Question
Hello Julian,
What is your top three advice on how to maintain a full herb garden year after year ?

I don't have any garden experience, but now like to plant a herb garden for kitchen use. The plot is about one meter on 4 metres wide, against the wall of our house that faces southwest (splendid sunny spot for most of the morning and afternoon). I could use some advice on 1) how to start such a garden: the design (which herbs next to which ones), preparing the soil, and the planting itself (spacing..) and 2) how to maintain the garden: recurrent tasks in spring, summer, fall (and winter). Maybe you could advice a good book or calender about that topic instead.

The herbs I'd like to grow are the ones we use most in our kitchen: laurel, thyme, sage, parsley, basilicum, chives, tarragon, mint (different kinds).

Thank you. I can't wait to start.
Kristien

Answer
Kristien:
It would take quite a lot of writing to answer all your questions right. There is a lot of good herb garden info on the web. Use search engine "goggle.com" for the best searches. Books by Organic Gardening  Magazine and author Sal Gilbertie.  Web site "herbworld.com" has a good list of herb literature. Below is some more tips that I use:

Herb Garden-Outdoor

Welcome! to the wonderful world of herbs. Plants given to us by the GOD of this universe for our health and enjoyment. You can grow some of these plants with a good attitude, location and soil. Do your homework on the varieties that you want to grow. Use more than ( 1 ) reference and talk to your herb neighbors, friends, grandparents, Mom and Dad and especially your ethnic associates. Information not in books can be found through these resources. Growing from seed will not be discussed. You may write or call.
The best resource is ( Tom De Baggio's book )

Area and Preparation:

An area facing east, south or southeast are the best. You want the morning sun first. I have found that areas getting the 11:00 am sun does not do as well as the early sun. Especially trying to grow basil in this time frame. The soil should be well drained and NO CLAY!  Poor soils tend to produce more aromatic foliage, while richer soils produce less aromatic, but more foliage. All soils can benefit with the addition of organic matter such as compost, manure compost, dug to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. If soil is not clay, but heavy soil, you can add sand and mix well. If you can see the particles when you hold some in your hand, then it is enough. Remove all debris and weeds from the area.

For shade tolerant herbs, such as chervil, japanese parsley (Mitsuba), culantro, sweet cicely, some mints, sweet woodruff, cardamom, sweet flag(calamus), gotu kola, and angelica. There may be more, but not many for shade. These should receive a few hours of morning sun and the rest of the day in shade. If you notice that the herbs are stretching for the sunlight and are leggy in appearance, then it needs more morning sun. Put these in the next subject...POTS.

CONTAINER GROWING:

I have added another name to garden growing, if its not already there. The name is "Garbalogist". A little classy name for those who take any type of item that is considered as garbage and use it to produce a garden. Container gardens are for the following: Don't have any space; Too tired to dig in the ground after work;
I want it close to the house; The disabled; I am afraid of bugs; I can't stay in the sun; I am overweight; To teach my children; and many more.

No more excuses! Let's grow. Your containers can be 5-gallon plastic buckets that are cleaned well. Do not use those that you know have had chemicals in them. If in doubt, soak the container with 1-quart of bleach with 5 gallons of water for 3 days.
Soak your smaller containers in this solution also.  ALWAYS USE HAND AND EYE PROTECTION WHEN USING BLEACH.                                                            

Have someone drill ( 3 ) 1/2 to 1 inch holes in the bottom of your plastic bucket. Add 2-inches of gravel or sand. During the summer heat, the buckets have a tendency to dry out quicker. I mulch the top of the container with straw or leaves. I place the container in a basin and fill the basin with water up to the rim once every ( 3 ) days. If it rains well at least twice a week, I do not water. Also empty the basin if it has rained well so the roots won't stay too wet.                                                                                                     

The 5 gallon are excellent for tomatoes, peppers, dill, basil, mint, echinacea, eucalyptus, fennel, fenugreek, lavender, lemon grass, licorice, greek oregano, parsley, chives, patchouli, sages, sorrel, southernwood, st. johnswort, stevia, tansy, tarragon, thyme, valerian, lemon verbena, wormwood, yerba bruja.

These are mostly deep root plants and need the space. You won't have to transplant them as often. Your other varieties can be grown in containers that are no less than ( 10 ) inches in depth. You will now find these in nurseries. A few years ago, only the 6-inch deep planter boxes were available. They can be found at most garden supply stores. The 10-inch deep by 24-inch long are priced from $7.00 to $18.00 and up. So far I have found Wal-Mart with the cheapest ones.    

See the ( HERBMAN'S HARDINESS CODE SHEET ) before planting.  Purchase your hardy herbs first, tender second and annuals third. Keep track with your 5-day weather forecast on TV or internet for your area.
Put 3 to 4 plants in a 24" planter, 4 to 6 plants in a 36" planter. If herbs are the creeping type, then constant pruning will be needed to keep it under control. The plants should have some space between them for good air circulation.

