Monday, June 30, 2008

Planting Herbs

my newly planted container herb garden

Last week I headed off to the South Carolina coast to the Pawley’s Island area for a few days of rest and relaxation. While there, a visit to local garden centers was a must. My first stop was the Inlet Culinary Garden, a wonderful garden center which specialized in “culinary herbs and edible landscape.“ I had previously thought of herbs only as something to enhance my cooking not as something to beautify the landscape. After looking at the wonderful array of herbs I realized that they can add a special touch to the garden without ever being added to our food. In the shop there were lush green rows of thyme and basil of every size and description. I don’t think I had ever seen such beautiful healthy plants. I was quite taken by mother of thyme, a tiny-leaved creeper which would double perhaps as a ground cover in much warmer climates (or even make a delightful hanging basket for the summer months).  In my 7 B zone many of these herbs will be considered tender annuals and will not survive the winter. The nursery had pots as far as the eye could see, many designed to be container herb gardens. If you do choose a container to grow your herb garden, you could overwinter them inside. The sales staff was wonderfully helpful (always a positive). Herbs at the Inlet Culinary Garden are planted with Osmocote slow release fertilizer and a mix of Fafard potting soils. The plants are not fertilized after an initial feeding. Another key to beautiful herbs, I was told, is to be stingy with the water. I purchased a variety of thyme plants which I was told do not like wet feet. In these days of watering restrictions, the addition of herbs to your landscape can be a blessing. After choosing a container in the shape of a shallow bowl at my second garden center stop, True Blu, I filled my container herb garden with a variety of thyme, a Cuban oregano and a golden marjoram already purchased from the Inlet Garden.

Please consider adding herbs to your garden, whether or not you use them for cooking. They are very easy to grow when planted in the right place and—given the right conditions (right plant in the right place) – their texture, color and fragrance can only enhance your landscape.
A few hints gathered from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System pamphlet “Growing Herbs.”
• herbs require excellent drainage and hate wet feet (except for mint which will thrive under your garden faucet)
• herbs need at least 6 hours of sun although there are a few (such as chamomile) that will take shadier conditions; herbs grown in our state do welcome some partial afternoon shade
• some herbs such as cilantro and dill like a cooler climate than we have here in Alabama so will have a shorter growing season
• herbs should be planted far enough apart to allow the leaves to dry out after watering, have good air circulation and get enough light
• herbs prefer a neutral soil amended with organic matter (a soil test is always a good idea before you plant anything)
• herbs can be planted in a raised bed or in containers if your soil is heavy; if you choose containers, remember the plants will need more water than in the ground, but allow the soil to dry between watering
• herbs need only minimal fertilizer
• herbs will need water during dry times; when you water, water deeply instead of just wetting the surface of the soil
• herb gardens should be kept weeded
• herb gardens will benefit from a layer of mulch
• herbs will be bushier and healthier if you pinch them back during the growing season; it is especially important to pinch back flowers to keep the herbs growing  
• herbs can be grown from seeds or plants

Summer, for me, is not summer without basil and parsley in the garden to add to tomato sauces and other dishes. Plant extra parsley plants for your butterfly caterpillars to munch on. The leaves of lemon verbena provide a heavenly smell when crushed. Rubbing your fingers through the leaves of deliciously fragrant herbs is one of the nicest experiences on a walk through the garden. So as you stroll the aisles of the garden shops, add herbs to your cart. You won’t regret it.