{"id":16588,"date":"2020-08-19T11:52:33","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T15:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentgarden.com\/?p=16588"},"modified":"2023-05-24T19:42:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T23:42:59","slug":"how-to-grow-your-own-herbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentgarden.com\/blog\/how-to-grow-your-own-herbs\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Your Own Herbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Herb Garden\u00a0<\/span><\/span>In<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a Planter\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0beginner gardening, consider\u00a0<\/span>growing herbs to start off your gardening experience\u00a0<\/span>by planting herbs in pots.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Herbs have been a part of our history and culture since\u00a0<\/span>before history was recorded<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Whether\u00a0<\/span>you are growing herbs for c<\/span>ulinary purposes<\/span>, medicinal,\u00a0<\/span>or cosmetic purposes,<\/span>\u00a0an<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>herb<\/span>\u00a0garden<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can become a way to connect with<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>your local culture or with the culture of your past.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Are you missing your Italian grandmother\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>home cooked dishes? Create an Italian herb garden filled with basil, or<\/span>egano, rosemary, and thyme.\u00a0<\/span>There are many easy herbs to grow so let\u2019s get you\u00a0<\/span>going with\u00a0<\/span>who, what, where, when, and how<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0growing herbs<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>growing these herbs?\u00a0<\/span>You!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you growing them because you love cooking<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span>Think about what herbs you use the most and pick a few of those to start off with.\u00a0<\/span>Are you growing a few vegetables<\/span>\u00a0in pots<\/span>\u00a0and want herbs\u00a0<\/span>that are good companion plants for those vegetables?\u00a0<\/span>A few common companion plantings are<\/span>\u00a0basil with your tomatoes<\/span>\u00a0to repel flies and tomatoes<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>borage with your strawberries<\/span>\u00a0to deter pests<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and sage near your cabbage and carrots<\/span>\u00a0to deter cabbage moth and carrot fly<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>If you are getting the kids involved how about planting a pizza herb garden with\u00a0<\/span>garlic, basil, and oregano?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Consider how quickly you want to start using your herbs<\/span>, the materials you will need,<\/span>\u00a0and your experience level as\u00a0<\/span>you think through starting herbs<\/span>\u00a0from seed or buying a small starter plant.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>And t<\/span>hink thro<\/span>ugh who is going to enjoy the benefit<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the herbs\u00a0<\/span>being grown and go from there<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u00a0<\/span>herbs\u00a0<\/span>do you want<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>grow?\u00a0<\/span>Look at what<\/span>\u00a0time of year\u00a0<\/span>you\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>grow\u00a0<\/span>your\u00a0<\/span>herb<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>outdoor<\/span>\u00a0pots<\/span>\u00a0for your area.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>What herbs can easily\u00a0<\/span>be grown<\/span>\u00a0indoors?\u00a0<\/span>If you are going to start your herbs from\u00a0<\/span>seed, check the seed package to find out if you\u00a0<\/span>should start the seeds indoors or if you can direct sow the seeds into your\u00a0<\/span>planters.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We will cover starting plants from seed in another article<\/span>\u00a0but\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0good to know that m<\/span>any herbs such as dill, fennel, and chamomile are easy to\u00a0<\/span>grow from seed.\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>materials you need<\/span>\u00a0to grow your herbs<\/span>\u00a0in a\u00a0<\/span>planter<\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span>simple<\/span>\u00a0also<\/span>: good potting soil<\/span>, a pot with a drainage hole, and\u00a0<\/span>easy\u00a0<\/span>access<\/span>\u00a0to water\u00a0<\/span>for keeping it watered<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Whether you will need a large\u00a0<\/span>planter<\/span>\u00a0or small will depend on how big the herb is going to\u00a0<\/span>get so make sure you read the tags<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that\u00a0<\/span>you\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0decided\u00a0<\/span>what you want to grow, now you need to consider where you are going to grow it.