Herbs smell good, are very useful, and are among the oldest plants grown
By Lorraine Kiefer
When ever I think about writing about herbs the lyrics of the old Simon and Garfunkel, "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" run through my head. I usually begin with the words and melody of this old folk song in my mind. I love herbs because they are fun to grow. They not only smell good, they are useful, and they are among the oldest plants grown by man (or woman).
I remember my Italian grandmother having rows in her garden and allowing me to pick the basil. The slightest smell of basil makes me forever remember her huge garden and the hour before dinner at her house in summer. My Polish Babci had the biggest, most beautiful dill I have ever seen and that smell also brings me back to her garden and the crocks of pickles filled with dill. Herbs have way of doing that you know.
An herb garden can be as small as a barrel or window box, as fancy as a bricked path knot garden, or as casual as some generous rows planted among the tomatoes and beans. But an herb garden is so essential to a home and family.
There is lavender for love and fragrance. Make potpourri with it or tie it into bath bags. There is basil for all the Italian dishes, sage for immortality and Thanksgiving dinner. How about Rosemary for remembrance and for the pork roast for Sunday dinner. Fragrant mint for tea, chives for the baked potato, dill to toss with sour cream on cucumbers and lots and lots of parsley for just about everything you serve. Sweet woodruff can go in the May wine with strawberries, and thyme has many uses too. The list goes on and on and on and on.
A Triple Oaks Nursery employee helps with the herb planting. Plan to put your herb pot or plot in full sun. Make sure the soil is well drained and has some humus mixed in. If you want a raised bed you can get three 8-foot ties to make a good starter herb garden. Cut one in half and make the slightly raised bed 8-by-8-by-4 feet. More ties will make the bed higher, but you have to secure these together.
Be sure to remove any sod or weeds, place the ties in place and fill in with good compost, topsoil and potting soil. Mix well because herbs like a friable well-drained soil. A small garden this size is easy to care for and can be kept weed free and harvested 10 minutes a day or less than an hour a week.
A few perennial herbs can be planted in the center and they will remain for years. Try lavender and a sage -- both like full sun and well-drained soil. Then add a couple of boxes of parsley or plant a pack of parsley seed. No one ever has enough parsley and sometimes we have to share with the larvae of the beautiful swallowtail butterfly.
Around the edges, plant some permanent perennial thyme, choosing lemon and other varieties as well as the old-fashion thyme. Plant pansies and nasturtiums in between the thyme to have edible blooms for salad and cakes. Both will cascade over the edges of the ties, giving the garden a quaint look.
Add other perennials, such as a chive plant, a rosemary or two, and perhaps a lovage and tarragon. Be sure to have several kinds of basil and plenty of dill. Sprinkle seeds of cilantro, arugula, and more dill in empty areas.
Save oregano or mint for a place outside of this bed where it can spread in all its glory.You can plant it along the edges of the ties so you do not have to mow or edge. Remember, its blooms are also a butterfly magnet and it can be treated as a blooming perennial in any garden.
This selection of herbs is usually good for a small or first herb garden. Add other favorites of your family.
Most of the herbs can be purchased as plants. But others like dill and basil do real well from seed. I love to plant seeds and experience the miracle of life as that first tender green tip emerges. A thrill that many remember from childhood gardens, this experience is usually renewed each spring.
Some seeds need a cool time in which to germinate (parsley, dill, arugula, cilantro, lettuce, etc.), but others need warmth (basil) and some like poppies need to be planted at the time they ripen and fall from the plant. Perennials and biennials that bloom in summer (hollyhocks, foxgloves, poppies) usually fit in this last category. These are all herbs and add charm if you can work them in.
Remember, seeds should be kept moist. If that first tiny hair root dries, leaves will not emerge. For healthy plants, have good soil, air circulation, and space between plants. Excellent light, with sunniest southern exposure, will insure sturdy plants. It is important to choose only plants that you need a quantity of or that you want to share such as dill, cilantro, or parsley. Both the dill and cilantro need to be sown every few weeks by scattering seeds in with the mature plants. Do this to have constant crops, since these are such short-lived plants before "going to seed." The seeds of both of these are also used as an herb, but when ripe will also fall to the ground to successfully keep the 'patch' going.
If you are using an old garden for the herb garden, turn the soil on a dry day and add humus, compost, or well-rotted manure. Most South Jersey gardens also need lime and some type of food. It is a good idea to have a soil test if it has never been done. Call your local county extension office to get a soil test bag to send away a soil sample. We add lots of organic material in our gardens, but due to the nature of our very sandy soil, we also use osmocote -- a time-release food -- a few weeks after the seedlings have leafed out.
It is really important to prepare the soil well. Be sure that all the weeds are gone before planting. A freshly tilled garden can be covered with black plastic for a couple of week or so to kill weed seeds. The soil heats up under the black plastic; this forces the seeds to sprout, but the heat and darkness kills them, thus getting rid of weeds organically. Cinder blocks or any weights can be used to keep the plastic tight. When you are ready to plant, rake well and mark the rows with a string.
Spring is an exciting time of the year -- so whether your herb garden is big and old or new and small, dig in! Gardening is great!
If you want to learn more about herbs I will be teaching a six-week class through Gloucester College that will be held at Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. conted.rcgc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=16SPLN100. We will also host our 40th annual herb weekend on May 28 and 29. Sign up for our newsletter at www.tripleoaks.com for more information.
Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.