The new herb garden got planted this last weekend during one of baby brother’s nice long naps. I’m pretty excited about growing some of these herbs. Last year I had sweet husband spray and kill the grass around where my sage, chives, and thyme are planted by the house. Then we didn’t get it tilled or anything planted, so of course this spring a bunch of weeds and grass were growing there again. Then my amazing mom came out when I had the baby and it rained off and on for two days. When it let up, she looked out the back door and said, “That ground is just soft enough to dig all those weeds and grass up. Where’s your shovel?” And she went out and dug it all out and cleared the dirt and raked in the manure pile that had been sitting nearby since last year. I told you she’s fantastical.
Then we put in that black plastic edging so the grass would be less inclined to re-infest the herb garden area and the herbs might stay where they belong also. The kids gathered rocks and made a pathway through the middle and we got a couple of things planted that mom had brought from her house–peppermint, spearmint, variegated mint, and lemon balm, plus the parsley that had miraculously survived the winter (actually probably reseeded itself in the same pot).
Here it is all dug up and pretty. Nice dirt with no more weeds and grass.
The herb seedlings I started in the Jiffy peat pellets. I took them out to harden them before planting them and then forgot about them, so they were out there for two days. I guess I could have just put them in the ground if I had known I was going to just leave them out there!
Mom said I’d thank her forever for putting the spearmint and peppermint over in their own space edged on two sides by concrete and on the other sides by the plastic edging. They are quite aggressive and would like to spread and take over the entire herb garden if they could, so in their own space they can spread and I won’t be going crazy trying to keep them from taking over. So they are planted over by the fence instead of with the other herbs. If you can’t play nicely, Mr. Mint, you can’t play with the other herbs.
A few of the herbs were planted as seeds right in the dirt, but most of them I started inside. Here’s what I have planted:
Dill
Cilantro
Basil
Oregano
Greek Oregano
Stevia (I’ll be growing one of these inside as a house plant as well)
Chia
Chamomile
Feverfew
Borage
Garden Sorrel
Indian Tobacco Lobelia
Rue
Horehound
Yarrow
Blue Hyssop
Toothache Plant
Edible Crysanthemum
Echinacea
Lemon Balm
Peppermint, Spearmint, Variegated Mint
I stayed away from any herb that had poisonous parts (like you can use the leaves but not the stem) because I know I’ll have a toddler before long and they so love to “help” in the garden.
Also knowing I would be planting this herb garden, I got this book on using herbs. Because, really, I don’t know what to do with most of these. It’s a whole new adventure. This should be fun. :) Now to get the regular garden in. We got it tilled and ready, just need to bust out the water system and get planting. I’ll probably need a couple of long nap times for that job.
Keep preparing! Angela
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Your Mom is absolutely fantastic and correct about the mint. I just dried a quart of mint to use for tea – will dry another couple of quarts to hold us till the fall.
I found Lemon Balm and Basil to be almost kill-proof as they so readily reseed. Had a neighbor of Italian heritage tell me a couple of years ago that the basil flowers are a wonderful and colorful addition to salad – she was right. And don’t forget that the dill leaves and seeds are both used and have different uses. Chamomile spreads, like a mat, and will shade out weeds and other small plants that you might want.
Enjoy your herb garden – good for tea, seasonings and medicinal uses for everyone.
That’s an amazing selection of herbs to start an herb garden with. Good luck with it!
I love it!! I never thought about a herb garden, now I know what to do about my small spaces.
Mom was right about the mint. Once it takes over, you are doomed! On the other hand, mint is quite happy when confined and does really well in a large pot or other container.
The nice thing about mint is that it keeps the raccoons away (in my area, at least).
— Gaye
Nice selection – I see a couple I should add to my plans.
So great to see the kids helping out also. I am fortunate at my new home to be able to give the grandkids each a 10×10 ft section as their “own” garden space this year – to do as they want with – as well as helping me with the rest of the garden. I think this is the best way for them to develop their own love of being able to feed themselves from the garden!
Don’t forget tho – when that baby is napping – to remember to take a few naps yourself :) Life is good!