'miniature' herb garden

[vinodkumar]

Hi
I would like to "create" an herb garden this spring/summer in an area that gets full sun against a white stucco building - it does get really hot in my little back yard. The space I'm looking at would include a small raised bed that has a 3 ft. diameter - it is in the shape of an octagon. I would like to put annual herbs in there - ones that would work well added to salads. There is a space outside the octagon that is about 3ft x 4 ft that I would like to encorporate some perenials that "go with herbs". I have the beginnings of a rose/cottage garden across from this area with 4 rose bushes, some lupin, minature delphinium, globe flower and I hope to put a lily in this summer and 1 clematis. My entire back yard only measures 17 x 17.5 ft [townhouse] is fully fenced and I want it to look like one garden bed.

[kirsty b]

With the octagon shape bed, have you thought of dividing it up and making a herb wheel?
Good all round herbs would be basil, thyme, marjoram.
Mint is a perrenial and roots would need to be contained as it would soon go for world domination starting with your entire garden. Lemon balm is pretty but roots would need to be contained as with mint, Dill and Fennel are fairly easy to grow. Chives are a perrenial, so once established are there to stay and the more you cut them, the better they do. Also very pretty if seed heads are left to form.

I grow my herbs at home in my front garden. At the mo I have several lavenders, lots of roses, nasturtiums (flowers and leaves edible but have not tried them yet) clary sage, as well as parsley, thyme, dill, marjoram, bay, chives, mint, rosemary, sage and russian tarragon.
Rosemary and bay can make lovely bushes if regularly gently trimmed.
You could also grow beetroot or some of the coloured chards in a herb/flower garden as they are quite an attractive foliage as well as being a productive plant

Happy growing
Kirsty