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Ol’ Herb, he is a Right Good Friend of Mine
Posted on April 17, 2012 by Tara in Gardening, Herbs.
My herb bed with Oregano in the foreground.
I just love ol’ Herb… He is a good buddy!
Growing your own herbs really is very easy and requires very little effort once they are established. Instead of buying fresh herbs in the grocery store, which are remarkably overpriced I might add, grow your own! I mean who wants to spend $4 on a packet of fresh herbs when you can go clip some right in your own yard?!? Not me! And of course, it’s a renewable resource. Clip, clip and it just keeps a growin’.
This post isn’t going to give you the ins and outs of every herb, their medicinal properties and the optimum PH soil properties for each type. No offense to those blogs that take the time to research that information but I’m just sharing what has worked for me and the types of herbs that I like to grow.
Two different kinds of Basil in one of my pots.
First, I picked a spot that was easy for me to harvest from the kitchen. That is the bed by my front walk/porch and the back porch. I plant herbs in pots as well as the ground. Some can be a really space hog and want to take up the entire bed. Spearmint, lemon balm and oregano are a few of those… all three I have planted in my bed and all three I have to hack back every year so they don’t take over. But I love how they look in the ground.
Most all that I grow I consider a perennial with the exception of Basil and sometimes Parsley. If the pots are protected from the extreme cold and you use the herb enough by clipping and promoting new growth, they will last for ages.
Marjoram in the herb bed.
If you are using Heirloom seeds to plant with, you can harvest the seed pods to replant for the next potting.
I have grown most everything from seed with great results. Nurseries now carry a wonderful selection of herbs to choose from. I have also seen them in the grocery stores in the produce section; for transplanting.
The main thing is to get your bum up and start planting some!
The herbs that I’m currently growing are: parsley, basil, marjoram, sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano, dill, spearmint, lemon balm, borage, savory, chervil. The last three are new to me this year and I’m excited to try them out! There are soooo many more varieties and I hope to add to my bed each year… Or make a new one because this one is getting full!
A batch of leaves ready for the dehydrator.
Here are a few tips:
** Harvest your leaves in the morning before the sun shines on them; essential oils are at their highest for optimum flavor.
** Use soapy water in a spray bottle for pests. Works great; no need for harsh chemicals on these tender plants.. er, or any plants for that matter!
** Epsom Salts and Miracle Gro Organic fertilizer is all I use. I have a gallon jug with holes in the lid, scoop a small amount of Epsom Salts into the jug and fill with water. Swirl around to dissolve the crystals and then water! For the Miracle Gro, I just sprinkle a small amount around the base of the plants once month and then water into the soil.
** Harvest your leaves regularly and your plant will work even harder for you!
** Most are easily transplanted by digging up a section of root. Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Spearmint, Lemon/Bee Balm all transplant easily with a piece of the root.
** Water often! don’t water log but keep soil moist. Don’t throw that dishwater out either! Wash your dishes in a ‘dishpan’ in the sink, when you’re done use that dirty, soapy water to water your plants!
** Clip any flowering heads as the bulk of nutrients from the plant will go to the flowering pod. Leaving the other leaves lacking in flavor or possibly becoming acrid and bitter to taste.
** Dehydrate your leaves and make your own seasoning mixes! Store the leaves in an airtight container/jar and crush or grind just before using as the leaves will loose their potency once they are ground.
** Freeze fresh leaves in ice cube trays for soups and stews. Store in your freezer in a gallon bag and plop a few in when you need some flavor.
** Make pesto with your parsley and basil and freeze the same way; in ice cube trays. Store in your freezer in a gallon bag and use in your favorite tomato sauces… one pesto cube at a time.
** Steep spearmint or peppermint leaves in simple syrup for teas, smoothies and other sweet treats.
Newly planted dill, from seed, to use for pickling.
Marjoram up close, very fragrant!
Parsley in one of my pots on the front porch.
Thyme growing in a pot in the front and another pot of Parsley in the back.
Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano in the garden bed.
Spearmint is wonderful steeped in a simple syrup for teas, smoothies or granitas.
What herbs do you like to grow??
Tara
Yummy! When’s dinner?!
Just ate! :0) It was good!
Ok. You have inspired me to start an herb pot. Love the look and love the idea for growing my own herbs. Thanks for sharing. The herb pot pictures are beautiful!
woohoo! Alright! You are going to love it Kris! being able to clip fresh herbs for dinner is wonderful. thank you for the compliment! :0)
Can you grow them inside? In small containers?
Sure! The herbs I mentioned being space hogs (spearmint, oregano, lemon balm) might get root bound over time so you would just need to split and share with a friend every so often and replant. Everything that I use can be grown in containers. Truthfully, I don’t know of any herb that can’t! Happy Planting!
Well you’ve done it again, I’m going to have a go at growing herbs in a hanging basket, just parsley, basil & thyme to start with. but then who know! <3
Thank you Jane! Glad you are giving it a go. So easy really, you are going to love it! :0)
Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear Tara! This post is an absolute jewel! I love herbs, love growing herbs, love everything about them! I have some herbs growing in containers around my patio – three kinds of basil, rosemary, 2 kinds of thyme (so far), spearmint, lavender and a small eucalyptus! I have to have help with all this due to medical issues, but thank God my BFF and helper is a Nature Girl
I’ve learned a lot from this post! xoxo
You are most welcome, Michele! I love being able to pick them… run my hands along their leaves and smell the essential oils. Being able to make my own seasoning mixes is wonderful! I, too, want to grow different varieties of basil and thyme, I need Tarragon too… Always more to plant.
So glad you enjoyed it! 
oh my goodness! gorgeous herbs and photos. I spent a total of about 10 hours in the garden this past week, and got a few herbs in my container garden…so far: oregano, lemon thyme, regular thyme and chives…this weekend 3 differnt kinds of rose geranium, lavender, basil, sage, mint, chocolate mint and hoepfully (keeping my fingers crossed) bergamot mint
once again, lovely post! xoxo
xoxo
oh wow Melissa! Sounds like you have a wonderful collection there. Thank you for the compliments! I started growing mine several years back and I’m so glad I did. It makes all the difference to grow your own! Rose geranium, never tried that one! You have me intrigued, will need to do some research on that one. Thank you for stopping by again Melissa! xoxo
Well, I am so glad you told me about your blog! I started growing some herbs a few months ago (basil, rosemary, parsley, and oregano). The basil grows like crazy and I love it! The rosemary doesn’t seem to do so well and the oregano just completely failed. What do you suggest I do to help the rosemary? The parsley seems to be a little slow too.
YAY! so glad to have you here Angela, not Angie. ;D Couldn’t help myself! lol okay… basil is great, clip it often and it will do wonderfully! Rosemary is pretty hard as it is an evergreen. Don’t water it too much, full sun. Oregano will take over, oh my goodness! Same thing, clip it and don’t water it too often, full sun. Parsley will start growing if you just drop some seeds on the ground, I love that stuff! Sometimes though it just take a little bit. baby it along, keep soil moist but not over watering. Fertilize them all every month. Depending on how you have them planted, in ground or pots, you should be able to keep most of them going through the winter and enjoy fresh herbs often!