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When you think of herbs, what comes to mind? Fragrance? Flavor? Color? Texture? Herbs delight our senses, enhance our moods, and add zest to our foods. In addition, they are easy to grow and fun to use. Herbs can grow in small pot or containers, sprawl free form in landscapes, or grow in neatly trimmed beds or plots. If the only space you have is a sunny windowsill, you can still grow herbs.
Which herbs to choose?
The herbs you choose depend on how you plan to use them and how much space you have for them to grow. If fragrance is what you're after, choose plants with the smells that sooth or delight you and plant them by an open window, deck or patio setting where you can enjoy their wafting aromatic perfume. If you plan to cook with herbs, list those you use most frequently and plant them in containers or a small plot convenient to your kitchen door. If landscape color and texture are your goals, you have a wealth of pleasing hues and heights to choose from. If you plan a windowsill garden, choose small plants such as chives, rosemary, thyme and parsley. Plants that grow larger than 12 inches when mature are probably unmanageable for most windowsill gardens. Some herbs are annuals (life cycle is one year, such as oregano or basil), while others are perennial (grow multiple seasons, such as sage or fennel). Be sure and consider the mature size and height of plants when choosing their locations.
Acquiring plants
Annuals can be started from seed that is sown directly into the garden after frost danger is past. Plants can also be started indoors right now for transplanting outside in late May after gradual hardening off. See fact sheet 7.409, Growing Plants From Seed for more information.
Another way to obtain perennial herbs is to ask your neighbor if they are willing to share with you. If you choose to buy your plants from a nursery, examine the plants for health. By all means, inhale the plant's aroma, but don't disfigure the plant by ripping off leaves to crush or taste. Merely brushing the foliage gently with your finger will release the plant's pungent essence.
How to grow
Herbs need sun, and soil preparation, as with all gardening, is key to establish healthy plants. Care must be taken in our Colorado clay soils to amend the chosen area with organic matter. This will improve the soil's drainage so our plants do not sit in water, drowning their roots. CSU Extension fact sheets 7.222, Soil: The Key to Successful Gardening and 7.235, Choosing a Soil Amendment on soil preparation give more information on this topic. Mulching will help reduce weeds and retain soil moisture through our windy, arid summers. Grass clippings are a readily available choice for mulch, just sprinkle a thin layer around plants after mowing your lawn. Other mulch choices are discussed in fact sheet 7.214, Mulches for Home Grounds. Once established, herbs need little care other than water (drip lines work best) and fertilizer.
Harvesting
Herbs are best gathered just after the morning dew has evaporated off the plant. Some varieties should be harvested just before the plant begins to bloom (such as basil, fennel, mint, sage, savory, marjoram and tarragon) while with others (such as rosemary and thyme) you may want to clip the tops when they are blooming, harvesting the flowers with the leaves. Wash, drain, then pat dry. Leaves can removed gradually from the plant for immediate use to add mouthwatering flavor to your chosen recipes. Plants will continue to produce over many weeks if you don't remove all the foliage at once.
For information on gardening topics, please contact the Colorado Master Gardeners in Boulder County at 303-678-6238.
For more information on Gardening, contact your
local Colorado State University Extension office. |
