Growing Herbs: 5 Tips To Improve Your Fresh Herb Garden

Finally got my herb garden under way.

2013 was not a banner year for my plants, which I blamed on the cool spring and late planting season. However, I ran even later this year. But after only three weeks I’m seeing more growth than I did in two months last season. Here are 5 things I did differently:

1. Stripping 5 inches of soil out and replacing it

For the past few years I’ve just cleaned out the beds, topped them off with fresh soil and mixed it together. This season I scooped out a good four to five inches of soil and replaced it with new. I then plowed the soil with a hand trowel to give my plants a soft fresh bed. It takes more dirt and costs a little more but you’ll be rewarded with happy healthy herbs and flowers.

2. Planting multiple herbs in one large pot

At the garden center they had multiple basils in one large container. I had never tried that strategy. I usually just plant one per pot but I liked the idea of green and purple basil growing closely into a cluster. I also did my Hot And Spicy Oregano and Cuban Oregano together. I haven’t decided if I’ll be doing this every year though as it takes a ridiculous amount of potting soil and herbs don’t need to be planted that deep so, we’ll see.

3. Mixture of garden and potting soil

Because I was replacing so much of the dirt I chose garden soil with fertilizer that feeds for nine months as the base and then mixed in potting soil. I tilled it all together really well and now it’s received an ample dose of rain so it’s blended together, giving them the fertilizer and nutrients they need.

4. More watering in the beginning

I’m always careful not to over water throughout the season. But when herbs and pepper plants are first nestled in the ground they need more frequent watering until their roots take hold. After that monitor them based on the type of plant and how hot and dry your climate is.

5. Snipping tops off sooner to promote well-rounded even growth

I like to give a new plant some time in the ground to recover from the shock of transplanting it before snipping any of the leaves. But some herbs are large enough when you purchase them that they are ready to be topped off. After about a week I had a few that needed their first grooming session. By starting this early you encourage bushy growth rather than tall spindly stems topped with leaves. Once you allow that to happen it’s difficult to reverse.

Herb gardening is an exciting ongoing adventure!