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An Herbal Primer
By Inez Holger
 “God Almighty first planted a garden,” wrote Francis Bacon. In his opinion, lovely flowers and blossoming fruit trees refresh the spirits of man, so why not take the time to plant them? In his massive list of suggested plants he also mentioned rosemary, lavender, sweet marjoram, bay, and wild thyme – common culinary herbs. After years of gardening I have to agree with Bacon, flowering plants do bless the soul, and in the case of herbs, the kitchen, too. As an added perk, herbs require little time to maintain.
For years I planted vegetables in my back yard, but I have found herbs less labor intensive and less expensive to nurture. They are more enjoyable than any other edible crop I've ever grown. Not only do I use the herbs for brining and cooking, I include them in bouquets delivered with home-cooked meals. I dry them for use in my kitchen and to give as gifts, since I have more than I need for my own use. As with zucchini and lemons, there is always enough to give away.
With a few modest sized pots or with a small area of your yard available, you can easily enjoy the blessing of using and sharing herbs, too. Look around at what containers you have available in your house and yard, browse through a list of herbs to see what might interest you, then begin planting. A few tips will help you get started.
Let’s Get Started
Dirt
Each growth zone (1-9) in the United States has unique soil and temperature variables but since herbs have shallow root systems you can grow them in any type of ground that has been slightly amended, as long as the soil drains well. Like vegetables, the majority of herbs do not thrive in soggy areas.
My home sits on a bed of clay, which poses drainage problems, but I plant in higher areas of the yard or where I have mounded soil within a stone border. With the addition of a bag of garden soil and a bag of manure, lightly churned, I have enough good ground (8 inches) above the clay for planting. If you have any questions about how to “fix” your soil for planting, your local cooperative extension agency can help you. 
Pots and Plots
After a back injury several years ago I resorted to planting in 100-gallon bins so I would not have to bend over very much. A back yard excavation from a home improvement provided all the dirt I needed to fill the bins, which stand 2 feet above ground. Twelve-inch pots, or larger, would work just as well. If you have unused buckets, metal washtubs, pails, wheelbarrows, or large plastic storage tubs, poke or drill a few drainage holes in the bottom, fill with dirt, and start planting.
For a small culinary garden to keep inside the home, individual 12-inch pots allow each herb plenty of growing room (except for a bay tree!). Indoor plantings often dry out quickly so check the soil once or twice a week. Do not drench the plant but keep the soil moist. Keep in mind, the smaller the pot, the quicker the soil will dry out.
Most herbs prefer full sun, but a few do better in partial shade, such as angelica, ginger, foxglove and chervil. Part of the joy of growing herbs is the process of learning what works well in your climate and yard. According to gardening books, parsley grows well in full sun, but I have found the Florida summer sun too harsh. I now know to plant parsley in the shadow of taller herbs which provide well needed partial shade.
Seeds and Such
You can plant herbs from seed, but I have enjoyed the quicker and inexpensive route of purchasing one to 3-inch potted transplants. The produce department of my local grocery store carries basil, rosemary, chives, oregano and parsley plants, which I pop into the ground when I get home.
For a greater selection, I visit the garden section of home improvement stores and Wal Mart. For a diverse selection of hard to find varieties at a good price, consider Le Jardin du Gourmet. This small company offers sample seed packets of 500 types of herbs, vegetables and flowers for 35 cents apiece. |
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If you choose to use seeds, plant them in very shallow rows. For tiny seeds such as thyme, marjoram, or savory, simply blend them into the surface soil and lightly water. Use a fine spray or mist so that seeds to not wash away. Spray daily while the seeds germinate.
Healthy Habits
 After planting, herbs grow without much fuss. As for fertilizer, don't bother. If you worked compost or manure into your soil, you don't need anything else. Insects don't pose much of a problem either. They usually ignore herbs.
In the rare case that you encounter a problem, use insecticidal soap purchased from the store or make a solution yourself. To make a garlic spray, chop a head of garlic and soak it in vegetable oil for 8 hours. Mix the oil with an equal amount of water, add 2-3 drops of dish detergent, shake, then spray on affected areas of the plant.
In Florida, most perennial herbs do well year round, although I do cover them with a sheet when hard freezes hit. As for summer conditions, drought can be rough on even the hardiest of plants. With our local watering restrictions, yards and gardens are allowed overhead watering twice a week. When the severe heat of summer hits, I water by hand an extra day if I notice wilt. Usually, it’s the flowers I have planted between the herbs that need more water. Like Bacon, I plant for beauty’s sake, tucking marigolds and nasturtiums between the basil and sage.
Drive-by Drying
As much as I love gardening, I also love to keep it as easy as possible. A few years ago I came across an article by Jim Long in Herb Quarterly, in which he explained the method he used for drying herbs.
Traditionally, he explained, women tied ribbon around bunches of fresh herbs and hanged them upside down in the kitchen (or preferably, in a darkened laundry room). He wanted to present a different method for men who wanted a less fussy way of drying herbs, and it is a method I have adopted as well. I think you will, too.
All you need is a car, a paper grocery bag, a clip, and your herbs.
• First, gather handfuls of one type of herb after the dew has dried on the leaves. If you gather by noon, you will contain more of the essential oils of the plant.
• Second, place the herbs in a grocery bag, fold over the top a few times and clip with a clothespin.
• Third, place the bag in the trunk of your car. After a week, the herbs should be dry and crisp and ready to place in dark colored jars.
I don't think you'll find an easier method. The bags provide the darkened light needed to preserve oils, and the paper absorbs moisture from the leaves. The heat of your trunk does the rest.
What I like most about herbs is that I can rest; no need for intense labor or study. Observation and common sense have proved to be my best guides, along with a patch of amended soil. So go ahead and plant your own herb garden. Snip and eat, cut and dry, or cut and deliver – you'll find plenty of ways to refresh your soul.
Resources
• Basic primer on herbs, easy to understand with ample illustrations: Wild about Herbs by Roger Tabor, Reader’s Digest Books.
• Cooperative Extension System, a nationwide network of local and regional offices staffed by agricultural experts. They can provide specifics about the soil in your area and information on specific planting requirements. Master gardeners often man the phones and can answer any questions you have about herbs and local plants. (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension).
• Gardener’s Supply Company web site. Kitchen garden planting map for a 3x6 bed. One of the 8 plots presented is for an herb garden. (http://www.gardeners.com/Kitchen-Garden-Planner/kgp_home,default,pg.html).
• Yes, there’s an app for that! Depending on the depth of information you want and the price you want to pay, there are several gardening apps for your iPhone, such as Botanical Interests, iGarden USA, and Master Gardener.
Inez Holger writes and gardens in Jacksonville, Florida. She has written for over 15 years for various publications and is currently at work on a book for Christians suffering from depression.
© 2010 by Everyday Education, LLC
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