How to Grow Herbs
Selecting Site for Herbs
In selecting a site for your herbs, choose one that can provide your herbs the same growing conditions for your flowers or vegetables.
Most herbs can be cultivated with partial shade of sunlight. However, it is advised that your herb garden receive four to six hours of sunlight each day.
Most herbs can grow healthy in a wide range of soil types except in soil that is extremely wet and not properly drained.
Herb Garden Site
You have to prepare the site the same way that you prepare a vegetable garden. It is advised that you make raised beds if the soil is not properly drained.
You can dig up to six to twelve inches deep and remove unnecessary debris and clods in the soil.
You can also add compost in the soil for every one hundred sq. feet of before you start planting.
Apart from the compost, be careful in adding extra fertilizers because herbs can grow well in an environment with just minimum fertility.
Soil that contains high fertilizers can produce many types of foliages but is considered inferior in flavor.
Things Needed in Growing Herbs:
Herbs seedlings
Mulches
Watering Cans
Watering Herb Plants
Water your herbs to keep soil moisture especially during hot weather conditions but avoid over watering as it may cause damping off.
Damping off is a sign of fungal disease in plants. This can cause the herb stems to break and the herbs will eventually die.
Nutrients Needed by Herbs
Herbs require sunlight for their growth. It is advised that you ensure four to six hours of sunlight to your herbs.
Mulches can also help your plant but avoid too many fertilizers as it will affect the flavor of your plants.
Herbs during Summer Season
During summer season, it is advised that you add moisture to the soil. The best way to add moisture to the soil is by adding mulch. Mulches can be in a form of bark chips, dried grass or compost. Apply the mulches with a depth of three inches around the herbs.
Pruning is also advised during this time.
Herbs during Winter Season
During winter, pruning and adding fertilizers will just harm your herbs especially in those locations that have severe winter conditions.
You also have to avoid mulches that stay wet during the wet weather because too much mulch can cause serious problems to the herbs.
Harvesting Herbs
You can pick fresh leaves when the herbs have enough foliage to maintain their growth. It is advised that you pick the leaves when all the dews have all disappeared but before the sunlight becomes excessively hot.
After picking the leaves, you should wash the leaves thoroughly to remove all impurities, then, drain them properly prior to drying.