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Growing Herbs

Herbs are a great addition to any garden and freshly grown herbs are perfect for the home cook.  Herbs are easy to grow – here’s our guide!

Most herbs are very hardy and adaptable to different conditions but, like all plants, they will grow best if you give them the conditions that are best suited to them.  Many herbs used in Australia originated in the Mediterranean.  These herbs need full sun, seasonal changes, regular light water, and low levels of humidity.  To find out the requirements for the herbs that you would like to grow, simply check the label that comes with the seedlings or seeds.

The Amount of Light Herbs Need

Light is an essential requirement for herbs as it helps them to grow and also to produce the oils which are responsible for their flavour.  Most of the common herbs used in cooking need full sun.  If they cannot tolerate the afternoon heat in summer, plant them in a north-easterly area of the garden, so that they receive morning sun.  Underneath deciduous trees is perfect for those herbs that like the winter sun and the summer shade.

The Wind and Temperature Requirements of Herbs

Your herb garden should be protected from very cold or very hot, drying winds, as well as the salt-laden winds found in coastal areas.  Faster-growing herbs have stems that are easily damaged and thus should be planted in a sheltered position.  As far as temperature goes, each herb has a requirement that they prefer.  Perennial herbs that are subject to frost damage need indoor protection during the winter months while some herbs will wilt in hotter temperatures.

The Right Soil for your Herbs

Most herbs prefer a soil that is open and free-draining.  If you have a dry soil, consider adding compost or peat moss.  For clay soils, add river sand or compost.  The soil should be turned over to a depth of 30cm, so that it is a fine consistency.  Because drainage is so important, you may need to raise the garden bed so there is adequate depth for drainage.  Many herbs prefer a pH neutral soil.

Feeding your Herbs

If you have added compost to your soil before planting, this will provide your herbs with enough nutrition for quite some time.  However, it is beneficial to add some blood and bone at occasional intervals.  Liquid chemical fertilisers should be avoided as these encourage too much leaf growth, resulting in lower concentrations of essential oils and making the plant more susceptible to attack by varying insects.

Mulching your Herbs

In summer, this is a great idea as it helps to keep water in the soil as well as keeping the plants cooler.  Mulch also reduces the growth of weeds and stops soil from splashing onto lower growing herbs when watering or during rain.  As well, mulch improves the organic quality of the soil.  Use three to four cms of organic mulch on your herbs, keeping it away from the stems of the plants to reduce the risk of rotting.

Watering your Herbs

To make watering easier, group together herbs that have a similar water requirement.  It is better to water your herbs thoroughly on an occasional basis than to water them lightly but frequently.  In hot weather, check the soil daily to ensure that it does not dry out.  Water in the mornings rather than the evening, as water left on the plant overnight can increase its susceptibility to fungus.

Pruning your Herbs

Pruning herbs is as simple as taking sprigs from the ends of the branches whenever you require them.  This will keep the growth compact and also give you herbs for immediate use.  Bushy herbs should be harvested in autumn.

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