January 2002 Newsletter He who plants a garden finds happiness. - Chinese proverb Planning a Successful Herb Garden Your first step is to assess your growing conditions. Although some herbs are very picky about their soil requirements, most grow vigorously in an open, loamy well-drained soil. If your soil has a high clay content, drainage will be too slow and deprive your herbs of oxygen. The plants will produce weak shoots and tend to wilt or die back. The wonderful thing about herbs is they are so versatile. If you invest a little time testing your soil and planning your garden, your garden will be a success. If you want to grow particular herbs, you need to pay attention to their requirements. It is always a good idea to test your pH levels. You can do this with a kit purchased from a garden center or you can send a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension Service and they will test your soil for you. Most soils in the eastern half of the United States are acidic (due to rainfall leaching away alkaline elements in the soil), while alkaline soils are found in the drier west. The majority of herbs grow well in soils ranging from a pH of 6, which is slightly acidic, to 7.5 which is mildly alkaline. If the pH falls outside of this range, the nutrients in your soil will not be available to your plants. To raise pH, dust the soil with (sp) dolomitic limestone at least one month before planting following instructions on the limestone package. To lower pH, apply sulfur, again following directions on your package. For gardeners in the eastern U.S. who wish to grow any of the Mediterranean herbs, these plants will grow in a slightly acidic soil, but they will thrive if the pH range is 7 to 8.2. Of course, your herb garden can be informal or formal. Many people like a formal look to their herb garden; and one advantage is your can lay it out with raised beds allowing for amending your soil for the specific plants you wish to grow. Below is a rudimentary sketch of a formal herb garden. The chicken scratches represent the path and as you can see there are four raised beds on each end with a circular center garden. The centermost circle represents the portion of your design where you will want to add vertical interest. You could either use a garden structure such as a pedestal topped with a piece of garden art or a trellis such as our copper Allingham or Rose Pillars by Agriframe, or you could chose a small tree or shrub; perhaps a Bay Laurel to go along with the herb theme. If you live somewhere where you have fairly harsh winters, you may want to place a small evergreen here just to keep winter interest. Most herbs require at least 6 hours of direct light each day, so ideally an herb garden should have a southern exposure. HERBS NAME TYPE & SOIL HEIGHT & LIGHT ZONE USES Agastache (Giant Hyssop) perennial - moist, well-drained 2 to 5 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 4-9 Colorful flowers make good accent border, dry well for arrangements Allium (Onion) bulb - rich, moist, well-drained 8 to 36 inches, full sun to partial shade Zone 3-9 domed flowers (white to blue, pink or purple), culinary, arrangements Aloysia triphylla (Lemon Verbena) deciduous shrub - average, well-drained 2 to 8 feet, full sun Zone 9-10 potpourri, culinary, houseplant Althaea (Marsh Mallow) perennial - moist 4 to 5 feet, full sun Zone 3-9 Colorful border backdrops, culinary Amaranthus (Amaranth) annual - dry, well-drained 4 to 6 feet, full sun tender Flowering spikes in summer; primary value high-protein seeds, winter treat for birds Anethum (Dill) annual - average to rich, well-drained 3 to 4 feet, full sun tender Culinary, dried arrangements Angelica (Angelica) biennial - rich, moist 3 to 8 feet, partial shade to full sun Zone 3-9 Coarse-textured, licorice-scented leaves, landscaping, potpourri, culinary Anthriscus (Chervil) annual - average, well-drained 1 to 2 feet, light to full shade tender Fine herb of French cuisine, outdoor container plant Apium (Wild Cherry) biennial - rich, moist, well-drained 1 to 3 feet, full sun to light shade hardy culinary - salads, dried leaves as substitute for celery in soups. Use sparingly; toxic in large amounts Armoracia (Horseradish) perennial - moist, well-drained 2 to 4 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 3-10 Culinary Artemisia (Wormwood) annual, perennial or shrub - average, dry to moist 1 to 6 feet, full sun to partial shade Zone 3-10 Landscaping, culinary, dried arrangements Borage (Borage) annual - rich, moist, well-drained 1 to 3 feet, full sun hardy culinary, houseplant, arrangements Brassica (Mustard) annual - average, well-drained 3 to 4 feet, full sun hardy Culinary Calamintha (Calamint) perennial - average, neutral to alkaline 12 to 24 inches, full sun to light shade Zone 5-10 Mint-scented leaves, border edging, culinary, potpourri Capsicum (Pepper) annual - rich, moist, well-drained 1 to 3 feet, full sun tender or Zone 10 Landscaping, containers, culinary Carthamus (Safflower) annual - well-drained to dry 1 to 3 feet, full sun tender Landscaping, arrangements, culinary Carum (Caraway) biennial - rich, well-drained 2 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 3-8 Culinary Chamaemelum (Roman Chamomile) perennial - dry, well-drained 1 to 6 inches, full sun to light shade Zone 4-8 Ground cover, lawn, potpourri, culinary (dried flowers steeped for tea) Chenopodium (Goosefoot) annual - rich, well-drained 