Checklist: The perfect spot for growing your herbs…
- Will be near the house
- Have good access
- Receive full sun most of the day
- Has well-drained fertile soil
- Is reasonably level
- Is sheltered from cold winds and frost
- Is protected from pets
Does your intended spot meet the above criteria? Sure? Lucky you.
If not. Don’t despair…
Most of us have a very limited choice when selecting a location for our herb garden. Knowing how to use what you have and turning that to your advantage spells the difference between success and failure.
Let us look at each point in detail.
Good Access
Two points to consider. First, make sure that when planted each one of your herbs will be within arm’s length. It makes tending them a lot easier.
Next, ensure that you don’t need to walk a mile, in the dark, through ten other garden beds, to reach your herb garden.
The natural position for a culinary herb garden is as close to the kitchen as possible. Simply because the closer they are to your kitchen door, the more likely they are to find their way to your dinner table.
But, bear in mind that many kitchens receive limited sun. To a certain extent the same applies to a medicinal herb garden.
The perfect position should be in plain sight as well. Where you will pass it each day as you enter and leave the house.
An aromatic garden can be anywhere where you will be able to enjoy the aromas. Below windows. In pots, or next to the patio or pool.
One of the advantages of herbs is that they can be planted almost anywhere. So if you don’t have the space to devote to a herb garden as such look for nooks and crannies in between existing borders and beds in your garden.
Don’t discard the idea of a few herbs in containers, either indoors or outdoors. Herbs are exceptionally easy to grow as pot plants.
Sunlight
Yes, it really is that critical. First prize is full sun throughout the day. But it is a myth that herbs can only be grown in full sun.
The minimum is about half the amount of available sunlight during the day. Just morning sun or just afternoon sun for example. Or perhaps somewhere in between.
If your herbs don’t get enough sunshine a couple of things might happen:
- The quality won’t be as good as those growing in full sun. But rest assured. The difference is normally so small that you won’t even notice it.
- They will tend to grow leggy. This is easily corrected by pruning or harvesting more often.
- They will probably need less water. That’s a bonus. But be careful of overwatering.
- They will produce “softer” growth, which will be more prone to pests and diseases. This is a little more serious. You’ll need to be alert and act immediately if you discover any pests or diseases.
Beware of trees or large shrubs in the vicinity of your herb garden. They will rob your herbs of water and nutrients. And the extra shade is something your herbs definitely don’t need.
Well-drained Reasonably Fertile Soil
All plants grow in some kind of soil or growing medium. Soil usually refers to the naturally occurring soil in your garden and growing media (medium, singular) refer to the material we put into containers.
Growing media normally do not contain naturally occurring soil. They are made with materials such as peat, bark, vermiculite, etc.
The primary functions of the soils and growing media, as far as your herbs are concerned, are to hold the herbs upright and to hold water, air and nutrients in a readily available form.
Yes, it’s true: plant roots need air too.
Soils and growing media are so critical to your success that we encourage you to dedicate some time to understanding and analyzing your own soil. Visit the library, search the internet or have a look at the Herb and Veggie Growing course which has a whole module devoted to understanding and improving your soil.
Next to sunlight, drainage is perhaps the most critical to your success. Most herbs are like humans – they hate constantly wet feet. If you suspect the drainage of your soil is a borderline case, ask your local nursery. They will know the soils in your area and the best methods for improving drainage.
If your drainage is really poor consider growing in containers or raised beds.
Level Ground
The more level the site the easier it is to cultivate. But a site with a slight incline will assist drainage.
Just make sure that your proposed site is not in a hollow. Hollows can become waterlogged when it rains. Another disadvantage is that it could trap cold air in winter.
If you don’t have a reasonably level site consider growing in containers, window boxes or terraced beds.
Shelter From Cold Winds, Frost and Pets
Providing shelter from harsh winter conditions can extend your growing season.
Most hobbyists simply pot up their tender herbs in winter and overwinter them in a protected spot. It makes more sense than spending money on expensive protection measures. Your local nursery will be able to advise on the most cost-effective measures.
A herb garden can quickly ruin the relationship between you and your favourite family pet. Cat’s love freshly dug soil as it eases their toilet routine. A mulch of bark chips can make the spot less attractive or you can fence in the garden, which also keeps the dogs out.
Take Action
- What is your biggest ‘AHA’ (Eureka moment) from this unit?
- Find the perfect spot, or spots, for your herb garden. The best way of doing this is to walk through the garden and to identify as many spots as you can. Then score each spot on the criteria above.
- How many spots did you find? How did they score?
- Share what you learned in a Reply below. Don’t be shy. Getting your thoughts down on paper actually improves your learning.
