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What are your tips for growing herbs?

PickedHerbs.jpegSome great tips can be found in these Workshop guides for making a raised garden bed, growing in an old wheelbarrow, or growing herbs indoors.

 

Bunnings offers a large range of herbs to choose from, such as chives, dill, coriander, rosemary, oregano, basil and parsley. Personally, I'd suggest you start with parsley, mint and rosemary as it would be hard to imagine anyone not being able to grow them! - Jason

 

The best way is to start off small and see how you go. A small raised garden bed would be perfect to start with. It certainly would be hard to keep the ‘locals’ visiting and feasting on them. - mich1972

 

My advice is to start with herbs that won’t bolt in the sun. Some herbs like parsley, basil, mint and loose leaf lettuces prefer shade. The tougher stem type herbs like rosemary and thyme do better and thrive in full sun. - Pelzy76

 

I don't want to jinx myself, but this year for the very first time, I think I have managed to grow basil from seed. I've been lucky to have a very productive herb garden but I've never had much luck with basil or coriander. I'm not sure if it's the location or the watering regime but I'm determined to keep on trying.

 

If I had to rank herbs from easiest to hardest, I would say:

 

EASIEST | Rosemary > Mint > Oregano > Parsley > Thyme > Chives > Dill > Basil > Coriander | HARDEST - JaneK

 

Coriander was hard and also never grew much until I stumbled on this weird method of just sprinkling the seeds on top of the sugarcane mulch (there is potting mix underneath the mulch) and lightly smooshed the mulch over with my fingertips to slightly cover the seeds and watered every few days. I don’t know why but it just works for me.

 

Found this method when I went away and my coriander plants went to seed. Rather than yanking the plant out and starting again, I just pulled the seeds off the plant and sprinkled on top of the mulch and was pleasantly surprised when they started growing by themselves. - Rach23

 

Parsley (Italian and curly leaf): After Initially growing in the garden, they now self seed everywhere, so when anyone wants parsley they know I'll have some growing.

 

Mint: Grown in pots. Keep it moist and trimmed and will produce plenty. Generally plenty on hand. Don't let it get into the garden beds as it is very invasive.

 

Mustard greens: I grow in tubs and use the leaves when small to mix with other herbs. Will grow large and self seeds easily.

 

Thyme: Grown in tubs and will self seed if conditions right.

 

Chives/Garlic Chives: Normally easy to grow either in pots or a herb patch. This year had no end of trouble with black Aphids. Cut back hard and will reshoot. Can get a bit invasive if let to seed.(especially the garlic chives)

 

All plants run to seed sometime or other. They will germinate anywhere they can if the conditions are right, especially herbs and some can get very invasive.

 

If you don't want them to spring up in all the nooks and crannies around your garden, then you'll have to remove the plant or seed heads, unless you want them everywhere.

 

Don't forget to save some seeds for the next sowing. You can do this by tying a bag or something like that, over the seed head to catch the seed. - bergs

 

It's been a mixed bag in my experience but here is my list. Though I can't say I'm ever deterred from trying again with the hardest ones. 

 

Thyme > Rosemary > Mint > Oregano > Parsley > Dill > Chives > Basil - Chaks_DIY

 

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