“I’m
not good with herbs”,
“I think it died because of me”,
“They don’t grow for me”
Fear not! If you have
ever muttered these words as a frustrated herb grower during the winter months
it more than likely wasn’t your gardening skills that have caused your
problems. Not all herbs grow all the
time. Some herbs don’t grow well in
winter at all, some even go dormant.
Herbs are amongst the easiest, most pleasurable and
beneficial plants to grow when you are pointed in the right direction. They are truly hardy plants when planted at
the right time of year, and in the right conditions.
Here are a few tips for success in your winter herb
garden.
-
Only
plant herbs that will grow and survive in Winter. “What herbs grow well in Winter?” you ask –
not Basil. Basil unfortunately unless in
a hot house or similar location will not survive winter. Its’ Winter counterpart that in turn will not
survive well in summer and will bolt to seed is Coriander. Some herbs you should be looking for are
Coriander, Thyme, Winter Tarragon, Rosemary, Chervil, Parsley, Perpetual Spinach,
Roquette, Winter Savory, Chicory and Sage to stick to the basic culinary needs
and a good start to your winter herb garden.
-
Remember
not all herbs last more than a year or season. Know your annuals, biennials and short lived
perennials this will save you a lot of heart ache and belief you are
responsible for your herbs not surviving.
An Annual herb goes through
its life cycle from germination to death within one year e.g. Coriander, Dill. A Biennial
herb goes through its life cycle from germination to death in two growing
seasons e.g. some varieties of Parsley.
A Perennial herb lives for
several to many seasons going through a number of flowering and seeding cycles
in that period e.g. Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Lemongrass.
Always remember there are short and long lived perennials too.
-
Position and
Watering. Many Mediterranean and
woody herbs like rosemary, Lavender and Thyme need a sunny well drained
position as they originated from dry climates.
Watering should be cut back in winter to avoid soggy feet and rot. Overwatering and poor drainage during winter
is the number one cause of woody herbs not making it through the winter months,
particularly during heavy rainfall periods. Many soft leaf herbs such as Coriander,
Chervil or Dill are happy to be positioned in full sun to part shade in winter as
long as they are well drained and only need to be kept moist not wet.
-
Growing
in Pots. Pots are a great way to
ensure good drainage and if your area is prone to frost, tender soft herbs can
be moved closer to the house or under shelter to avoid frost damage. Potted culinary herbs can also be grown on a
sunny window sill in the kitchen so they are close at hand. When growing in pots remember to feed your
herbs an organic fertiliser for lush growth.
Also make sure your pot is big enough to allow the roots of the herb
enough space to develop.
Hopefully this will point you in the right direction and
remember we can be found for a chat about herbs or vegies at Sacred Tree
Markets this Sunday
