By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
People often say they don’t have the time to maintain a garden even though they love the sight of the greenery or flowers. If that describes you, consider creating a small herb garden, or a potted or container herb garden. This is a great project to do with young people since they can learn some botany as part of the process.
If you’re going to start a garden, the most important first step is a soil test. The soil test will tell you if you need to amend your soil in any way. For example, is the pH correct for what you want to plant, or do you need to amend the soil with organic matter? If your planned garden site is close to an old building that might have had lead paint at one time, request a lead test be done as part of the soil test, since you want to avoid planting edibles at contaminated sites.
If you’re using a container, the first step is to decide how large a container you will need for the amount of herbs you’d like to grow. You can then purchase a commercial potting soil (not topsoil) and use that. Be sure to consider a way to manage drainage for the container. When I pot up large, deep containers, I put a layer of packing peanuts on the bottom to encourage drainage and limit the weight. Remember that anything outside will need more frequent watering during the heat of summer.
Next decide whether you want to start seeds or purchase seedlings. Although it’s rewarding to grow plants from seeds, you also need to have the time to nurture them until they’re ready to go outside. Seedlings are inexpensive and provide you with an “instant” plant.
Try not to get carried away when shopping – think about what herbs you like to cook with and start by getting two or three of those. Whether you are growing in a garden or a container, read the planting instructions so that you space the plants out correctly. If you plant too closely, the plants will have poor air circulation and develop plant diseases.
Once your herbs are planted and start growing, keep in mind that they want to be clipped and cooked. If you clip off the top, the plant will start to bush out rather than grow tall and spindly. Don’t let them go to flower, since the plant will then slow down leaf production (the part you want to eat) and focus instead on reproduction. You can also dry your excess herbs. Just clip them, tie the springs together and hang them upside down in a warm area with good air circulation.
One last thing: there are also some herbs that are “garden thugs” and will take over everything. The most common example of that is mint – it will grow anywhere. Really, how many mojitos can you drink?
Pat Dray is a past president of the Orange Garden Club.