The Beginner's Herb Garden: An Herb Society of America Guide

Cultivation & Propagation

Planting

When transplanting outdoors, dig the hole, loosen the plant's roots if they are tightly wound, and set the plant at the bottom so that the soil is at the same level as it was in the pot. The soil should just reach the crown of the plant, the area between the roots and the stem. If your hole is too deep, fill it to the appropriate level and try again. Firm the soil around the plant and water thoroughly. When moving a plant to a pot, water it well and then allow the soil to become partially dry so that root hairs will develop.

New plants need special attention to watering until they have become established. Annual herbs often require more water than perennial herbs, such as thyme and lavender, which prefer a drier soil. It is a good idea to plan your garden by grouping plants with similar water
needs together or near each other.

Keeping a Garden Record

A garden record can be a valuable aid for the present season and also for years to come. At the beginning of the gardening year, start a small notebook and record the garden dimensions, exposure and planting plan. Enter the frost dates, when the soil was first worked, when each herb first bloomed, and when each herb was harvested through the season. Note when and where seeds and plants were purchased and what kinds of fertilizer were used, if any. As these records accumulate over the years, they also become an interesting diary of what has been accomplished. If such extensive record keeping is not your style, jot short notes on your calendar and save these for reference.

Next topic: Mulching

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