2 to 5 feet, full sun hardy Culinary (Central American cuisines), potpourri, arrangements Cichorium (Chicory) perennial - poor to average, slightly alkaline 1 to 5 feet, full sun Zone 3-10 Culinary, landscaping, potpourri Coriandrum (Coriander) annual - rich, well-drained 1 to 3 feet, light shade to full sun tender Culinary (East Asian, Mexican and Indian cuisines), potpourri Cymbopogon (Lemon Grass) perennial grass - sandy, slightly acidic 2 to 6 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 10-11 Landscaping, culinary (Thai and Vietnamese cuisine) Dianthus (Carnation) perennial - rich, well-drained, alkaline 4 to 20 inches, full sun to light shade Zone 5-9 Landscaping, arrangements, culinary Foeniculum (Fennel) perennial or annual - organic, well-drained 4 to 6 feet, full sun tender or Zone 9-10 Culinary, landscaping Gaultheria (Wintergreen) shrub - moist, organic, acidic 4 to 6 inches, full to light shade Zone 3-10 Ground cover, culinary Glycyrrhiza (Licorice) perennial to 3 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 5-9 Landscaping, culinary Hibiscus (Rose Mallow) perennial or annual - well-drained 4 to 8 feet, full sun tender or Zone 7-11 Landscaping, culinary Humulus (Hop) perennial vine - rich, moist, well-drained 3 to 8 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 3-8 Landscaping, culinary, crafts Hyssopus (Hyssop) perennial - well-drained to dry 18 to 36 inches, full sun to light shade Zone 3-8 Landscaping, culinary Laurus (Bay Laurel) tree or shrub - well-drained 4 to 40 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 8-10 Culinary, landscaping, dried arrangements Lavandula (Lavender) perennial or small shrub - dry, sandy alkaline 1 to 5 feet, full sun Zone 5-10 Landscaping, culinary, arrangements Levisticum (Lovage) perennial - organic, moist, well-drained 3 to 6 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 3-8 Culinary, landscaping Lindera (Spicebush) shrub - moist, acidic 6 to 15 feet, light shade Zone 4-9 Landscaping, culinary, potpourri Lippia (Mexican Oregano) shrub - organic, sandy, well-drained 3 to 6 feet, full sun Zone 9-11 Culinary, containers, landscaping Marrubium (Horehound) perennial - poor, sandy, well-drained to dry 18 to 24 inches, full sun Zone 4-9 Landscaping, containers, culinary Melissa (Balm) perennial - moist, well-drained 12 to 24 inches, full sun to light shade Zone 4-9 Landscaping, culinary, potpourri Mentha (Ment) perennial - moist, well-drained 1 to 4 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 3-10 Landscaping, culinary, potpourri Monarda (Wild Bergamot) annual or perennial - rich, moist or dry, slightly alkaline 1 to 4 feet, full sun to light shade tender or Zone 4-10 Landscaping, arrangements, culinary Myrrhis (Sweet Cicely) perennial - organic, moist 2 to 3 feet, partial shade to full sun Zone 3-8 Landscaping, culinary, crafts Nepeta (Catmint) perennial - well-drained, sandy 12 to 36 inches, full sun to light shade Zone 3-9 Landscaping, culinary Nigella (Fennel Flower) annual - well-drained, slightly alkaline 12 to 18 inches, full sun tender Landscaping, culinary Ocimum (Basil) annual - rich, organic, well-drained 6 inches to 3 feet, full sun tender Culinary, landscaping, potpourri Origanum (Marjoram) perennial - rich, dry, well-drained 6 to 24 inches, full sun Zone 5-10 Culinary, landscaping Panax (Ginseng) perennial - organic, moist, well-drained 6 to 36 inches, light to full shade Zone 3-8 Landscaping, culinary Perilla (Perilla) annual - average to rich, sandy 12 to 36 inches, full sun to light shade tender Landscaping (burgundy leaves), culinary Petroselinum (Parsley) biennial - rich, moist, well-drained 3 to 6 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 6-9 Culinary, landscaping, containers Plectranthus (Indian Borage) annual - rich, well-drained 12 to 36 inches, full sun to light shade tender or Zone 10-11 Landscaping, culinary Polygonum (Knotweed) perennial - moist 1 to 1-1/2 feet, light shade Zone 8-9 Culinary, containers, landscaping Primula (Primrose) perennial - organic, moist, well-drained 6 to 12 inches, partial to full shade Zone 3-8 Landscaping, culinary Rosmarinus (Rosemary) perennial - well-drained, alkaline 6 inches to 7 feet, full sun Zone 7-10 Culinary, landscaping, potpourri Rumex (Sorrel) perennial - well-drained 6 inches to 5 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 3-8 Culinary, dried arrangements Salvia (Sage) annual, biennial, perennial or shrub - average to alkaline, dry, well-drained 1 to 4 feet, full sun Zone 4-11 Landscaping, culinary Satureja (Savory) annual or perennial - well-drained, slightly alkaline 3 to 18 inches, full sun Zone 5-9 Landscaping, culinary Sesamum (Sesame) tender - well-drained 18 to 36 inches, full sun tender Culinary Stachys (Betony) perennial - average, moist, well-drained 1 to 3 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 4-8 Landscaping, culinary Thymus (Thyme) perennial - average to poor, dry, well-drained, alkaline 12 to 18 inches, full sun Zone 4-9 Landscaping, culinary, potpourri Tropaeolum (Nasturtium) annual - average, well-drained, sandy 15 inches to 6 feet, full sun to light shade tender Landscaping, culinary, containers Tulbaghia (Society Garlic) bulb - average, moist, well-drained 1 to 2 feet, full sun to light shade Zone 9-19 Landscaping, arrangements, culinary Here are a few links to further research many of the herbs listed above: Mountain Valley Growers Chef's Garden.com