Herb Garden ?

[nikki]

I am planning to make a dedicated herb garden next year- I have always scatted my herbs in with perrenial flower beds and veggies in the past. I would like to have more variety and try for a traditional herb garden. I found books with designs as far as shapes etc but what I really want it what herbs were traditionally grown together. I have lists of what veggies like what herbs for companion planting but not traditional herb bed companions. Anyone know of any book (or other source) that has info like this?

[Lavandula Girl]

Nikki - traditionally, medicinal herbs were grown seperately from culinary ones. Also, certain herbs were grown near doorways, because of their insect deterring properties. In my own herb garden, I've found that I like to plant the scents I like together, as well as planting herbs I use together in dishes frequently side by side. As a result, my lavender tends to have something lemony growing near it, like lemon thyme, or lemon grass. My oreganoes hang out with the basil most years. If you are doing walkways, and they aren't fully in the sun, corsican mint is great underfoot, because every step smells like creme de menthe. There is rue near my garden hose, because it has bug repellant tendancies, and sage near the parsley to confuse the parsley worms. Pennyroyal is a flea repellent, as is lavender, so they get to be near the door, where the old dog likes to sleep. If you can get ahold of a book that discusses the planting done at the Cloisters, in NYC, that will give you a lot of info too. I'm not sure if there are any in print right now, but when I get a chance, I'll try to get mine back from my friend (she's been borrowing it for 2 years now!) Then I can give you a real title, and maybe an ISBN to look it up with. Rodale's also has a terrific herb book. Have fun! There's nothing better than an herb garden in the afternoon - all warm and buzzing with the bees, and smelling so wonderful!

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

Mmmm, thanks for the book reference Lavandula Girl, I am always wanting to know about the older ways of doing things. I have a dedicated herb garden, but it has room for some more stuff, so I MUST add stuff, of course. Can't leave spaces blank :) So please do post that ISBN when you can.

My lemon thyme is next to the lavender, too :)

I've also heard corsican mint is good planted under a drainspout to prevent soil erosion..I tried it this year, but it got smothered by a zucchini so I don't know if it would've worked well or not. I'll try again next year.

I've read that traditionally, roses were planted in the herb garden. I have two in mine and they seem very happy.

I made a hedge of rosemary along the front of it. It looks pretty traditional, but I don't know if it is :)

[flowerpower]

You might find this link helpful. The museum has a garden where they grow all types of "common" 1850's plants. They give a list of what they have and the traditional uses for each plant.

http://www.prattmuseum.com/exhibits/garden_herbs.htm

[Helen Wong-Joe]

Next year I planned to expand my garden with herbs, too. Now I just have Italian Oregano and Lemon Thyme. It's not doing me any justices. I need to "step out of my box" and try different herbs. Any suggestions?

[Lavandula Girl]

For culinary use, I suggest basil, beebalm (bergamot), chamomile, sage, lemon grass, coriander, dill, tarragon, rosemary, and a bunch of others, but this is a start! For medicinal use, hyssop, lavender (of course!), horehound, and feverfew. There are also some that are just sweet, and can be used to make wines, candies and vinegars, like violets and sweet woodruff. My herb and flower gardens are my favorite parts of the yard, even though I love my veggies! Remember to give most of your herbs room to grow - they like to get big, at least most of them!

[Helen Wong-Joe]

Thanks Lavandula Girl. If they grow big then I will not have enough room to grow them all. My garden is kinda small and I don't want to take away my veggies. I love my veggie garden.

[Lavandula Girl]

Do the lemongrass, chamomile, coriander, and violets in containers! Rosemary, sage and lavender can go almost anywhere it's hot and sunny - put them where there are no veggies. (They'll do the heat in a way your tomatoes couldn't stand.) Sweet woodruff would be happy under a tree somewhere, in dappled shade. I'll bet you can fit some of these in where the space is just weird, too. Have fun with them! Lots of herbs are happy tucked in between your veggies, too, and the veggies may be better for it as well.

