Herbs gardening is not only a hobby; it’s a doorway to a world of benefits. From enjoying the freshest flavors in your cooking to reaping the health benefits of nutrient-rich herbs, gardening offers a sustainable and cost-effective way to enhance your well-being.

Also, tending to your herb garden provides stress relief and promotes mental well-being, allowing you to reconnect with nature and find solace in its beauty.

In this blog post, we will take you through the steps involved in starting your own herb garden, sharing valuable tips and insights along the way.

Categories of Herbs

Starting a garden requires a lot of considerations. In the case of a herb garden, you need to realize that all herbs are not the same and cannot be planted and cared for the same way.

Before you start a herb garden, here are the two categories of herbs you must know if you’re going to be successful at it:

1. Perennial Herbs

Perennial herbs are plants that have a life cycle of more than two years. They usually grow and bloom over the spring and summer, die back in autumn and winter, and then return from their rootstock in spring. These herbs often require less maintenance once established and can provide a constant supply of herbs for many years.

2. Annual Herbs

Annual herbs complete their life cycle in one growing season. After the plant flowers and produces seeds, it dies off. These herbs typically require replanting each year, although some may reseed themselves.

Understanding these categories and their particular herbs can help plan your herb garden to fit your cooking and gardening needs.

How To Start a Perennial Herb Garden 

Step 1: Choose Your Herbs

Before planting, it’s crucial to select the right herbs based on your climate, soil type, and personal preferences. This is no different from what you do while starting a flower garden or a vegetable garden. Here’s a quick look at some popular perennial herbs:

• Rosemary: This Mediterranean herb loves the sun and prefers well-drained soil. It’s an evergreen shrub that can survive colder climates if given protection.
• Thyme: Thyme enjoys full sun and well-drained soil. It’s highly versatile, with numerous varieties offering different flavors and growth habits.
• Mint: Mint is a robust herb that enjoys damp soil and can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. However, it can be invasive, so consider planting it in containers or confined areas.
• Sage: Sage prefers sunny spots and well-drained soil. It’s great for dry, sunny gardens and provides beautiful, aromatic leaves.

Step 2: Prepare the Soil

Perennial herbs generally prefer well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. Here are detailed steps for preparing your garden soil:

• Test the Soil: Use a soil pH test kit to check your soil’s pH. Herbs prefer slightly acidic to neutral pH levels (6.0-7.0)
• Improve Soil Structure: If your soil is heavy clay or sandy, improve its structure and fertility by incorporating organic matter. This can be compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold. A 2-3 inch layer mixed into the top 6-8 inches of soil should suffice.
• Let it Settle: After you’ve prepared your bed, give it a few days to settle before planting.

Step 3: Plant Your Herbs

You can start perennial herbs from seeds, cuttings, or young plants. The approach varies slightly:

• Seeds: Sow seeds in pots filled with seed compost, following instructions on the packet for sowing depth and spacing. Keep the compost moist and place the pots in a warm, well-lit location. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual pots until they’re ready to be planted out.
• Cuttings: To propagate herbs like rosemary or thyme from cuttings, take 3-4 inch cuttings from new, non-flowering growth. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings into a pot of well-draining potting mix. Place the pot in a warm, shaded spot and keep the soil moist. Once the cuttings have been rooted, they can be transplanted into the garden.
• Young Plants: Dig a hole as deep as the plant’s root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring it’s planted at the same depth it was growing in the pot. Backfill the hole, firm the soil gently, and water thoroughly.

Step 4: Care for Your Herbs

Here’s how to care for your perennial herbs:

• Watering: After planting, water your herbs thoroughly. Then, adjust your watering schedule to maintain moderately moist soil. Be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
• Feeding: At the beginning of the growing season, feed your herbs with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Follow the product instructions for dosage.
• Mulching: Apply a 2-3-inch layer of organic mulch around your herbs. This helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually improve soil fertility.

Step 5: Prune Your Herbs

Pruning discourages bushy growth and keeps your herbs healthy:

• When to Prune: Prune your perennial herbs in early spring. This clears away old, woody growth and stimulates new shoots.
• How to Prune: Remove about a third of the plant with a sharp pair of pruning shears. Cut just above a leaf joint or bud to encourage branching.

The Most Common Herb Gardening Mistakes

1. Planting in Poor Soil

Herbs, like all plants, need nutrient-rich soil to thrive. If your soil lacks the necessary nutrients, your plants may struggle to grow. Make sure to use high-quality potting soil or enrich your garden soil with compost.

2. Incorrect Watering

Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes in herb gardening. Herbs generally prefer soil that dries out between watering, so it’s important to ensure that the soil has proper drainage and to avoid watering too frequently.

3. Inadequate Sunlight

Most herbs need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Planting herbs in a shady spot can lead to weak, spindly plants and reduced flavor and aroma.

4. Planting Herbs Too Close Together

Herbs need space to grow and air to circulate around them. Overcrowding can lead to competition for resources and increase the risk of diseases spreading between plants.

5. Neglecting to Prune

As we’ve mentioned earlier, regular pruning is essential to maintain the health and productivity of your herb plants. Neglecting to prune can lead to leggy plants with reduced yield.

6. Ignoring Pests and Diseases

Even with the best care, pests and diseases can attack your herbs. It’s crucial to monitor your plants regularly and deal with any issues as soon as they appear to prevent them from spreading.

7. Choosing the Wrong Herbs

Consider your climate, available space, and culinary preferences when choosing which herbs to grow. Some herbs, like basil, prefer hot and sunny conditions, while others, like parsley, can tolerate a bit more shade.

8. Expecting Too Much Too Soon

Growing herbs, like any gardening, takes patience. Don’t be discouraged if your plants don’t flourish immediately. With the right care and attention, your herb garden can become a rewarding hobby.

Conclusion

Starting a herb garden is a delightful experience that intertwines your daily routine with the serene rhythms of nature. It not only provides you with a constant supply of fresh and aromatic herbs for cooking and herbal remedies but also gives you the incomparable satisfaction of watching your efforts bear fruit, quite literally.