Place mint in a smaller pot and place the pot into the planter, unless you want a planter full of mint. It still must be taken out of the pot and trimmed back to a 3" square and re-potted again, and then place back into the planter. Check the mint's growth at least once a month.


If you have purchased plants from a nursery, before planting them in a planter or in the ground, do the following:

Squeeze pot gently as you pull the plant out.
Trim off any dead or broken stems. Also any flowers. Don't worry you will get more and better ones too.
Look for insect infestation if you forgot to do so at the nursery. See                  
Cut 1/4 of bottom of a heavily rooted plant. Cut into all 4 sides at least   ( 3 ) times or until side roots are loose. You are now ready to plant.
Open hole in the soil to 1" more on each side of the plant. Set plant 1/2" deeper than in the pot. Cover with soil.  If soil is already moist, give 1/2 pint of diluted  Seaweed/Fish fertilizer;  not moist, give 1 pint. If it is cloudy and rain is forecast, give only 1/2 pint. If a real heavy downpour is expected, move plants to a shelter. Heavy rains on newly planted herbs can sometimes hinder their growth if in water too long. Good drainage is very important. If planting in the ground, cover with anything to protect the plant from the force of the rain. Uncover after storm, especially in the morning before the sun gets too hot.

POTTING SOIL

So many mixes and brands.  Use only the bagged soil that is free of chemicals. The really cheap stuff can sometimes burn your plants. You can get a sterile potting soil mix ( perlite, vermiculite and sphagnum moss ) already mixed  or buy them separately and mix them in equal parts yourself. There is also potting mixes for container gardening. I don't know the results of this mix, so if in doubt, add 1/2 of sterile potting mix with this.

All containers have drain holes, so I don't add any gravel at the bottom. With this container mix add a dry organic fertilizer. If readily available, add kelp meal also. The dry meal or liquid kelp is not easily found in garden centers. I will carry the liquid kelp and dry kelp meal and let you know where to get larger amounts.

If you have good garden soil, you can use this in your containers. Save a bucket of rain water for your plants the first time. Put tap water in a bucket and allow to sit at least  ( 3 ) days for chlorine to dissipate. Save rain and or tap water in a 55 gallon drum if you can.


How & When to Prune Your Herbs

There seems to be very little info on when and how much to prune our herbs.                                

I have a little formula that I now use that may help you to have healthier and productive plants.                                                  To tell you the truth, I did not practice this myself until I started to experiment with pruning the rosemary, lavender, sage and thyme. What a difference I saw in this timely pruning!

As new growth begins in the spring and gets to 6 to 12 inches, cut 1/3 from the top down on each stem, SPARE NO ONE! This will be done every 3 weeks or less, depending on how much you use the plant.

Don't go over 3 weeks without cutting it, even if you don't need to use it!                                                                      

Make an herbal vinegar, freeze, give away or if scented, place in old stocking, tie in a knot and put into your dryer, clothes drawers, closets, car ashtrays, car pillows, etc.

Basil is a must for constant pruning. It also keeps the plant from becoming too woody.

Don't let it flower for more flavorful leaves. You can slow the flowering down a little more (especially basil ) by cutting 3 pairs of leaves below the flower heads.

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To make the infusion; start with 3 leaves to 1 cup of water. Place in a blender and strain into a glass container. You may add more leaves to the infusion if you want a stronger scent. Use right away or refrigerate over night.
Put into an old vaporizer and turn on in your bathroom, kitchen, or any area that you want this scent.
Add infusion to the rinse cycle of your washer. Use on old clothing first to test the coloring and how long the fragrance lasts.
For a stronger scent, soak old clothing into infusion overnight, hang up to drip dry.
Place infusion in spray bottle and use on dark colored countertops. It will stain light colored counters. Wipe sinks, toilets, bath fixtures.
Make a pet spray with your insect repellent herbs, especially pennyroyal and lemon balm (mint). Place fresh leaves right into their beds. Add some infusion to their bath water. Soak your bed linen with a stronger solution if your pets love your bed too.
Place fresh or dried leaves into a stocking and put into your dryer.  Be sure to use your old clothes first.
Place fresh or dried leaves into cheesecloth or stockings and place under your pillow, mattress, shoes, dresser drawers, all closets, between quest linen and seal in plastic bags.
Make an infusion of your favorite bath herb to place in tub or bruise leaves with your favorite soap and wash cloth for a real body scrub.
Make a car seat cushion out of your favorite leaves also. Make enough cushions for the back seat too. Put them into ashtrays and on the floor of the passenger side.
Infusion for baking:

Blend (3) large leaves into an (8) oz.cup of distilled or spring water. Strain and place in glass container and refrigerate until ready to use. Make only enough to be used the same day.

Stir in at least (3) to (7) tablespoons to a boxed cake mix, pancakes, waffles, muffins. Bake a sample first to taste before the final product is started.

Remember, the color of the goods is green and you may have to do some convincing to the family or guests.  



Julian