For the herb gardener, as for gardeners in general, March in the northern hemisphere brings the start of serious seed-sowing. Spring is coming. In many areas it will still be too cold for outdoor sowing but small trays and pots of seedlings will be growing away on many a kitchen windowsill by the end of the month.

This also is the time of year when the indoor propagator comes into its own, whether unheated or warmed by gentle heat from an electric element built into the base - or in my case an unheated tray sitting comfortably on top of the floor-standing central-heating boiler.

As the month progresses young plants (for example those from last year’s cuttings that have been protected over the winter) can now be planted out, Rosemary, sage and chives are among these. A visit to your local garden centre or plant nursery should give some additional ideas at this time of year. Don’t hesitate to discard any that look dry or have little sign of fresh growth; pick out the healthiest plants.

It is also time to be dividing larger clumps of establish plants including your various varieties of mint, especially if another year is likely to result in overcrowding of these energetic fast growers. Remember that you can check their rather rapacious colonising habits by planting small clumps in large plastic pots and immersing these in the garden soil.

March is also the time for a survey of your pots. Have any of those left outdoors through the winter suffered from frost damage? Even “frost-proof” pots can sometimes fail during a severe cold period. Do any of your older potted herbs need a bit of TLC to get them off to a good start this year? This is the time for Spring cleaning of your containers.

And what about plant stands? If they’re wooden, check for any rot or joint failure that might be weakening them. If they’re metal check for rust. In either case it could at the very least be time to get out a paint brush.

If you’re keen on small-scale garden construction projects, how about building a widow-box so that you can have fresh herbs growing right outside your kitchen window? There’s an excellent book of practical herb garden projects like this mentioned in an earlier post: “Gardening with Herbs“.

March is one of those months in which a little effort now can pay immense dividends later in the year.

- David Murray -

Today’s recommended garden equipment website (UK):   Ferndale Lodge

Tags: Chives, garden construction projects, herb garden, Herb Garden Projects, Herbs in Containers, March, Mint, Propagator, Rosemary, Sage, Spring

In my part of the world (central England) February is often a dismal month of cold, damp mists and the days still short. However, the herb gardener can brighten up the season with thoughts of what is to come.

If you’ve not already done so in January, plan what you’re going to grow this year and order your herb seeds now. (Click on the above link to find recommended online sources in both England and North America).

Out of doors, when the weather is kind, you can be preparing the soil. If you’re changing the use of an area you may have to do some energetic digging. Removal of weeds, especially those awkward perennials with underground stems and widespread roots, can be time consuming but in the long run the effort will be repaid.

Double digging will improve drainage, and while you’re doing this you can mix in some sharp sand or grit if necessary. Depending on what you are planning to grow you might also wish to add some garden compost or manure to enrich the soil, although many herbs are perfectly happy in poor soils.

Continue also with any construction projects started in January - or start them if they never passed the thinking stage! How about making some window boxes in which to combine herbs for the kitchen and flowers for decoration?

Toward the end of the month, if you live in an area where severe future cold is unlikely, you can start to divide clumps of perennial herbs that have grown too big and need some rejuvenation. In the greenhouse you can be commencing the sowing season, and also rooting some early cuttings.

Tags: February, garden calendar, gardening, growing herbs, herb garden, herb seeds

In the northern hemisphere January is a time of preparation for a new herb gardening year.  Depending on the weather, a certain amount of tidying and general maintenance can be done, but most work will be done indoors.

Some herbs such as parsley, chives and mint may have been potted up in the autumn for growing in an indoor herb garden, possibly on the kitchen windowsill, and hopefully you’ll have a plentiful supply.   Others such as sage, rosemary and thyme can be picked outdoors fresh for the kitchen even in the January cold.

If you’re intending to start a new herb garden in the coming year now is the time to work on the detailed plans.  Start by  measuring out the plot.  Calculate what materials you’ll need, such as timber or other edging for your beds, and chippings for your paths.

Order your herb seeds in January so as to be well prepared for the sowing season.  It won’t be long before you’ll be sowing the first of the annuals in the greenhouse, in a table-top propagator or in a warm place near the kitchen window.

If you are planning an outdoor herb garden in containers such as terracotta pots you might later want to arrange these on a wooden shelf structure.  This can be especially helpful to reduce the floor space used (for example in a patio herb garden) or to raise them to more accessible heights.  January is an ideal time for this kind of small-scale construction work as it can be carried out indoors.

Tags: garden calendar, gardening, growing herbs, herb garden, herb seeds, herbs, January