Growing your own herbs ...

Preparing the Ground/Planting

It is important in the planning of a growing area for herbs that you take into consideration certain factors:

• What is the purpose for growing this plant?
• What type of environment does this plant need?
• Is this plant happiest in sun or shade; wet, dark soil or sandy loam?
• What types of planting areas do I have; what kind of soil, how much sun and shade; what is the air-flow like in this area?
• What must I do to provide the greatest potential for this plant?
• Are there any companion plants for this plant?

Before deciding which herbs you are going to plant, you will want to decide what they are to be grown for.
Most of the more common herbs can be grown from seed; it is generally best to start the seeds indoors in small containers. This will give you the opportunity to better control the growing conditions and insure that you have strong, healthy plants in your herb garden. When starting herbs from seed, you will first prepare a soil mixture of sand, loam, and peat-moss, in equal parts, with a sprinkle of lime added. Fill your containers with this mixture and sow the seeds about 1/4" to 1/2" deep, covering them loosely. Be sure to soak the containers well.

Punch hole in a piece of clear plastic and cover your containers, leaving the clear plastic loose around them. Your seeds should begin to show leaves in 10 to 14 days. Check the literature on each herb to be sure of its germination period. Certain herbs can take as long as 8 to 10 weeks to come up. It is important to remove the plastic cover periodically to prevent the growth of fungus or mold. After the first pair of leaves can be seen, you must not disturb the plants until the second pair of leaves comes up through the soil. This is called the *hardening* period.

Certain herbs, such as the tarragon, must be propagated from root or stem cuttings. Some must be planted by separating root clumps and planting the offsets. A bit of research will tell you precisely which herbs can and cannot be grown from seed.
The procedures for root and stem propagation is, of course, a bit different than starting your herbs from seed. It is always wise to get to know the plants that you are growing, so that you can provide them with the best environment. In return, the herbs will serve you with rich oils, sure medicinal properties, culinary delights and pleasant aromatics.

The cultivating procedure used to prepare the ground for planting is going to vary, depending on what you are growing and why. Plants have individual needs and varying benefits. Some are good for others. Some will kill others, if planted too closely together. The soil needs to be prepared for the greatest benefit of the plants. It is always best to use only natural fertilizer, peat moss, compost, mulch, and bone meal in the soil that you plan to grow herbs in. It is best to add food for young herbs to the soil before placing them out in the garden.