Planting Herbs: The Essentials at a Glance

Herbs play an important role in the kitchen. As fresh greens, they complete dishes or give them a special aroma as spices. In addition, many of them have positive effects on our health and can be used as medicinal plants. For every ailment, there is a herb grown, as the saying goes. Many reasons to grow herbs yourself. For this, garden and balcony offer the best conditions. You lay the foundation for a rich harvest when planting herbs already with the sowing. In doing so, it is especially important to consider three aspects:

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• Timing
• Location in the garden and on the balcony
• the substrate

The timing of when you plant your herbs largely determines how abundant the harvest will be. Depending on the plant species, spring and autumn are best suited for this. Ready-made herb pots for the kitchen are available in stores between mid-March and October and can be easily grown in the garden or on the balcony during this period. Alternatively, you can also sow the plants yourself. Of course, it then takes some time for the first seedlings to develop from the seeds.

Perennial varieties like thyme or sage should be planted in the bed as early as possible. If you plant the herbs too late, they will not manage to develop enough roots. The result: they dry out and die. Caution is also advised with frost-sensitive varieties like basil and chives. Plant these herbs only after the last frost has passed.

Herbaceous plants thrive best in a partially shaded to sunny spot. At a location with plenty of sun, you should mainly plant Mediterranean herbs. These include basil, oregano, rosemary, and coriander. Partial shade is preferred especially by chives, parsley, and lovage.

Herbs prefer loose, well-aerated substrates as a base. If you plant herbs in pots in the garden or on the balcony, it is therefore worthwhile to use special herb soil. This helps avoid waterlogging, which most plants cannot tolerate. In the bed, humus-rich garden soil that is permeable and has a normal nutrient content proves to be a suitable foundation. Adjust the substrate additionally to the respective plant species when planting herbs.