How to create a fragrant herb bed in the country?

When growing spicy herbs in the country, you cannot plant them all on one bed or flower bed. Each plant has its own requirements for growing conditions - for soil, sun, moisture. In order for each spice to give the maximum aroma, the plant must have an individual approach. You can only group herbs in one place that have similar requirements.

What are spicy herbs

Herbs are aromatic plants that are used to prepare meals and drinks. They are rarely consumed by themselves and are intended to enhance the flavor and flavor of food. In addition, most herbs have medicinal and tonic properties.

To create a garden bed with such herbs in the country, it is advisable to choose a place near the house. This is convenient because in the summer, it is better to use spices fresh, just picked. In addition, such a bed adorns the site, because spicy plants bloom in the middle of summer and exude a pleasant smell at the same time.

The collection of leaves or flowers from all plants is carried out at different times, but there is one rule: the collection is carried out in dry weather, when the dew dries up.

Important!

Two days before the mass collection of raw materials, watering of herbs is stopped.

Rules for creating a bed of herbs

Spicy herbs can be conditionally divided according to several factors:

• annuals and perennials;
• drought-resistant and moisture-loving;
• sun-loving and shade-tolerant.

Annuals and perennials can be grown in the same garden bed and often even saves space. While perennials grow, annuals perfectly close the voids between them.

• Annual herbs: basil, chervil, dill, parsley.
• Perennials, which, depending on the climate, are most often grown as annuals or biennials: sage, fennel, marjoram, parsley.
• Perennials: thyme, oregano, mint, rosemary, melissa.

Herbs with different watering requirements can be planted in the same flower bed. At the same time, their neighborhood is delimited by bumpers made of decorative material, which at the same time will serve as a limiter for watering. The hygrophilous include chervil, marjoram, mint. Plants such as basil, sage, thyme, fennel, oregano, and lemon balm are drought tolerant, and their roots rot when excessive moisture is present.

But sun-loving and shade-tolerant plants will have to be planted in different parts of the garden. Under constant light, most herbs have the greatest accumulation of essential oils in leaves and flowers, but there are plants for which bright light is harmful. Spices such as chervil, arugula, watercress cannot stand the sun.

Spicy herbs look good in a flower bed next to flowering plants. In addition, spices can be grown in pots or containers. In the summer they will decorate the garden, and for the winter they are transferred indoors, placed in a lighted place, where they continue to grow. Many of the herbs are suitable for growing along paths, near a porch, or on a narrow strip of land along a structure or fence.

Description of some types of herbs

In addition to growing conditions, plants differ in the method of reproduction, the timing of the collection of raw materials and the methods of harvesting. Most of them are consumed both fresh and dried or frozen.

• Basil

Basil is a thermophilic annual plant that is afraid of frost and sudden temperature fluctuations. It grows large foliage only in the sun, in the shade the leaves become smaller, and flowering becomes scarce. In regions with warm early spring, seeds are sown outdoors in May. If night frosts are possible, cover the seedlings.In cold areas, they are grown by seedlings. Seeds for seedlings are sown in mid-March, and in the country they are planted in late May or early July, depending on the weather forecast.

When planting between plants, it should be at least 30 cm. When 6-7 leaves are formed, pinch the top. Additional shoots appear very quickly from the lateral sinuses, the bush grows in diameter. You can cut it several times over the summer, leaving a few leaves on the bush. Foliage, twigs, flowers are dried. Dried basil is ground in a coffee grinder or blender.

Minimal care - weeding, loosening. Watering is often impossible - if the ground is constantly wet, the roots begin to rot. In the fall, on the eve of frost, several bushes can be dug up, transplanted into a container with drainage holes and continue growing on the windowsill.

• Sage

Sage is grown not only as a spice, but also as a medicinal plant. This perennial is thermophilic, so in regions with frosty winters it grows as an annual or biennial. In the second case, shelter is needed for the winter.

The place should be sunny, and the soil should allow moisture to pass through well. Sage does not like stagnant water. Leaves are cut off as a spice all season. After flowering, the bush is shortened by half, which provokes the growth of new shoots. For use in cooking in the country, it is enough to plant 2-3 plants.

