic plant has pungent foliage and is pretty hardy, until the humidity and heat come out.
• Garlic: You know garlic already. It’s so good for you and tasty too. The bulbs are the most often used, but you can cook with the greens and the flowers. The flowers will look good in your fresh flower arrangements too.
Growing herbs isn’t always easy and not seeing your plants live long and thrive can be hard. By doing your homework ahead of time, you can reduce your heartache and increase your chances for success.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
