The secret to cooking delicious food is using good quality ingredients and, when it comes to fruit and veggies, nothing beats homegrown!
Have you got enough thyme on your hands? Or basil, parsley, mint or rosemary? Fresh herbs add magic to your meals and the fresher they are the better, so a herb garden right next to your kitchen is perfect. It serves as an inspiration, it smells glorious and you can make it look pretty too.
3 ways to plant your herbs
01
In a raised bed
Take advantage of portable raised beds – you can move them to chase the sun – such as this Vegepod. No need to bend down to reach your rosemary or thyme!
02
On an outdoor table
Save space and put herbs at the heart of your outdoor room with this dual-function furniture piece. You can even add in some edible flowers for a pop of colour!
03
In a vertical garden
If you’ve got a smaller outdoor space, then a vertical garden is perfect for you. Not only is it good for herbs, but you can add in a couple of lettuces and make a whole salad!
Popular herbs for a chef’s herb garden
Many herbs are annuals and have shallow roots, while others are perennials. A few grow into lovely bushes, and if you have room, pluck your herbs from a tree.
Try growing these favourites:
Annuals: Basil, parsley, coriander (full sun, grow as an annual)
Perennials: Mint, thyme, sage, oregano
Ornamental bush: Rosemary (can be grown in a pot)
Tree: Bay laurel (can be grown in a pot)
How to care for herbs
Unless it’s mint – which prefers part shade – herbs need sunlight, well-drained soil or potting mix and water, especially when it’s hot and dry.
Don’t add too much compost because it speeds up growth and encourages plants to bolt and go to seed, and you’ll lose flavour. Some Mediterranean plants, such as rosemary and sage, actually thrive in poor-quality soils.
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