A guide to growing herbs
Thinking about adding some herbs to your garden? Here's a short and easy-to-follow guide to growing five of the most popular plants.
Basil
* Comes in annual and perennial types; grows in spring or autumn; suits a wide variety of climates.
* Very frost sensitive and dislikes cold, damp weather.
* Needs full sun, with a little afternoon shade in really hot areas.
* Plant in rich, moist, well-drained soil containing lots of compost or old manure.
* Keep evenly moist and feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser (following packet directions).
* Pinch out the tops to keep bushy.
* Pick young leaves whenever you need them.
Chives
* Like full sun; in very hot, dry areas may need a little shade and moisture.
* Suit a wide variety of climates.
* Grow in average, well-drained soil or in pots; keep the soil moist.
* Avoid planting in the extremes of summer and winter.
* Clip the leaves close to the ground at any time.
* You can also eat the flowers in salads.
Coriander
* An annual which likes hot, dry summers and wet winters. Hates frost.
* Grow in a sunny spot; a little shade is fine in very hot areas.
* Sow seed in spring. Needs well-drained soil, not over-rich; too much nitrogen lessens the flavour.
* Grows well in pots.
* Pick fresh leaves as needed. The roots are used in some Asian dishes.
Mint
* There are many kinds of mint; all are invasive. Unless you want heaps of the stuff, confine it to a pot.
* Grows in a variety of climates, in full sun or part shade.
* In full sun, keep well watered - mint loves water.
* Plant in spring or autumn (any time in frost-free gardens) in moderately rich, well-mulched soil.
* Pick young leaves a few sprigs at a time.
Parsley
* Grows in a variety of climates. Lives for two years.
* Plant any time in frost-free areas. In the tropics or hot dry areas, avoid planting in summer.
* Plant in normal, well-drained garden soil and keep evenly moist.
* Feed complete fertiliser sparingly (following packet directions).
* Pick sprigs from the outside of the bush, as needed.
Source:Gardening: A Commonsense Guide (Murdoch Books)