We have lots of trees so will have to do spots and then it will be in containers. But it is close to the front door our back is very cold and shady,
A first time for me to plant some of my herbs in pots, never done it before. Next, I want to try a few raised planters to plant herbs in. Picked out 2 beautiful spots, one in the backyard, near the back door and one in the front garden between the flowers. I realise with companion planting I can plant herbs and flowers next to each other
No real AHA moments, but fun looking for all the places in the yard. I found two excellent spots and one sketchy place. The best spot that meets all the criteria is right outside my back door underneath the kitchen window. There are also several places where herbs can tuck in around other plants. I need to have the soil tested in the spring.
My ‘aha’ moment was that herbs needs so much sunlight! I thought, because they are usually frail-looking type of plants, they’ll grow better in more shaded parts of the garden.
My herb garden is in raised planters just outside the backdoor. Lots of sunshine and next to our “kuierhoekie”.
My garden gets sun some of the day. Will have to keep the neighbouring plants in check though. I was pleased when I googled that certain herbs also grow in shade
What stood out to me is the ground having potential to be hollow. Makes sense and will look out for this. We have a garden growing already but not too many herbs in it. Great info to consider.
Eureka moment-growing close to kitchen door. Lots of areas around pool and outside kitchen door for pots. Growing in raised beds and pots will definitely help my bad back, but the best part is I will be able to grow strictly organic.
I have quite a few wonderful, sunny spots available in my garden, the perfect spot for a nice herb garden. The soil needs some work, but that will be sorted in early spring.
My AHA moment was that I have WAY more spots to plant herbs than I originally considered. This is going to be exciting. 🙂
My AHA was for the fact that I will be able to plant some herbs in pots in my kitchen for now till I am able to move to our new address. I know how the yard looks like but still have to investigate the soil situation. Most of the back yard is in full sunlight, yay.
I live in a block of flats so outside gardening is non existent here so i do all my gardening in indoor pots which cover every inch of my window sils. I also don’t have any pets, sad yes i know but true.
I have designated a flower bed area which gets a lot of some most of the day for my outdoor herb garden. A top spot so a 10 rating. I have removed all the flowers that was planted in this area initially and replanted in other spaces in my garden and potted some in the hope to resell it to my local Nursery or directly to the general public.
I have identified various spots around the house which provide good sun albeit partial or full to place all herbs I wish to plant in containers. A rating of 7 to 8 for container planting areas. I have planted 6 different type of herbs in containers already. I will monitor to see how happy they grow in their container habitat.
I have also planted seedlings which I keep indoors. I have a spare room which is well aired and gets enough morning and afternoon sun to provide a dappled sun scenario. On hot days I water every second day. On colder days every three days. This is an experiment. I have never been lucky with growing from seeds before. So… the outcome remains to be seen. I would rate the indoor area at 8.
I am having a lot of fun!
It’s interesting to learn that I can plant a herbs in pots and in any position. I have already planted three types next to the kitchen door and the nook where we have outdoor breakfast sometimes.
This activity is making me to look forward to enjoying the gentle winter sunshine myself while spending some time in “my:” small herb garden.
I have bought organic fertilizer and am going to try it out. Online learning with my daughter works for both of us for her school stuff and her joining me in this process. I can’t wait to learn more…
I do have an ideal spot with lots of sunlight (most of the day) for my proposed patch. Great encouragement to proceed. This is a 1m x 2m raised bed. But a bit remote from the kitchen. Score: Maybe a 8/10.
My second alternative is just outside my kitchen door (3m away, in full sunlight for the entire day), but I need to still build a raised bed of 1.5m long x 0.5m wide. Score: Would have been a 9/10, but because of the additional work, I’d give it 7/10.
Would a 250mm depth be adequate?
250mm will be adequate but it’s pushing the limits. And it will restrict the range of crops you can grow successfully. If you can, increase to at least 50cm.
I have garden bed relatively close to the kitchen, as well as a small nursery that will be perfect for winter.
This is part of my business plan..I will start with a small garden to a soccer field farm..
My herbs grows among my other plants, cause most of them are medicinal plants. I had a little problem to find herbs that will be happy under my big old tree.
Found a spot might have to test the soil
I grow my herbs in a polytunnel in my garden. The soil is best in prepared beds there. I agree that we’ll drained soil is crucial.
Since I live in a rental house, I plan to have my herbs in pots or mason jars.
Just a word of caution about those mason jars Shani. Herbs hate wet feet, so you’ll have to be very very careful when watering. Also, plants like to have their roots in the dark. Try putting the jars in brown paper bags or paint them with a black undercoat.