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 as well as medicinal herbs, which may be enjoyed for personal use, given to friends and family, or even sold for profit. However, growing an herb garden for the first time may be quite frustrating if you end up committing a few classic pitfalls. Here are five common mistake new herb gardeners make, as well as how to avoid them:
1.) Failing to plan your herb garden. When you are first starting out, it may be tempting to go to the nearest plant nursery and buy every herb that appeals to you. Don’t do this! Different plants have different needs – one herb may require moderately dry soil and plenty of sunlight, where another one may thrive in a moist environment that’s mostly in the shade. Satisfying the needs of both herbs may be an extremely challenging, if not impossible, task to handle. Figure out what plants you’d like to grow and for what purpose – whether culinary or medicinal. Stick to a few staple herbs that you will be able to use regularly.
2.) Growing from seed. The needs of a seed are very intricate: where to plant, when to plant, how deep in the ground to plant, how much to water, so on and so forth. An herb is in its most fragile state when it is a seed, which is something that many newbie gardeners may not be willing or able to deal with. It would be far easier to buy healthy seedlings from a plant nursery – the hardest work has already been done for you. Look for bright, healthy seedlings, and avoid any that appear withered or sickly.
3.) Failing to properly water your herbs. Watering an herb garden is not the same as watering houseplants – while houseplants may be able to thrive on twice-weekly watering, herbs may need to be watered daily in order to thrive. On the flipside, be careful not to overwater as to drown the plant. Be sure to research and meet your herb’s specific needs.
4.) Not harvesting enough. One of the best ways to ensure you get the most from your herbs is to… harvest them! Harvesting encourages new growth by setting back a plant’s growth cycle, causing it to stay full and bushy. Otherwise, plants continue to grow upward but may look sparser over time. Prune your plants often, and look for creative ways to use them.
5.) Usage of chemicals. While using commercial pesticides may be a surefire way to kill aphids and other nuisances, you will not want to put any harsh chemicals on a plant you or your family may later ingest. You may try using a mild, natural soap so long as it drips off, or you may consider adding mint or lavender to your garden – both herbs are known for repelling pests such as moths, aphids and flea beetles.
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