• Thyme

Thyme (also called thyme) is an evergreen, low shrub that spreads on the ground, and its shoots take root by themselves, touching the soil. The distance between plants should be at least 35 cm, the best way to propagate is to divide the bush or germinate seedlings. Growing in one place for more than 5 years is undesirable: the plant is dug up, divided and planted. The place should be sunny, lit throughout the day, and watering should be moderate. Twigs and leaves are harvested all year round. Cutting can be carried out even in winter, if the plantings are not covered with snow. It grows well on the windowsill, but in the open field the aroma of thyme is stronger.

• Fennel

Fennel - looks like dill, but these are different herbs. The plant is tall, up to 1.5 meters, perennial. All its parts are used as a spice - foliage, seeds, roots. Flowering begins only in the second year. The place should be sunny and protected from drafts. Loves neutral or calcareous soils. It will not grow in a waterlogged area.

It winters well only in warm climates. In colder regions, you can try to leave it under cover for the winter, but this does not always help. The best option is to grow it as an annual, and only use foliage in cooking.

• Chervil

Chervil is an annual plant that loves coolness and partial shade. In the hot sun, the leaves dry out. Cold-resistant, greens are harvested before frost. At the dacha, they practice sowing seeds in the ground, they sprout quickly and amicably. The distance between plantings is small - about 15 cm is enough. The plant quickly grows green mass. Care consists in weeding, removing inflorescences. Chervil loves frequent watering.

The aroma of chervil leaves is reminiscent of anise. It is not cooked, because the smell disappears under the influence of heat. They are added to dishes just before serving.

• Marjoram

Marjoram is a perennial thermophilic plant. In our climate, it is grown as an annual, because it does not tolerate cold winters. The marjoram is about 50 cm high, planted in a 15x50 cm pattern. Flowering begins in June and lasts until August. As a spice, flower buds and leaves are collected. They can be used fresh, fried in oil for an interesting flavor, or dried for the winter. The smell is very strong, so only a small amount of raw materials is required for cooking.

Marjoram seeds can be sown in the ground in early May, or you can grow seedlings - for this, seeds are sown in March.On the site, you need to choose the sunniest place, and water often as soon as the soil begins to dry out.

• Oregano

Many people take oregano and marjoram for one plant with different names. But, despite the external similarity, these are different spicy herbs.

Oregano is an unpretentious perennial shrub. It grows on any soil, except for marshy soils, tolerates drought and winters well even in frosts. It blooms profusely only in a sunny place, weakens in the shade. Oregano is propagated by dividing the bush and seeds. If the seeds are sown in open ground in April or early May, then the plant will bloom only the next year. If the seeds are sown in March for seedlings, and in May, the bushes are planted in a permanent place, then they can bloom in the same summer. The distance between plants should be about 40 cm.

Care consists in weeding and loosening. Watering should be moderate. With abundant watering, few essential oils will remain in the leaves.

• Mint

Mint is a perennial sun-loving plant that prefers rare but abundant watering. In extreme heat, you will have to water a little more often. The smell of mint is pronounced, it can overpower other aromas. Small amounts are used in cooking or to flavor beverages.

Mint reproduces well in pieces of roots, tends to creep far beyond the planting site. In order not to have to pull out the mint like a weed, the place of its cultivation must be limited. To do this, pieces of slate, tin or thick boards are driven into the soil.

• Rosemary

Rosemary is a perennial evergreen. The height of the bush reaches 60 cm. Needles and flowers are used as a spice. Parts of the plant can be harvested throughout the year.

Rosemary seeds can be sown in the ground in May, or seedlings can be grown. The place for rosemary on the site should be sunny, protected from dampness and drafts. In a harsh winter, some of the shoots freeze out, but they quickly resume.

• Melissa

Melissa is used both in cooking and as a medicinal plant for making tea or decoction. She has a pleasant lemon flavor and aroma.

Propagated by dividing the bush or sowing seeds. It grows in one place for 5 years, and then she needs rejuvenation and transplantation. More "mature" bushes do not tolerate frost well. In a sunny place, a large amount of essential oils are formed in the leaves and the aroma becomes persistent. May die in a damp place. In autumn, before the first frosts, lemon balm is covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves or compost.

Outcome

The cultivation of herbs is possible in any, even the smallest area, because many plants are so aromatic that they are used in very small quantities. In order for the aroma of spices to be stable, when choosing a place, it is important to take into account the requirements for the growing conditions of the plant, as well as observe the watering regime. Perennials must be divided and transplanted on time.