How to Start an Herb Garden - Five Common Mistakes Newbie Herb Gardeners Make

How to Start an Herb Garden - Five Common Mistakes Newbie Herb Gardeners Make

Planting an herb garden can be an exciting hobby with very tangible rewards. Herb gardens are very versatile for culinary and medicinal herbs that can be enjoyed for personal use, passed on to friends and family, or even sold for profit. However, growing an herb garden for the first time can be quite frustrating if you end up making some classic pitfalls. Here are five common mistakes new herb gardeners make and how to avoid them:

1.)Don’t plan your herb garden.When you're first starting out, it can be tempting to go to the nearest nursery and buy every herb that appeals to you. Don't do that! Different plants have different needs - one herb may require moderately dry soil and plenty of sunlight, while another may thrive in a moist environment that is mostly shaded. Satisfying the needs of both herbs can be an extremely challenging, if not impossible, task. Figure out which plants you want to grow and for what purpose – whether culinary or medicinal. Stick to a few basic herbs that you can use regularly.

2.)Growing from seeds. The needs of a seed are very complicated: where to plant, when to plant, how deep to plant in the ground, how much to water, so on and so forth. An herb is at its most fragile state when it is a seed, which many newbies may not be willing or able to handle. It would be much easier to buy healthy seedlings from a nursery - the hard work has already been done for you. Look for bright, healthy seedlings and avoid any that appear withered or diseased.

3.)If you don't water your herbs properly. Watering an herb garden is not the same as watering houseplants—while houseplants may need watering twice weekly, herbs may need watering daily to thrive. On the flip side, be careful not to overwater the plant to drown it. Make sure you research and meet your herb's specific needs.

4.)Not harvesting enough. One of the best ways to ensure you get the most out of your herbs is to...harvest them! Harvesting encourages new growth by resetting a plant's growth cycle, keeping it full and bushy. Otherwise, the plants will continue to grow upward, but may appear sparser over time. Prune your plants often and look for creative ways to use them.

5.)Use of chemicals. While using commercial pesticides is a surefire way to kill aphids and other nuisances, you should not add harsh chemicals to a plant that you or your family may later ingest. You can try using a mild, natural soap as long as it drips, or you can add mint or lavender to your garden - both herbs are known to repel pests such as moths, aphids and flea beetles.

In other articles, we discuss the do's and don'ts in more detail and offer suggestions on how to start an herb garden.