© Robin Siktberg 200 9

Selecting an area for your herb garden Photo courtesy of Stock X-chng

Garden Planning Maintenance Budget Water Source Light Space Soil Drainage Protection Use Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Maintenance

Budget

Water Source

Light

Space

Soil

Drainage

Protection

Use

Light Will my garden get 4 to 6 hours or more of sunlight? Factor in shade: Structures Trees Trellises Fences Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Will my garden get 4 to 6 hours or more of sunlight?

Factor in shade:

Structures

Trees

Trellises

Fences

Space Start small Containers 4’ x 6’ minimum Size of garden in relation to landscape Can you reach across your garden? Can you maintain your garden? Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Start small

Containers

4’ x 6’ minimum

Size of garden in relation to landscape

Can you reach across your garden?

Can you maintain your garden?

SOIL Soil testing Ph factor Easily determined with soil test Higher than 7.5 use Sulfur Lower than 6.5 add agricultural Lime Acidic soils found in Eastern United States Alkaline soils found in the West Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Soil testing

Ph factor

Easily determined with soil test

Higher than 7.5 use Sulfur

Lower than 6.5 add agricultural Lime

Acidic soils found in Eastern United States

Alkaline soils found in the West

Soil Types Heavy clay soils add organic matter add grit and/or coarse sand raised beds Light, sandy soils add organic matter, humus

Heavy clay soils

add organic matter

add grit and/or coarse sand

raised beds

Light, sandy soils

add organic matter, humus

Drainage Does your site have good drainage? Raise the garden Containers Raised beds Lower the water table Ditches Drains Ponds Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Does your site have good drainage?

Raise the garden

Containers

Raised beds

Lower the water table

Ditches

Drains

Ponds

Use What will I be using my herb garden for? Culinary Pleasure Focal Point Crafts Cut flowers Attracting wildlife Fragrance Children Photo courtesy of Stock-xchng

What will I be using my herb garden for?

Culinary

Pleasure

Focal Point

Crafts

Cut flowers

Attracting wildlife

Fragrance

Children

Preparing the garden area Photo courtesy of Stock-xchng

Site Preparation Mark out the area Remove weeds and grass Dig your soil to at least the depth of your shovel Improve the soil Organic matter Lime Manure Compost Level out soil Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Mark out the area

Remove weeds and grass

Dig your soil to at least the depth of your shovel

Improve the soil

Organic matter

Lime

Manure

Compost

Level out soil

Ready to Plant Seeds Follow the directions Germination Transplants Loosen up roots Soil should reach crown of plant Mulch Photos courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Seeds

Follow the directions

Germination

Transplants

Loosen up roots

Soil should reach crown of plant

Mulch

Fertilizing fertilize lightly in Spring use a slow release fertilizer too much fertilizer affects taste and fragrance container plants need more fertilizer Types to use: *bonemeal *fish *blood *liquid seaweed *comfrey fertilizer Photo courtesy of Stock-xchng

fertilize lightly

in Spring

use a slow release fertilizer

too much fertilizer affects taste and fragrance

container plants need more fertilizer

Plant Selection Individual preference Type of garden Suitability to site Growth habits Special care Start small Keep records Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Individual preference

Type of garden

Suitability to site

Growth habits

Special care

Start small

Keep records

Sweet Basil ( Ocimum basilicum) Annual 1-2’ Well-drained soil Full sun Culinary Foliage/landscaping Seeds, cuttings © Robin Siktberg 2009

Annual

1-2’

Well-drained soil

Full sun

Culinary

Foliage/landscaping

Seeds, cuttings

Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum ) Perennial 10-15” Well-drained soil Full sun Culinary, crafts Divide every two to three years © Robin Siktberg 2009

Perennial

10-15”

Well-drained soil

Full sun

Culinary, crafts

Divide every two to three years

Dill ( Anethum graveolens ) Annual 2-3’ Well-drained soil Full sun May need staking Culinary Self-sows Photo courtesy of stock-xchng

Annual

2-3’

Well-drained soil

Full sun

May need staking

Culinary

Self-sows

Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) Perennial 2’ Well-drained soil Full sun Alkaline, sandy loam Needs winter protection Photo courtesy of stock-xchng

Perennial

2’

Well-drained soil

Full sun

Alkaline, sandy loam

Needs winter protection

Lemon Balm ( Melissa officinalis ) Perennial 1-2’ Full sun to partial shade Well-drained soil Remove spent flowers Can become a nuisance © Robin Siktberg 2009

Perennial

1-2’

Full sun to partial shade

Well-drained soil

Remove spent flowers

Can become a nuisance

Marjoram ( Origanum majorana ) Perennial 8-12” Well-drained soil Full sun Photo courtesy of stock-xchng

Perennial

8-12”

Well-drained soil

Full sun

Oregano ( Origanum vulgare ) Greek oregano is most commonly used for culinary Full sun Well-drained soil © Robin Siktberg 2009

Greek oregano is most commonly used for culinary

Full sun

Well-drained soil

Sage ( Salvia officinalis ) Perennial/Annual 18-30” Well-drained soil Alkaline soil Full sun © Robin Siktberg 2009

Perennial/Annual

18-30”

Well-drained soil

Alkaline soil

Full sun

Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ) Annual or biennial 8” Well-drained , non-acidic soil Full sun Flat leaf variety better for culinary use Slow to germinate Use curly variety for edging/borders Photo courtesy of stock-xchng

Annual or biennial

8”

Well-drained , non-acidic soil

Full sun

Flat leaf variety better for culinary use

Slow to germinate

Use curly variety for edging/borders

Thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) Hardy perennial 8-12” Well-drained soil Full sun Borders/Edging Many varieties: Lemon Creeping Wooly © Robin Siktberg 2009

Hardy perennial

8-12”

Well-drained soil

Full sun

Borders/Edging

Many varieties:

Lemon

Creeping

Wooly

Yarrow ( Achillea sp.) Hardy perennial 2-12” Full sun Well-drained soil Borders Rock gardens © Robin Siktberg 2009

Hardy perennial

2-12”

Full sun

Well-drained soil

Borders

Rock gardens

Containers Scented geraniums ( Pelargonium sp.) Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) Mints ( Mentha sp.) Bay ( Laurus nobilis) © Robin Siktberg 2009

Scented geraniums ( Pelargonium sp.)

Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis )

Mints ( Mentha sp.)

Bay ( Laurus nobilis)

Pruning Improves shape Remove dead material Use proper pruners Cut back weak plants Harvesting is a form of pruning Photo courtesy of Microsoft clipart

Improves shape

Remove dead material

Use proper pruners

Cut back weak plants

Harvesting is a form of pruning

Harvesting Preserve shape Harvest after the dew has dried Take cuttings before the plant blooms Collect in paper bag or basket Photo courtesy of Stock-xchng

Preserve shape

Harvest after the dew has dried

Take cuttings before the plant blooms

Collect in paper bag or basket

ENJOY! Photo courtesy of Stock-xchng