Advice on growing herbs for the very first time

[Seedy]

Hi all,

I am new to this and have never grown herbs (or anything for that matter) before. I feel inspired to start growing my own herbs and wondered if anyone could offer guidance on where I would be best to start? Should I buy seeds or plants? What compost should I use? What's the easiest herb to start with? Can herbs be grown all year round?

I live in South East England, so it's pretty warm down here. I don't have a garden, just a small piece of outside space that gets relative amounts of sunlight. I would like to grow herbs in pots. I would be able to grow them indoors but worry about my cat, as she enjoys eating them. I also live in a tiny flat and there isn't much room or sunlight.

Any help to get me started would be really appreciated. Maybe I should just start with one pot and see how that goes.

Thanks

Jo :-)

[lisa4star]

Hi Jo,

I'm fairly new to this as well and I have had trouble in the past growing herbs but succeeded this year. I disregarded what the packets said about the quantity to sow. I've started sowing half the packet per pot (just use a mid price compost), then your supposed to use a propagator I think but I just put a freezer bag over the pot until they germinate, watering when required. Condensation builds up in the bag so you may find you might not need to water them every day.

I've grown loads of basil from seed this year and made pesto. I buy other herbs in pots and plant out. Sage grows very well. Parsley only lasts a couple of years (discovered this this year), I'm no good with coriander, chives thrives as well as thyme, oregano and mint. That's all I have tried so far. Going to try tarragon and sorrel next.

Just make sure you put them in a nice sunny spot. Another thing I don't do what the packet says as I find it unnecessary is repotting the seedlings. Just make sure you use a pot large enough to keep them full term and it isn't required to repot the seedlings.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Little tom]

Hi Jo,

To add to Lisa's comments I've got a couple of things...Stuff I wish I had known when I started growing herbs. I'm not an expert (my mint just died when it's supposed to be an easy herb!), but that's what I learnt so far. I hope I won't be too long:

Can herbs be grown all year round?
To my knowledge, only if they are grown indoors. But most herbs are likely to do less well indoors as outdoors (they are likely to have smaller pots and run out of steam and root space indoors).
That said, some herbs like basil or coriander are not expected to last more than a year outdoors anyway (they're called annuals). Similar for parsley (lasts 2 years).

For hardy herbs that can survive winter well, like thyme, chives, mint (they're called hardy perennials) they prefer to be outdoors, and if so, you won't have to look after them so much. Most outdoor herbs are best started in spring though (basil, chives, lemon coriander). Parsley and leaf coriander can be sown now, I think. For outdoor herbs that are here to stay, choose a pot that's deep enough! (30 cm deep or so). Oh, and don't forget to add a layer or rocks (or polystyrene bits) at the bottom of the container to help drainage.

- where I would be best to start?
Choose the herbs you like most Most herbs will be happy as long as you can provide a sunny spot. Chives can cope with a bit of shade, and mint does definitely prefer a bit of shade because it likes moisture.

- Should I buy seeds or plants?
You have more choice and variety if you start from seeds (e.g. I wanted a purple basil but it's hard to find as a plant). I think basil, chives, parsley and coriander as the least hassle to start from seed. For things like rosemary, thyme, mint, bay...etc I'd start from a plant it's less fuss.

- What compost should I use?
Nothing fancy; peat free if you can. For 'dry' herbs like thyme, rosemary, chives, definitely don't get something too rich; add some grit to the compost to dilute it and help drainage.
For lush herbs like coriander, parsley, mint etc... prefer a richer soil.

- What's the easiest herb to start with?
Most are not fussy!
Coriander is a bit fussy: it needs a deep pot for sure, a rich soil, a good sun exposure, but if it gets too much heat if will bolt (i.e. will start to make fennel-like leaves, will flower and set seed, then die).

Right, I hope this helps! Sorry I've written so much!
Good luck

[Nicola_D]

I'd definately recommend chives, I planted some from seed last year and thought they had died off over summer - imagine my surprise when they grew back really thick and lush this spring! i've used them loads. I did read somewhere though not to harvest chives too early when grown from seed- better to let them get a good strong root system first.

I planted some dill a few weeks ago (a bit late in the season but I had the seeds and a spare pot so I thought I'd give it a try and they've come up really well too)

Nicola

[GMB27]

Originally Posted by Nicola_D

I'd definately recommend chives, I planted some from seed last year and thought they had died off over summer - imagine my surprise when they grew back really thick and lush this spring! i've used them loads. I did read somewhere though not to harvest chives too early when grown from seed- better to let them get a good strong root system first.

I planted some dill a few weeks ago (a bit late in the season but I had the seeds and a spare pot so I thought I'd give it a try and they've come up really well too)

Nicola

I experienced this too! A real suprise and something i certainly didnt expect!

[golden14]

I am glad you started this post as I was just about to ask the same question, I have tried growing them before and they seem to shoot, do well for two weeks and then just die, making me feel like a plant serial killer when it comes to herbs