As you embark on your journey to growing more food from home, you might also want to be able to season your food. This is where herbs come in. Having fresh herbs on hand is a great way to be encouraged to cook more at home and experiment with different flavors. You can start your own herb garden with these easy tips.
Choosing Your Herbs
When you want to start an herb garden, the first thing you will do is choose the types of herbs to grow. While technically you can choose any herbs you want, there are a few things to consider. First, you want to think about the herbs that are easier to grow, such as basil, chives, dill, and oregano. These are good for beginners because they are simple to grow, even for black thumbs.
Then there are the herbs that are good to get as young plants. That way, you don’t have to start them from seeds. Herbs that are often available as young plants from nurseries are sage, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Of course, you should also think about the herbs you will use most in your cooking.
Preparing the Soil
The next decision to make is whether you want to grow them in the ground or in containers. Both options work, so it really depends on the amount of space in your yard and your own personal preferences. If you are going to plant them in the ground, you should make sure your soil is ready for planting.
You want it to be dug and tilled, so that the soil isn’t too compacted. You should have proper drainage in the soil as well. Compost is good to add to the soil to help your herbs grow.
Consider Using Jars or Containers
If you would prefer, you can also plant your herbs in containers. You can do this from the seed or the young plants you got at the nursery, though of course the plants are much easier to work with. What you need is a good pot or container for keeping the herbs in, from a clay pot to a mason jar. If using a mason jar, make sure it has holes drilled in it for drainage. Then you need some potting soil to put in the container or pot, and some organic herb fertilizer.
As long as you know the amount of sun that is required, you can plant a lot of container herbs right in your home, close to a window sill.
