HERB GARDENING Planting and harvesting herbs is very rewarding. Consider the health benefits, the savings and the flavor you can add to your meals. You can start with a small garden and a few herbs planted in between your vegetable garden. Those plants can produce more fresh herbs than you and your family can probably consume. Herbs can be planted with perennials, or they can double as really nice looking and fragrant ground covers. You can plant oregano alongside flowers like marigolds, thyme growing as a ground cover beneath roses and rosemary growing on a steep, rocky bank. A vegetable garden can sport an entire bed of mint, as well as plenty of chives, parsley, basil and more planted among the vegetables in your garden. In addition, it’s easy to grow herbs in pots such as, Chives on the back deck and a hanging basket filled with Sage, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley and Rosemary. Basil, Dill and Cilantro are annual herbs. The annual herbs grow, flower and produce seeds all in one season. Biennials take two years to mature. Parsley is one of those that flower and then die in the second year. Some, like Oregano, need to be cut back every fall. Others, like Sage and Rosemary, develop woody stems and survive year to year. Herbs love the sun, so select an area that gets at least six hours of sunshine everyday. Use a spouted can or a hose, and add enough so that the water starts to drain through the holes for potted herbs. Remember that container plants are thirstier than plants in the ground, and those in porous pots, such as terracotta or wood, are even more so. Remember, the smaller the pot, the more watering it will require. Keep the soil moist but not damp. & Garden2021-22 | Spring/Summer 2022 8 | Coastal Homefall-winter
Always water your herbs in the morning or the early part of the day, never at night. When your harvesting your herbs you can dry and package them to use year-round. The best time to harvest herbs for the purpose of drying is just before flowering, and the best time of day to harvest is in the morning before essential oils diminish. For herbs like basil and sage, you pull off the leaves. For herbs like oregano, cut the entire stem to the bottom. The herbs will need to dry in a dark area. You can pull off all the leaves and drop them in a paper bag. Leave the bag in the kitchen, and every time you go by you can pick it up and shake it so the leaves don’t clump together and get moldy. It only takes a few days to dry, Store your dried herbs in air tight containers. Zippered plastic bags will work. Better to use small canning jars. Always label and date your containers. Discard any dried herbs that show the slightest sign of mold. Place the containers in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and enjoy! |
