The above garden plan is to be used as a general guide. It is not drawn to scale. Varying sizes of plant material are available at Nicholson-Hardie, although not all selections may be available at one time.
Hints for Success with Growing Herbs
- Sow annual herbs in mid to late spring once the soil has warmed up. Raise basil seeds inside in small pots and plant outside in late spring to early summer under protection.
- To make softwood cuttings, prune established plants hard in winter. This encourages vigorous new shoots in spring, which can be used for cuttings.
- Fennel and dill cross breed readily, so try not to plant them next to one another. Dill and coriander should also be kept away from wormwood, which impairs their flavor. Mint species also cross pollinate and may lose their individual flavors if planted too close together.
- The three best herbs for ground cover, edging, or for making minilawns are chamomile, Corsican mint, and creeping thymes. For ground cover, creeping Jenny and pennyroyal are also good.
- Pick herbs regularly, snipping off 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) of the top growth all over the plant. Do not cut into older, woody growth.
- Although most herbs reach perfection around June and their peak flavor just before flowering (this is the best time to pick them for storing and preserving), generally they will be useful during their entire growth period.
