Guest guest Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Herb Gardening by Meg McGowan My own herb garden has grown from my love of plants and because I have always liked the idea of an herb garden. From there grew a love of cooking with fresh herbs and an affinity for particular plants and recipes — and, of course, experimenting with their healing properties. The idea of an herb garden holds a timeless appeal. To walk outside and snip lavender (Lavandula officinalis syn. L. angustifolia) to tuck in your child’s pillowcase for sweet dreams; to pluck a sage leaf (Salvia officinalis) and rub it on an insect bite or sting for relief, to harvest comfrey leaves (Symphytum officinale) to make a compress for a bruise or sprain: all of these make a connection between your work, the earth’s offerings, and your own personal needs. Growing herbs in your own backyard offers a simple, joyful way to integrate them into your life. Additionally, herbs grown locally adapt to the ecosystem in which you live — and may provide unique benefits. Herbs do not necessarily require a bed of their own. They can be integrated into an existing vegetable garden (annual herbs) or perennial garden (either annual or perennial herbs). Most herbs prefer a southern or western exposure. "Full sun," horticulturally speaking, is six hours or more of direct sunlight on the plant. If you don’ t have much sun, you can still grow some shade-tolerant herbs such as parsley (Petroselinum crispum), mints (Mentha x piperita or M. spicata) French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativum), chives (Allium shoenoprasum), comfrey (Symphytum officinale), sorrel (Rumex acetosa or R. scutatus), and bee balm (Monarda didyma or M. punctata). Or consider planting herbs in pots, positioning them to take advantage of what sun you have. Even sun-loving herbs prefer a bit of relief from the intense afternoon heat. By varying heights within a planting, the tallest plants diffuse the light falling on the lower plants. Well-drained soil is key for virtually all herbs. Most do best in soil that is not overly rich. Annual herbs, those that complete their life cycle in one year, need a bit more attention than perennial herbs, those that return year after year. They have only one season in which to establish roots, grow, and bloom. Annual herbs will flourish if provided with more water and more nutrients than perennial herbs require, and shade-tolerant herbs tend to thrive in moister soil than sun-loving herbs. Tender perennials, herbs that would survive the winter if we but lived in a warmer climate, tend to share the site requirements of true perennial herbs. If you choose to grow tender perennial herbs, such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora syn. Aloysia triphylla) and bay (Laurus nobilis), you may want to plant them in pots, so they may be easily transported indoors in autumn. Pests generally do not plague herb plants, but organic pest control methods are available. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a fun herb to grow because of the many varieties available, including Purple Ruffles, Red Rubin, Thai, lemon, cinnamon, anise, and African Blue. This annual herb likes a sunny location. It will grow quickly from seed planted directly in the garden. Basil is extremely sensitive to frost and cool night temperatures, though. To ensure an early harvest in our climate, you may want to purchase a few plants that have already been started in a greenhouse. Space plants at least one foot apart to allow sufficient room for branching, and you will be rewarded by an abundance of basil. Pinch growing tips to encourage side shoots and prevent bloom. Once a basil plant flowers, leaf production and the concentration of volatile oils in the leaves diminish. Sometimes, the leaves become bitter. Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), also an annual, is best grown from seed. (The seeds are used as a spice — coriander.) It will do well in sun or partially shaded locations. Like basil, once cilantro flowers it ceases to produce leaves, concentrating its efforts on producing seeds; after which the plant will virtually disappear from the garden. Pinching the flowers off a cilantro plant, however, is a task for Sisyphus. Instead of undertaking this heroic effort, try planting slow-to-bolt strains and sow seeds successively, every three weeks or so. Dill (Anethum graveolens) also produces seeds that are used as a spice, and it produces them quickly. As with cilantro, successive sowings are key for this annual. A sunny location is best. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a tender perennial that tends to be particular about watering. Too much or too little and rosemary turns into a twig. Try putting a few fragments of limestone at the bottom of a pot, then adding a potting mix for cactus. Plant your rosemary, and cross your fingers. When watering, soak the soil thoroughly, until water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Allow the soil to dry before watering again. A lot of sun and good air circulation increase your chances for success. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a sun-loving hardy perennial. Well-drained soil is its primary requirement. With sage, as with most gray or silver-leafed plants, err on the side of less water. The straight species seems to overwinter most reliably in the Chicago area. (The dwarf cultivar‘Bergarten’ is also quite hardy.) Golden sage, purple sage, and tri-color sage add great color and texture to the garden, but they seldom come back if left out for the winter. Lavender (Lavandula officinalis syn. L. angustifolia) grows in conditions similar to sage. Again, good drainage is essential. If there is a high spot in the garden with plenty of sunlight, that’s the spot for lavender. Like basil, the mint family offers delightful varieties, including: orange mint, apple mint, pineapple mint and chocolate mint. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (M. spicata) plants are especially reliable perennials — too reliable, perhaps. Mints will meander around the yard if left to their own devices. This may be fine if you have a lot of space to fill, but other, less aggressive herbs may be trampled in a smaller garden. To contain your mint, consider lining a pot with weed-barrier cloth, filling it with soil, planting it with the mint and sinking it into the ground up to the rim. Even this is not fool-proof. You still will need to check the mint for creepers outside the pot. Alternatively, plant mint above ground in large pots, no liner necessary, just sufficient moisture; either sun or shade is fine. For the beginning or impatient gardener, perennial herbs are best purchased as plants rather than seeds. Most annuals are easily grown either way. Gourmet Herbs, a wholesale, organic herb farm in Frankfort, Illinois, supplies three Chicago locations with extensive selections of herb plants: Gethsemane Gardens, The Urban Gardener, and Horizon Gardens. Underwood Gardens, located in Bensenville, Illinois, promotes biodiversity by selling open-pollinated, heirloom seeds. Elixir Farm Botanicals in Brixey, Missouri also practices biodynamic and organic gardening. They sell Chinese and medicinal plant seeds and some bare root plants. If you would begin an herb garden, I will leave you with the advice of Henry Beston from Herbs and the Earth: "Put in only the real herbs of the human inheritance and only as many of these as you can care for and come to know and cherish, only as many as you can bind into a living relation to yourself, else you will miss the true quality and unique refreshment of gardening with herbs. Should a genuine rarity come your way, take it when you can get it, find a place for it and rejoice — that is understood." Resources Gethsemane Gardens, 5739 N. Clark, Chicago, Illinois; 773-878-5915 The Urban Gardener, 1006 W. Armitage, Chicago, Illinois; 773-477-2070 Horizon Gardens, 4247 W. Montrose, Chicago, Illinois; 773-777-3600 _Underwood Gardens_ (http://www.grandmasgarden.com/) , 4n381 Maple, Bensenville, Illinois; 630-616-0268 _Elixir Farm Botanicals_ (http://www.elixirfarm.com/) , Brixey, Missouri; 417-261-2393 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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