| Setting it all upIf you have chosen an | | | | kinds of pots and containers, as long as they |
| outdoor garden, keep it small at first. 4' x | | | | retain moisture while allowing excess water |
| 4' is a good size for a novice herb gardener, | | | | to drain away. Terra cotta pots are probably |
| and will enable you to grow about 8-9 | | | | not a good idea because they tend to absorb |
| different herbs. Select a sunny spot which is | | | | water instead of allowing it to stay in the |
| easily accessible with a hose or sprinkler. | | | | soil. Fill containers with a topsoil and peat |
| Most herbs need lots of sunlight to thrive. | | | | mix, just like the outdoor garden.You might |
| Those which may require less light can be | | | | even try an outdoor container garden. This |
| strategically placed so that shade from | | | | is an excellent option especially if you live |
| taller plants or nearby trees falls on them, | | | | in an apartment, have limited outdoor space |
| or you can set up a separate garden for them | | | | or want to start very small. Herbs can be |
| in a shady area.Work the soil in your chosen | | | | grown individually or you can get a very |
| area. Dig up and discard any large rocks, | | | | large pot and combine herbs. If you want to |
| break up solid chunks of dirt, take patches | | | | combine herbs you can try themed pots. How |
| of grass to other parts of your yard that are | | | | about a Kitchen Garden with basil, dill, |
| bare and can use the help.You can, in some | | | | savory, mint and chives? Have fun making |
| cases, plant directly in your soil but | | | | your own combinations based on your own |
| enriched soil really is best for gardening. | | | | preferences and needs.The PlantingSeeds or |
| I prefer to make a raised bed, then fill with | | | | established plants - which should you choose? |
| a mixture of approximately 60% topsoil and | | | | In the case of the novice herb gardener, I |
| 40% peat.To make a raised bed, construct a | | | | suggest plants. You can find these at |
| box in the spot where it is to stand. One way | | | | reliable nurseries in your area and sometimes |
| to do this uses landscaping timbers along | | | | in catalogs. Seeds can be unreliable, often |
| with large screws and is very easy. Make the | | | | not sprouting at all and therefore |
| box at least two timbers high. Screw | | | | frustrating to the gardener who is excited |
| landscape timbers together with 3" | | | | about seeing life spring into being. When |
| coarse-thread deck screws. Put the timbers | | | | using seeds, be aware that seedlings often |
| together by first drilling a 3/8" hole | | | | need to be thinned -- this means removing |
| halfway through the timbers themselves. | | | | those that are too close together and either |
| Otherwise, the screw will not go through the | | | | replanting them or throwing them out. |
| landscape timber.CAVEAT: In some areas of the | | | | Seedlings are very delicate and don't always |
| United States, the available landscape | | | | live when replanted, another frustration for |
| timbers may be infested with Formosan | | | | the budding herb gardener.Later on, after |
| termites. DO NOT use these. Alternatives | | | | your herb garden has become established and |
| include left-over deck material or 2x4s.Fill | | | | you are more confident, you can use seeds. By |
| in the box with the topsoil and peat. You can | | | | that time, you will have become accustomed to |
| figure out how many bags of topsoil you need | | | | working with the plants and will have a |
| either by judging with your eyes or figuring | | | | "feel" for how to treat them.Some herbs come |
| out how many cubic feet are in the area for | | | | in peat pots which can be directly |
| your garden and then buying the corresponding | | | | transferred to the ground; however, I have |
| cubic feet of soil. Peat generally comes in | | | | never had much luck with these and recommend |
| compressed blocks; you will probably need | | | | taking the plant out of these types of |
| approximately 1.65 cubic ft. per 4' x 4' | | | | containers. |
| area.For an indoor garden, you can use all | | | | |