Herbs have it all! These edible lovelies, with their beautiful foliage, attractive flowers and rich aromas, are a delight to have in the garden, on your balcony or along a sunny kitchen windowsill. They are easy to grow, need little maintenance and will provide a fresh supply of exciting flavours for most of the year.
You don’t need to plant every single herb out there – unless you plan to become a herbalist! Just grow those you will use the most and keep them within reach so you can simply snip and flavour or garnish your dishes.
Thinking about adding some herbs to your garden? Here’s a short and easy-to-follow guide to growing six of the most popular herbs.
Basil
Comes in annual and perennial types.
Aspect
Needs full sun, with a little afternoon shade in really hot areas.
Climate
Grows in spring or autumn; suits a wide variety of climates. Dies off in winter.
Soil
Plant in rich, moist, well-drained soil containing lots of compost or old manure. Very frost sensitive and dislikes cold, damp weather.
Water
Keep evenly moist.
Fertiliser
Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser (following packet directions).
Maintenance
Pinch out the tops to keep bushy. Pick young leaves whenever you need them.
Chives
For a pretty ’n’ practical arrangement, plant herbs in mixed flower and vegie beds – like chives, violas and kale. You can also eat the flowers in salads. A good companion of parsley.
Aspect
Like full sun; in very hot, dry areas may need a little shade and moisture.
Climate
Suit a wide variety of climates. Avoid planting in the extremes of summer and winter. The perennial dies in winter.
Soil
Grow in average, well-drained soil or in pots; keep the soil moist.
Water
Water herbs regularly once planted.
Fertiliser
Seasonal fertiliser.
Maintenance
Clip the leaves close to the ground at any time. Snip spears to harvest. Remove flowers to encourage leaf growth.
Coriander
Coriander is a perfect match with seafood and is often used in Asian cuisine. The roots have all the flavour and can be used in dressings, stir-fries and more.
Aspect
Grow in a sunny spot; a little shade is fine in very hot areas.
Climate
An annual which likes hot, dry summers and wet winters. Hates frost.
Soil
Sow seed in spring. Needs well-drained soil, not over-rich; too much nitrogen lessens the flavour.
Water
Water regularly.
Fertiliser
Add a controlled release or organic fertiliser when planting. After applying fertiliser, delay harvesting for a few days and as a safety precaution rinse well before cooking and eating.
Maintenance
Grows well in pots. Pick fresh leaves as needed.
Mint
There are many kinds of mint; all are invasive.
Aspect
Part shade as this perennial prefers shade. To note, Vietnamese mint is shade tolerant.
Climate
Grows in a variety of climates.
Soil
Plant in spring or autumn (any time in frost-free gardens) in moderately rich, well-mulched and well-drained soil.
Water
In full sun, keep well watered – mint loves water.
Fertiliser
A plant fertiliser will do.
Maintenance
Unless you want heaps of the stuff, confine it to a pot as it grows rampantly (so plant away from other plants). Pick young leaves a few sprigs at a time and freeze any excess to help retain the gorgeous colour.
Parsley
Divine in chimichurri, savoury soufflés, tabouli and beef or lamb casseroles.
Aspect
Shade tolerant.
Climate
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.
Soil
Plant in normal, well-drained garden soil.
Water
Keep evenly moist.
Fertiliser
Feed complete fertiliser sparingly (following packet directions).
Maintenance
Pick sprigs from the outside of the bush, as needed.
Sage
Sage will add lovely aroma to your garden, and it’s great to use in meat dishes, roast potatoes, butter and stuffings. The perennial is a good companion of rosemary.
Aspect
Sunny position, but find a spot where it’s protected from wind.
Climate
Grows well in cold temperate, warm temperate and arid/semi-arid climates. In tropical and sub-tropical areas, grow in pots to protect from flooded soils during the wet.
Soil
Prefers a light, well-drained soil.
Water
Although drought-tolerant, sage will perform better if watered regularly during the hotter months.
Maintenance
Sow in garden, and stake as required.
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