When to Plant an Herb Garden

Types of Herbs

• Different types of herbs are planted in herbal gardens. Culinary herbs are perhaps the most common garden herbs. The list of culinary herbs includes sage, parsley, thyme, mint and basil. Aromatic herbs are known more for their strong smell than their taste; they are used in perfumes, incense and other aromatic offerings. Rosemary, lovage and marjoram are all aromatic herbs. Ornamental herbs are grown for their looks. Valerian and chicory are both attractive ornamental herbs. Choose which types of herbs to grow before making any garden plans. Herbs grow easily from seeds, which are available at home and garden centers.

Preparation

• Prior to planting herb seeds, prepare the outdoor garden area. Remove all grass, rocks, roots and weeds from the herb garden area. Loosen the soil down to a depth of 12 inches. This aerates the area and loosens the ground to make it easier for herbs to grow their roots. Unless soil quality is very poor, there's no need to add fertilizer.

Planting

• Ideally, herb gardens are planted in late winter in shallow grow boxes. Fill the boxes with light, well-drained mixture and plant seeds directly on top of the soil. After seedlings sprout and spring arrives, transplant the herbs to the outdoor garden. Coriander, dill, fennel and anise should not be started early; plant them in the garden in spring when other herbs are transplanted. Even when placed outdoors, herbs may be container-grown so gardeners can exercise more control over their environment and keep them from spreading into other garden areas.

Indoor Growing

• Indoor herb gardens are easy to plant and maintain. Herbs can grow in small containers on window ledges. Remember that soil should be well-drained and unfertilized, and herbs will thrive. Some herbs that are susceptible to cold damage, such as mint, tarragon and chives, may flourish better indoors than out. Plant herbs in separate pots whenever possible to avoid getting different herbs mixed up or overcrowding plants.