Herb garden ideas – 18 ways to grow an aromatic crop, indoors and outdoors
Whether you're looking for herb garden ideas for your kitchen windowsill or want to create a fragrant herb border in your garden, there are so many wonderful ways to get started.
From refreshing mint to earthy thyme, there are myriad herbs to choose from, making them an essential addition to your vegetable garden.
‘The flavors from freshly picked home-grown herbs are far superior to shop-bought dried alternatives, especially if organically grown,’ says Period Living's gardening expert Leigh Clapp.
To get the best out of your herb garden, make sure you know when to plant herbs for all of your chosen varieties.
Herb gardens are ideal for beginner growers, as many varieties are hardy and easy to grow amongst your other kitchen garden ideas.
'Hardy herbs grow under a wide variety of conditions and levels of care. They work great in the corners of raised beds, ends of rows or in pots; and thrive in full sun, partial shade or irregular watering,' says Matthew Geldin, head farmer at Farmscape.
'My favorite hardy herbs are Berggarten sage, French thyme, Italian oregano and BBQ rosemary.'
Discover the best herb garden ideas to try in your own home and garden.
Click through to read the full story...
BY HOLLY REANEY. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MELANIE GRIFFITHS
Planting a rosemary hedge is a fantastic way to border flower beds and patios, as it will fill the air with its stimulating aroma and provide an endless supply of sprigs to add to dishes. As an evergreen shrub, it will also add structure to the garden year-round.
'Rosemary can grow to 4-6 foot, making it ideal for hedging,' says Lindsay Hyland, founder of Urban Organic Yield.
'Is attractive narrow lance-like blueish green leaves have small purple-colored flowers that really pop during the summertime.'
Learning how to grow rosemary is key to its success. As a Mediterranean plant, it is best grown in poor, well-drained soil in drier climates. It thrives in similar conditions to lavender, which also makes a fabulous hedging plant.
Rosemary is best kept as a low, informal hedge, and should be clipped after flowering to keep its shape.
Immersing yourself in the sights and scents of a herb garden is a large part of the appeal of planting one.
Instead of your herbs being a passing attraction, make them an integral part of your garden design by surrounding a secluded bench with borders packed with different vanities.
As well as filling the air with their heavenly fragrance, fennel and rosemary add height and interest in this scheme.
Take the idea one step further by building a herb planter seat, which will allow you to tend to your plants at a comfortable height.
Making your own plant labels is a wonderful way to personalize your garden, and they look particularly effective in potted herbs.
Here, vintage metal spoons have been labeled with each herb name, adding a charming culinary feel.
To recreate this idea, print out the herb names onto paper, sized to fit the bowl of the spoon, leaving a small gap around each word.
To get the names onto the spoon, you need to use image transfer medium. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply three thin coats on top of each name to create a clear plastic-like film.
When dry, remove the original backing paper from the names by soaking in water and rubbing off the back. Allow to dry.
Position and glue on to the spoons using the transfer medium, with the names facing the right way up. Once placed, correctly seal with a further coat of transfer medium or, if to be used outside, a clear lacquer.
Allow to thoroughly dry overnight, before positioning in its designated pot.
A tabletop planter is the most versatile of all herb planters. It's perfect for outdoor entertaining, allowing guests to choose which herbs they wish to accompany their food.
For a one-off centerpiece, you can recreate this idea by filling a plant pot with cuttings from a wide variety of herbs, including sage, purple basil, rosemary and bay.
However, for a longer lasting display, plant up two or three low-maintenance and easy-to-grow herbs.
'Herbs are some of my favorite plants to grow in pots as you can move them around as needed and place them in easy-to-access areas, like on a patio or tabletop,' says Sandra Nanka, owner of Mudbrick Herb Cottage.
Mint is a particularly good choice for entertaining, as it can be added to drinks. 'Mint is notorious for running rampant in the garden and will quickly take over a garden bed if given half the chance, so it's the perfect plant to pot up,' adds Nanka.
'Most herbs are generally quite compact plants and will thrive in small spaces. Make sure your pots have adequate drainage holes at the bottom.'
Potted herbs will need a little extra care than those grown in the ground, requiring occasional feeding an annual repotting.
