Planting Herbs
Before you start planting your herb garden, it’s important to choose a location that receives plenty of sunlight and has well-drained soil.
NOTE: This is part 3 in a series of 9 articles. For a complete background on how to grow herbs, we recommend starting from the beginning.
If you’re planting your herbs directly in the ground, it’s a good idea to amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve its fertility and texture. Most herbs prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH. You can also add a slow-release fertilizer to provide your herbs with nutrients throughout the growing season.
Alternatively, you can grow herbs in containers, which allows you to control the soil quality and placement. When choosing a container, make sure it has good drainage and is the right size for your plants. Shallow-rooted herbs like basil or chives can do well in smaller pots, while larger herbs like rosemary or thyme will need a larger container.