[nikki]

I have always scattered my herbs in with my flowers and veggies and will still do some even after I have a dedicated herb garden- I try to companion plant as best as I can. I always plant my basils with my tomatoes- I did sweet, mammoth and lemon (my favorite) this year. I grow summer savory with my beans every year. Dill goes with my brocoli and califlower. Chives are by some roses. Nasturtiums go with my sqaush. I have marigolds scattered throughout the garden. I currently have my lavender in with my perennials as well as my planted coriander/cilantro. When the cilantro flowers it is very pretty I think and I put it in flower arrangments in addition to eating it. Borage I originally planted with my tomatoes (should deter tom horn worm and improve growth and flavor- I have read) but it reseeds prolifically every year (I did a seperate post about this!). We have chamomile and catnip growing all over-it was here when we moved in. I have dill, marigolds and cilantro that reseed themselves every year throughout my garden. I usually just let them grow. You can put a lot of these herbs in without taking away from your veggies and then they are right there to pick when you harvest too!

I want a dedicated herb area for more variety. My oldest son (5) and I went to the nursery last week with all the varieties of thyme and sage it inspired me! Plus I just really like the idea of an herb garden because as Lavandula Girl said "There's nothing better than an herb garden in the afternoon- all buzzing with the bees and smelling so wonderful!" :)

I actually have a question about the chamomile that grows wild 'round here. It is low growing and tolerates poor dry soil. It is all over our driveway and smells wonderful when you drive on it. It was here when we moved in. Anyone know what kind it is? Is it native to North America and Iowa or was it introduced? I know when I was a little girl in North Dakota at my grandparents house it grew all over there too. Is it real chamomile or something else?

[GeorgeSims]

My wife is the cook in the family, but I like the herbs that just smell good. My favorites are lemon balm, lemongrass, and mint (which must be STRICTLY contained!!).

[Lavandula Girl]

"I actually have a question about the chamomile that grows wild 'round here. It is low growing and tolerates poor dry soil. It is all over our driveway and smells wonderful when you drive on it. It was here when we moved in. Anyone know what kind it is? Is it native to North America and Iowa or was it introduced? I know when I was a little girl in North Dakota at my grandparents house it grew all over there too. Is it real chamomile or something else?"

What you have sounds like roman chamomile - the one most often referred to as real chamomile - a low growing perennial plant. There is also german chamomile, which is a different plant, and annual. To be fair, though, there are also a variety of related "weed plants" that are chamomile look-alikes, but I'm fairly certain that if it looks and smells like Chamaemelum nobile, that's what it probably is. Roman chamomile is naturalized here, but native to Europe and Africa (Asia too?). If you really want to be sure before ingesting any, take it to the local extension center to be ID'd. I know it's considred an invasive weed by some, because it's so prolific, but I think you're lucky to have it growing wild - use it if you can!

[Lavandula Girl]

Haven't heard back from my friend with my book, but went through others I had for info. Try "Herb Garden Design" by Clive Nichols. Published by MacMillan, 1995, ISBN number 0-02-860358-3. It has knot gardens, and other herb gardens designed in it. There's also a great table of herbs, both in English and with their botanical names, listing their growth habits, zones, propogation method, etc. There are photos and drawings of some of the most famous herb gardens, along with planting schemes. I've referred to this book pretty often. It doesn't really give info on what the herbs are used for, but that can be referenced elsewhere as well.

[bluelacedredhead]

Flowerpower, Cook link. TY, I love reading about historical sites.

[onmyknees]

i have only just begun to work with herbs. My hubby when cutting wood for winter saved the hollow pieces of logs and we stood them on end in the yard where there were rocks or stumps that eat the mower nailed slabs from the local sawmill and filled with dirt. I grow sage oregaino thyme tansy and mint in these. this year we created a rock garden from the rocks dug up when the road crew paved our road. I added rosemary. The Tansy and mint have taken over the bed between the logs and slabs so these will need to be moved they consumed the lemon balm and the oregano and mint have jumped ship and are now in the yard. I plan to move the lavender to the rock garden and plant some feverfew in there too. I need to reorganize the herbs for sure. I can't seem to get the wild cammomile to transplant into a tilled soil I love its pineapple scent. But I will try again maybe we will get enough rain next year

[Lavandula Girl]

The hollow tree trunk pieces are great, aren't they? I got some from a friend a couple years ago, and have french tarragon and silver thyme in one - I add begonias in summer and it really looks pretty. I also found that hens and chicks look really nice in them. Of course, that isn't an herb, but it'll tie in with that rock garden as well!