\u00a0<\/span>The garden tech term<\/span>inology<\/span>\u00a0that often\u00a0<\/span>throw<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0people off\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>when someone reads that the plant needs\u00a0<\/span>\u201cfull\u00a0sun<\/span>.\u201c<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Most herbs need\u00a0<\/span>about six to eight hours of sunlight to grow well but there are a few exceptions\u00a0<\/span>that can handle light shade\u00a0<\/span>such as\u00a0<\/span>lemon\u00a0<\/span>balm<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>mint,\u00a0<\/span>cilantro, anise,\u00a0<\/span>borage,\u00a0<\/span>and parsley.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>When you are looking for a place to grow your herbs, look for a location that will\u00a0<\/span>offer those six to eight hours of sunlight<\/span>\u00a0so that you have plenty of options<\/span>\u00a0of herbs to grow<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Some of the more common herbs used in cooking such as rosemary, <\/span>sage, dill, oregano,<\/span>\u00a0basil, and\u00a0<\/span>lavender<\/span>\u00a0thrive in full sun<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Are you considering an indoor\u00a0<\/span>windowsill<\/span>\u00a0garden<\/span>\u00a0in small pots<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span>Remember that a sunny window\u00a0<\/span>works wonderfully for growing herbs indoors.\u00a0<\/span>And here\u2019s a tip you\u2019ll thank me for: mint likes to take over so plant it in a\u00a0<\/span>pot, preferably all by itself.\u00a0<\/span>Herbs also mix well in\u00a0<\/span>flower pots<\/span>. Herbs like lemongrass, parsley, and fennel add beautiful texture to an <\/span>ornamental flower combination in a planter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

When?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can grow herbs any time of the year if you grow them indoors and use a grow light. Some herbs, however<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are more seasonal when grown outdoors.\u00a0<\/span>Cilantro, chervil, chives, dill, and parsley are well suited for growing in cool weather.\u00a0<\/span>Cool-weather herbs can be sown directly in the garden a month or more before the last frost in spring for late spring harvest and again in late summer for fall harvest.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can grow almost any herb in a container<\/a>. However, if you’re mixing herbs in the same pot, you have to be sure you’re using plants with similar growing requirements. For example, some herb plants need more water than others, and some need more<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hours of sun<\/span>light\u00a0<\/span>than others <\/span>they get.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Some herbs thrive in self-watering containers because they like a constant level of moisture. Plants, such as chives, parsley, marjoram, and mint, are particularly good candidates for growing in self-watering pots<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>When harvesting your herbs, keep in mind that\u00a0<\/span>early morning is best and to wash<\/span>\u00a0them\u00a0<\/span>gently<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>before cooking.\u00a0<\/span>Herbs need little care other than watering but be aware that some herbs are wonderful host plants for many of our benef<\/span>icial insects. For instance, don\u2019t be surprised to see your fennel or dill\u00a0<\/span>or parsley\u00a0<\/span>being consumed by\u00a0<\/span>caterpillars<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Those caterpillars will soon be beautiful swallowtail butterflies and your herbs will grow back!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have fun with your new herb garden ideas and feel free to ask us questions. We love being a part of helping you grow.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Learn more with this helpful\u00a0<\/span>video<\/span><\/a>\u00a0from P. Allen Smith.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Herb Garden\u00a0In\u00a0a Planter\u00a0\u00a0 If you are\u00a0a\u00a0beginner gardening, consider\u00a0growing herbs to start off your gardening experience\u00a0by planting herbs in pots.\u00a0Herbs have been a part of our history and culture since\u00a0before history was recorded.\u00a0Whether\u00a0you are growing herbs for culinary purposes, medicinal,\u00a0or cosmetic purposes,\u00a0an\u00a0herb\u00a0garden\u00a0can become a way to connect with\u00a0your local culture or with the culture of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":16591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[252,254],"tags":[],"acf":{"youtube_id":"","author_name":"","author_description":"","author_image":false,"hero_background_image":false,"hero_title":"","hero_subtitle":"","hero_link":"","text_copy":"","blog_related_products":[12629,14267],"structure":false,"autoplay":true,"global_slides":false,"vimeo_id":"","activate_video_schema":false,"activate_article_schema":true,"article_schema":"