If you are just starting on your plant growing journey or you just don’t have space for a backyard veggie garden, then herbs in a pot are a great way to start growing.
Herbs such as Rosemary and Sage that originated from the Mediterranean regions, enjoy tough growing conditions. Rosemary is a well-known accompaniment for lamb and sage for chicken and peas. These herbs like to dry out between watering and don’t like being over fed (fertilised) as they are used to growing in poor, stony soil. So don’t over water your pot.
Fun fact: Banana Plants, that grow very well here in the Whitsundays (the photo attached is from my garden), are the biggest herbs in the world.
Hint For Growing Herbs In Pots:
Add a couple of teaspoons of lime to your 200mm pot of potting mix before planting.
When planting your Mediterranean herbs, it can help to add coarse sand to your potting mix to improve drainage.
For those gardeners who are growing herbs in your garden, you may have noticed that your Sage and Rosemary are not too happy at the moment. That is due to the cool temperatures and the continual rain we have had of late, not giving the soil time to dry out. As much as our vegetable seedlings are loving it, these herbs are not. Cut off the dead growth and if you are really concerned you can cover the surrounding soil in a waterproof material to stop the rain from causing more plant die back until our Autumn/Winter starts behaving as it should (clear, blue skies!).
Tropical herbs such as Lemon Grass, Ginger and Turmeric are a completely different kettle of fish. These plants like rich, fertilised soil and like to be kept moist. As the name suggests, they grow very well here in the tropical Whitsundays, in fact once you get these plants established, you’ll be dividing them up, eating them and sharing them for the rest of your gardening life.
Not only do we enjoy herbs for cooking, but they are also grown and appreciated for medicinal purposes. Native Herbs have been used by Indigenous Australians to assist in all manner of health-related issues, having an intimate relationship with plants for thousands of years. We have so much to learn.
My Pick Of The Month
Wild Rosella (Hibiscus Sabdariifa)
Producing a striking red flower, on a red stem, they grow happily within the veggie garden, reaching between 1.5 – 2m high and up to1m wide.
They are known to assist with blood pressure and to regulate blood sugar levels. Reported to assist with anxiety and support the nervous system.
They make great jams, syrups, tea and can be added raw to salads.
They grow very happily here. They are a beautiful plant, easy to grow, with great health benefits, a must have.
Hints For Herbs In The Garden
• Do not pick more than 1/3 of a young herb plant at a time and no ore then ½ a mature plant.
• The more you pick the bushier they become, so snip away nightly.
• Don’t over fertilise your herbs, you’ll encourage leaf growth at the expense of their oil production. So, when applying sea sol to your veggies, skip over your herbs regularly.
• Your herbs need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, so the carport or under a tree may not be the best position for them
Companion Planting
We cannot talk herbs without talking companion planting, so here are a few ideas to try in your veggie garden now:
Nasturtiums
Great for planting with Kale, Broccoli, radish, cabbage and cauliflower
Basil
A must, to plant with your tomatoes but also with chilli’s, beans and chives
Mint
A good companion for all brassicas repelling cabbage caterpillars
Parsley and Rosemary
Go well with carrots, repelling some flies and attracting beneficial insects
Important Fact To Finish With
The dreaded Cabbage Moth is repelled by Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sage and Dill
Herbs are yours and your veggie gardens best friends!
