Go for a bee-friendly herb garden
Bees and butterflies love herbs: flowering herb plants are packed with nectar. They are especially happy with Marjoram, Thyme, Fennel, Rosemary and Fennel. Dill, Mint and Lavender are also real toppers for butterflies and bees. It goes without saying that you should especially plant herbs in your garden that you yourself like! Search through our PlantEncyclopedia look up herbs, read what species there are and how best to care for them.
Sowing garden herbs yourself
Of course, you can buy raised herb plants at the garden center. But it is much more fun and also less expensive to sow your herbs yourself. Everyone has small pots or an empty egg carton left over. Sow the herbs with enough space between them in sowing soil that you have moistened a bit. Water regularly (not a whole slosh but a gentle sprinkling!) and before you know it, something will start to germinate. If there is no more night frost, put the herb cuttings outside.
Additional seeding tips
- If you're of the impatient variety, start with cress. This is a super-fast grower and contains many vitamins.
- Put your pots of seeds on the windowsill in a sunny spot.
- Did you sow too many herbs of the same species out of enthusiasm? Trade some of the cuttings with people in your area to add some variety.
Garden cress grows ultra-fast and is very healthy
Outdoor herb garden
Many herbs can stand in full sun because of their Mediterranean origins. Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary and Lavender do you a favor with a sunny, dry spot. But Coriander and Garlic, among others, need a little more moisture. And Parsley likes the (semi-)shade. To make herbs grow optimally in the open ground, first shovel the soil well. Then use compost or organic manure to enrich the soil. Plant the cuttings or plantlets in neat rows with adequate spacing between them.
Risk of overgrown herbs
Some herbs like mint grow quickly, but because of this they can overgrow the place if you are not careful. Mint is a versatile herb that bees also love. If you want to prevent this herb from taking over your garden, put mint in a pot. Be careful with oregano as well. This herbaceous plant should ideally be placed on the side of your container or garden so that it can grow over the edge.
An herb garden but small in size?
Don't have a big garden? No problem, because there is always room for an herb garden. Set up a large container for all your herbs, or work with a number of pots. Even on a balcony you can grow herbs! An advantage of an herb garden in pots is that you can offer each herb the most optimal care and location. In general, though, potted herbs need more frequent watering than herbs in the open ground.
No room in the garden? A large vegetable garden tub provides the solution
The herb garden in winter....
Not all herbs are hardy. If it doesn't freeze too hard, there are species that will survive, such as Lavender, Thyme and Rosemary. Soft herbs such as Chives are better put indoors in winter.
In winter put chives inside for a while
Not too lavish with water
Most herbs are not fond of wet feet. So be sure not to give them too much water. If your herbs are in a pot, make sure that excess water can drain through a hole in the bottom.
Pruning herbs
By harvesting regularly, the herbs don't shoot through and you prevent blooms. This way the herbs keep their intense, delicious flavor. By pruning, the herbs naturally sprout again and you get a full herb plant. If flowers do appear, bees and butterflies will be especially fond of them.
Additional tips on the herb garden
Basil
- This herb is a delicious seasoning! Did you know that there are as many as 150 varieties of basil? And that bees love the flowers of basil? If you want to learn how to grow basil, read our blog post specifically on this topic.
Coin
- Mint is a real fast grower. Do you have a lot of mint in your vegetable garden and want to make someone else happy with it? You can propagate this plant by tearing the root ball. You can also easily take cuttings. In our blog post special about growing mint you can read all about it.
Do you feel like creating a new garden design for your yard?