When planning your herb garden, spare a thought for bees and other pollinators who love these aromatic plants even more than we do.
Fill your borders with flowering herbs, such as lavender, borage, rosemary, thyme and mint, which will offer a feast for the senses.
This is also a great idea if you are considering trying beekeeping, as you will have a ready-made environment in which they can thrive.
The good news is that while precious pollinators love herbs, many pests do not. A number of herbs are mosquito repellent plants, and will help to keep unwanted critters at bay.
Don't overlook the vertical plane when planning your herb garden – hanging baskets can make an enticing, fragrant addition to the garden.
'Introducing crops at eye level and above breaks up the lines and makes the space feel much more immersive and welcoming than if everything were placed on the ground,' says Alex Mitchell, author of Crops in Tight Spots.
'Hanging baskets can be hooked over walls and fences or attached to them with screws.'
This jam jar herb garden is so simple yet highly effective and practical – keeping the plants at ideal snipping height, close to the kitchen.
To recreate the idea, you can attach hose clamps to a wooden board.
Using a pencil, mark three points along the piece of wood – making sure they are evenly spaced out.
Screw the hose clamps into the board, leaving the opening wide enough to slip the jars into place. Plant the jars with herbs, then hang in your chosen spot.
If you've caught the crafting bug, then there are plenty of other mason jar craft ideas you can try.
Companion planting has been practiced for thousands of years, and is a way of growing certain 'partner' plants side by side for beneficial effects.
Many herbs – such as thyme, lavender, rosemary, oregano and mint – are natural pest repellents, and can help to deter insects that would otherwise seek to feast on your vegetable garden.
They are also valuable for attracting pollinators to your plot. ‘I have success when herbs are planted to attract a wide range of pollinators, which improves the yield, rather than as specific companion plants,’ says Jekka McVicar VMH, of Jekka’s Herb Farm.
‘As herbs heal us they can also heal other plants; for example, chamomile next to an ailing shrub is a natural anti-fungal.'
Get on board with the ‘grow your own’ revolution by incorporating raised garden beds into your garden. Very easy to install, they are simply a square or rectangle built of wood, metal or brick, which is then filled with soil.
Raised beds are also a great choice if you aren't able to garden at ground level as you can purchase tall designs that let you garden while standing.
More versatile than planting straight into the ground, raised beds also give you greater control over soil type, condition and nutrients, meaning you can produce a bumper crop of your favorite fruit, vegetables and herbs.
'Many of our favorites like rosemary, thyme and sage come from the baking hills of the Mediterranean and do best in poor soil. Others, like parsley, coriander, basil and dill are annuals that grow fast and easily,' advises celebrity gardener Monty Don in his blog.
You don’t have to have a dedicated herb border or kitchen garden to create your own herb garden. There are plenty of herb garden ideas that don't need a dedicated garden space.
Growing herbs in a flower and shrub border is a great way to add interest to your garden, providing the space with their delightful perfumes as well as being culinarily productive.
Some varieties also offer benefits to the other plants such as warding off pests or improving productivity.
If you’re short on garden space, perhaps only with a small courtyard or even just a doorstep, you can create a complete herb garden in a single planter.
Terracotta herb planters have various holes that allow you to plant different herbs in separate sections of the same pot.
Terracotta is a great choice for this type of pot as it is porous, meaning it lets air and water circulate, preventing root rot and soil disease, and keeping your herbs healthy.
Happily there are many container gardening that will enable you to create a lush oasis in the smallest of spaces.
When it comes to potting up your herbs, Jekka McVicar of Jekka's advises potting up a plant one pot-size at a time. 'Going from a 1ltr pot to a 10ltr pot in one go will stress the plant and can quite often kill it,' she says.
If you want to maximize the available space in your garden, then consider planting your herbs vertically.
There are several different herb garden ideas that can help you achieve this. Upcycling an old wooden ladder is a beautifully rustic way to add height to your garden, creating a striking yet compact focal point that draws the eye and adds interest.
Vertical gardening is not just for outdoors. Growing herbs indoors is a great option, whether on a sunny windowsill or hanging display.
