What should I do if I want to start an herb garden?

mostly cooking and medicinal herbs; aloe, basil, cilantro, oregano, lavender, rosemary
What should I do if I want to start an herb garden?
1. Find out what zone you're in (it's based on how warm and cold it gets). You can find this out online at the website below. This is important if you are growing perennials, not so important for annuals. If you want to grow them inside, then obviously this doesn't matter.

2. Make a list of the herbs you want to grow.

3. Research the list to find out what kind of conditions the different herbs require. For example, basil is very sensitive to cold, so it is an annual in many places. It needs rich soil and needs to be watered frequently. On the other hand, thyme needs poor soil, should be kept fairly dry, can tolerate cold weather, and is a perennial. You also need to be aware of their sun requirements.

4. You can dedicate a single bed to your herbs, or you can incorporate them into a flower garden or vegetable garden. You can even put them in a pot on your patio.

5. I strongly recommend getting a book on herbs. I included links to some good ones below.

6. Enjoy your garden!
Reply:Most herbs like full sun.

Most herbs like well-drained soil.

One way to start would be to get 4 boards, 4"x4" 8 ft long, or railroad ties (nothing with creosote or poisonous pressure treated!!!) and set them into the ground a bit to form a square. You can do this over bare dirt or even lawn. Fill the square with loam/sand mixture and pack it gently. Add a few stones to step on, and plant your seedlings or seeds!

Even easier would be to get a shovel and loosen up some decent soil to 8 or 12 inches in a sunny spot and plant away.
Reply:you can buy the little starter kits, usually at a greenhouse, or maybe at a hardware or drug store. or else, you can buy the seeds and get some small pots. the smaller the better, when they grow some, then you can switch them to a larger pot. you can buy almost any kind of plant that you want. make sure that you plant them in a sunny window, and no drafts on them either. when you water the seedlings, i suggest you use a spray bottle, just mist them, ok?, good luck!,susyq47
Reply:Wow, there are so many undefined variables in your question.



How much land are you willing to dedicate is the first question. Or, are you going to 'container garden', meaning gardening exclusively in plastic or terra cotta pots. Do you want it to be organic, or will you use pesticides and chemical fertilizers? And, what kind of soil do you plan to work: clay, sandy or loamy?



My recommendation for a first time gardener is to test your green thumb. Which really means to test your level of commitment. It would be a shame if you went through a whole lot of work to later decide that it's not for you.



Try container gardening first. Pick up some containers, some good quality potting soil, fertilizer (I swear by 'Alaska Fish Fertilizer' and 'Alaska More Bloom') and a small bag of vermiculite. Mix up the dry ingredients and fill your pots to about 2" from the top. Place your seeds. Cover with a layer of dry planting mixture, and gently pat down. Then, start watering.



If you want to start out bigger, you can choose a plot of land for your garden. You'll need to ready the soil. Good soil amendments make or break a garden.



Garden placement (whether container or plot) should be near a water source. If it's too far from your spigot, you're more likely to forget to water.



Once your soil is prepared, purchase good quality seeds and plant them. Growing from seed requires consistent moisture levels until the seeds sprout. So, you'll need to water every day, at least once per day depending on your climate.



Any specific questions you can address with a local nursery. It's in their best interest to create a repeat customer in you. So, do let them know that you're a beginner. I believe you'll be amazed at how helpful the staff will be.



Enjoy your gardening adventure. It's extremely rewarding.
Reply:i would start it indoors in small pots and move it outside. i put my herbs in between flowers right outside my front door so they get some sun, but don't fry and so i just have to step outside the door to get some when i want to cook with them.
Reply:I love square foot gardening especially for herb gardens. It looks really cool and it is a great method for growing smaller patches of herbs in a small space. Check out www.squarefootgardening.com. Also, you could use some clay pots in the kitchen window or on your patio for very small quantities and decoration in conjunction with your great little herb garden with a high yield.
Reply:plant herbs in dirt
Reply:get a garden

good dirt

away from animals

i guess