Planning an herb garden -- what goes well with what?

[eeksypeeksy]

We've just thrown things into the garden almost arbitrarily -- basil here, thyme there, mint over there...

I assume I've made some mistakes this year and it's too late to change that, but how should I lay out the herbs next year?

[Millymollymandy]

You've probably done what most people do! I've got all of mine in a very sunny bed.

However, ideally, herbs like parsley and chives might do better in a slightly less sunny spot (part sun and part shade), whilst the Mediterranean type herbs like full on sun, and soil that drains well. If you have clay or heavy damp soil it is a good idea to add a lot of grit to the soil before planting, and maybe a handfull under the roots.

Also if you have very cold (and wet) winters, rosemary would be better in a sheltered position, or even in a pot which can be put in a cool greenhouse over winter.

[Millymollymandy]

Oh I nearly forgot! Mint prefers part sun part shade too - and most important of all (hope this is not too late!!) - DON'T plant it direct into the soil or it will take over your garden!!

Plant it in a large pot and sink that into the soil. Every couple of years take out of the pot, throw most of it away (not on the compost heap) and restart with a few little rooted bits from the original plant.

It'll need a bit more water than those herbs planted direct in the soil.

[eeksypeeksy]

Oh I nearly forgot! Mint prefers part sun part shade too - and most important of all (hope this is not too late!!)...

Uh-oh. Well, I can dig it up and pot it. And move it into the shade. And move the parsley into the shade. And...

A thousand thanks for the tips.

[Millymollymandy]

No probs! It probably isn't worth moving the parsley because it is a biennial and you'll need to replant every year as it goes to seed quickly the 2nd year anyway.

What is your climate like? I'm imagining in Poland it is a continental climate of hot summers and cold winters?

[eeksypeeksy]

I'm imagining in Poland it is a continental climate of hot summers and cold winters?

Yes, that's generally true. We're just coming out of a cold spring and into a warm, sunny summer, if the last couple of weeks are any indication.

I don't know whether these things mean anything, but we're apparently in "hardiness zone" 6, not like you folk bathing in the gulf stream.

[Millymollymandy]

Zone 6!! Wow! I'm (just) into zone 8, almost 9 (got me book in front of me!).

So you might want to be a bit careful of rosemary! I don't know if it will survive your winter.

If anyone wants to know what we are on about, most of the British Isles is in zone 8 (-7 to -12C) but the western coastal areas are in zone 9 (-1 to -7C) and a bit of the Scotland - I think it is the Grampians - is in zone 6 like Eekyspeeksy (-15 to -21C).

[ina]

I had that clever idea of planting rosemary in a pot and moving it inside in winter... Well, I did the planting in pot bit ok, but then didn't move the pot inside. I think I need a new rosemary...

Anyway: Most important - don't plant the tall herbs at the front of your bed and the little ones at the back! Easily done (because they all look small when you start out), but then - once you've been trying to get at the thyme behind your lovage, you'll know what I'm talking about. And lovage, that should best go into a pot, too - same problem as mint. And if it all gets too much, borrow a goat or two, and they'll "tidy up" your herb bed in no time.

[Millymollymandy]

Lovage oh don't get me started! I just can't stand the smell of it and would never buy another one......... except, I bought a small herb last year labelled 'something or other celery' (in French) and guess what..... yeah, bloody lovage!!!!!!!!

[eeksypeeksy]

I had never even heard of lovage. It sounds like love measured out in kilograms.

They say its root is a diuretic.

[Aberlemno]

Ah Lovage - like having a Triffid in the herb bed isn't it?! I've got recipes to use it, but I must confess, I think I shall just enjoy its statuesque shape rather than make Lovage Soup or Lovage Sauce or whatever. That's what comes of having someone say, "Would you like a root of Lovage?" and hearing yourself saying "Yes" before you realize the full implications!

My Rosemary adores being in the raised herb bed (has a stone wall to surround it) because it's in an absolute sun-trap (yard faces South, with buildings both sides) and it was flowering even in the snows of February this year, so its roots must have stayed warmish.

Elecampane is another one for the back, and of course the Fennels. I put my Mints in a seperate area altogether, where they can romp. They still appreciate a little bit of a feed or they will soon exhaust the soil if in a limited area. Having said that, I did actually abandon my original herb bed at the edge of the paddock, and this year find I have Chocolate Mint making its way towards the Brecon Beacons at a great rate of knots!

[wulf]

Herbs are relatively cheap, so don't be afraid to experiment - if they last for a few cuts, they've probably become cheaper than buying fresh herbs from a retailer.

The star of my herb garden at the moment is buckler leaved sorrel - it's now in it's third year and I'm needing to think of recipies to keep it down! What I'm struggling with is rosemary - I think I might need to experiment with bringing in a new plant or two (has anyone round south east London got a healthy bush I could have some cuttings from?).

Wulf

[ina]

Ah Lovage - like having a Triffid in the herb bed isn't it?!

Ah no, it isn't! Not if you've got it in a pot. Must admit, the goats helped keep it down last year, too... To the point where I didn't have any for my soup! I like using it in most soups, it just gives a certain savouryness (did I just make up that word? ), and saves on veggie bouillon.

In my patch it's the chives that go all over the place and multiply. Fortunately, the goats love them, too.

[alcina]

(has anyone round south east London got a healthy bush I could have some cuttings from?)

Me, me, me, me, me!! I have a big bush in the front garden (smells fantasic) which was grown from a cutting my a friend's father about 3 years ago. Pop on round! I'll PM you the address.

I've also got spare tomatoes....

Alcina

[Millymollymandy]

My lovage has got flower buds on it - I don't remember that happening before when I had one. Hopefully they will be pretty because I don't have any other use for this smelly herb!