Hanging planters from the ceiling is not only a practical way to grow herbs in your kitchen but also adds a botanical flair to your kitchen's design.
Alternatively, hanging pots on utensil holders or placing them on bookshelves also lets you grow your favorite herbs.
How do you start a herb garden for beginners, especially in a small space? Containers are a great way to do so – they are easy to manage and grouped or wall-hung, they look fabulous, too.
'Many herbs grow well in containers, especially ones that spread, such as mint, tarragon and lemon balm,’ says Leigh Clapp. ‘Small, portable pots allow you to move herbs around to suit the season, cover with a cloche, pop in a cold frame or bring indoors in winter.’
'Many herbs are native to the Mediterranean and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Grow a few containers of favorite herbs on the patio, deck or balcony for convenient access for you, and even guests, to harvest and add fresh ingredients to your meals,' advises gardening expert and author Melinda Myers.
‘Keeping herbs close to hand is advisable, as you are much more likely to make use of them while cooking than if they are growing down the bottom of the garden,’ suggests Leigh Clapp.
Either grow them near the back door, or regularly cut sprigs and place in glasses of water – like you would cut flowers – to ensure you always have your favorites on hand and ready to use.
A windowbox is an easy way to grow herbs both indoors and outdoors. Positioned on the kitchen windowsill, it is one of the most convenient ways to grow your favorite herbs – you can go from plant to plate in a matter of a few seconds.
An outside windowbox is ideal if you only have a small (or non-existent) garden. It will add a quaint cottage touch to your home's exterior, and you can even intersperse your herbs with flowers to add interest to the display.
If you’re looking for something a little less formal, your local salvage yard or vintage store offers infinite possibilities for herb garden ideas – from old baths and sinks to chimney pots and troughs.
While no longer fit for their original purpose, these vintage gems look stunning when planted up with herbs.
‘Get creative with recycled and upcycled containers – from wooden barrels to metal buckets; just remember to include drainage holes,’ says Leigh Clapp.
Even if you don't have a green thumb, it doesn't mean you can't grow your own herbs. Modern inventions have completely removed the need for the plastic pot leaking soil on the kitchen windowsill.
Grow-systems featuring integrated lights mean you can grow bountiful herbs in even the darkest galley kitchens.
While these systems have looked a little space-age in the past, design updates have yielded beautiful designs like the above brass-effect Smart Growhouse from Modern Sprout.
Not only does it look chic on your kitchen countertop, but its eco-friendly LED light will ensure that you have the heartiest crop for all your cooking needs.
If you're looking for something simpler – and can't stand the thought of soil in your kitchen – then hydroponics are the way forward.
While it might sound technical, growing herbs hydroponically is actually one of the most straightforward herb garden ideas.
Rather than growing your herbs in soil, the plants are grown in baskets suspended above jars of water into which their roots grow. So no need to constantly remember to water your herbs.
Herb garden ideas – 18 ways to grow an aromatic crop, indoors and outdoors
Whether you're looking for herb garden ideas for your kitchen windowsill or want to create a fragrant herb border in your garden, there are so many wonderful ways to get started.
From refreshing mint to earthy thyme, there are myriad herbs to choose from, making them an essential addition to your vegetable garden.
‘The flavors from freshly picked home-grown herbs are far superior to shop-bought dried alternatives, especially if organically grown,’ says Period Living's gardening expert Leigh Clapp.
To get the best out of your herb garden, make sure you know when to plant herbs for all of your chosen varieties.
Herb gardens are ideal for beginner growers, as many varieties are hardy and easy to grow amongst your other kitchen garden ideas.
'Hardy herbs grow under a wide variety of conditions and levels of care. They work great in the corners of raised beds, ends of rows or in pots; and thrive in full sun, partial shade or irregular watering,' says Matthew Geldin, head farmer at Farmscape.
'My favorite hardy herbs are Berggarten sage, French thyme, Italian oregano and BBQ rosemary.'
Discover the best herb garden ideas to try in your own home and garden.
Click through to read the full story...
BY HOLLY REANEY. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MELANIE GRIFFITHS
Discover the best herb garden ideas to create a bountiful, fragrant garden that also delivers on looks and flavor
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