You have always wanted to grow your own herb garden? Well, now is the time!
Kitchen herbs are ideal for beginners and hobby gardeners. They usually don't need much care and can be planted both in the garden and on the balcony. They even thrive on the windowsill.
Besides, basil, rosemary and co. don't just look pretty: Fresh herbs taste particularly aromatic and are rich in valuable nutrients.
So head for the garden! In this blog post you will learn the most important information to get started with your herb garden right away. But wait, before you run off: In this blog post you will learn the most important information to get started with your herb garden. And last but not least, you will get to know three popular herbs a little better.
If you want to start your own herb garden, good planning is important. The first question you should ask yourself is: which herbs do I want to plant and what are their needs? Rosemary, oregano or sage, for example, like a lot of sun and rather dry soil. Parsley and chives, on the other hand, need a lot of water.
As a rule of thumb, you should not mix annual and perennial herbs. It is best to make a list of your favourite herbs. Note down their respective requirements for soil, water and sunlight and then group the herbs that go well together.
Growing herbs in your own garden is fairly easy. Most herbs like sunny and wind-protected places. You can put the herbs in a raised bed, for example, or plant them among your vegetables. It is important that you can easily reach the herbs when you want to harvest them later.
You can also grow your own herbs on your balcony. However, the location and the amount of sunlight you get there will determine which plants you should choose.
A balcony facing east or west is best, as most herbs like a sunny location. Mediterranean herbs that do not burn even when exposed to a lot of sunlight, such as rosemary or thyme, are particularly suitable for a south-facing balcony. However, only a few herbs thrive on a shady north-facing balcony. Wild garlic, chervil, borage and mint, for example, also thrive in low light.
If you plant your herbs in boxes or pots on your balcony, make sure you use the right soil. Herbs prefer humus-rich and water-permeable soil. The best thing to do is to buy special herb soil. You can get it at a garden centre.
You can even grow herbs on a windowsill. There you can enjoy your herbs all year round, even in winter. All you need is a bright windowsill. However, make sure that the sun does not shine fully through the window, as this will damage your herbs. Semi-shaded windows facing south or west are best. Some herbs such as basil, chives or parsley also thrive in a bright east-facing window.
Generally, herbs on the balcony need a little more care than herb beds in the garden. Besides special herb soil, you need organic liquid fertiliser and water.
A herb garden normally needs little water because humus-rich soil retains the residual moisture. Nevertheless, you need to water more often during the sunny season. Mornings are the best time to water your herbs. Use lukewarm water to avoid cold shock.
Here are three popular garden herbs that you can easily plant both in the garden and on the balcony, and even in your kitchen:
Basil is one of the most popular kitchen herbs because it is particularly aromatic. Basil is easy to care for, it almost grows by itself in warm temperatures.
Basil is considered an annual plant because it does not tolerate frost. It is therefore best to plant it in containers that you can bring indoors for the winter.
If you want to grow your basil in the kitchen or on the balcony, you should bear two things in mind:
Firstly, basil does not like to be watered from above. That is why it is best to place the plant in a bowl filled with water for about 20 minutes once a day, or fill the planter with a little water. This will allow the roots and the soil to soak up the water. Then pour away the excess water.
Also make sure to remove withered leaves or leaves lying on the ground regularly to avoid fungal infestation.
Parsley is also a well-known and popular herb. It is very versatile and rich in vitamin C.
There are different types of parsley, the flat-leaved and curly parsley are particularly well known. Parsley has similar requirements for location and soil as basil. These plants can very well be planted next to each other.
When harvesting, make sure to cut the stems close to the ground and not just pluck off the leaves. Important: Never cut the heart of the parsley, which you can recognise by the thicker stem and the leaves that develop on it. Without heart leaves, the plant will die.
Thyme is a classic Mediterranean spice plant. It is a real survivor and makes hardly any demands on location, water or nutrients.
Thyme prefers a sunny position protected from the wind. It also needs very little water. Thyme grows particularly well with rosemary or lavender.
It is best to harvest this garden herb when it is not in the flowering phase. During flowering, the leaves lose some of their aroma.
Now nothing stands in the way anymore of your herb garden! Add all the items you need for your herb garden to your shopping list right away
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