Creating a herb bed: location, varieties & Co.

Fresh herbs all year round - no problem with the help of a herb bed. We show what you should consider when laying out your herb bed.

Many herbs can be cultivated wonderfully not only in pots, but also in the garden bed. In order for the herbs to thrive, however, you should already consider a few aspects when planning the herb bed. The wintering of some species is also a particular challenge. We explain to you what you have to consider when choosing, arranging, cultivating and caring for the herbs in the garden bed.

First of all, you should consider which herbs to grow. After all, every herb has different demands on the soil and the lighting conditions, which should be taken into account when planning the herb bed.

Location and location for the perfect herb bed

Herbs from the south, such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) or thyme (Thymus vulgaris), usually prefer a sunny, rather dry location. Lots of native herbs, among other things mint (Mentha) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum), prefer a shady or partially shaded place. Therefore, they can also be planted under a tree or in places that are not suitable for Mediterranean herbs. Even if many local herbs are adapted to the cooler weather conditions here, the herb bed should be sheltered from the wind. A free space next to the house is ideal, for example, in snowy locations it should However, the herb bed should be out of reach of roof avalanches so that the persistent herbs are not damaged to take.

Soil preparations for a herb bed

After choosing the right location, the soil is prepared. It is best to dig up the bed in late autumn and remove the weeds. The soil can then rest over the winter months. You can also take advantage of the frost, which "blasts" larger chunks of earth into small crumbs over the winter. This saves you from having to shred it in spring. Many herbs prefer well drained, poor soils. Loamy and highly compacted soils should therefore be enriched with sand. If the soil, on the other hand, is very sandy and permeable, it can be improved with high-quality gardening soil. Special herbal soils are also available in stores, which can be used primarily for planting in pots or boxes, but also for enriching the garden soil. The incorporation of organic materials such as compost can also improve the soil structure and promote soil life.

Choice of variety for the herb bed

The choice of herbs should be based primarily on their use. There is a large selection of kitchen and tea herbs. However, some plants are also very decorative or have a particularly good smell. The wide range of exotic herbs does not necessarily make the selection any easier.

Which herbs are suitable for a herb bed?

There are a variety of herbs that are suitable for planting in the garden bed. A basic distinction is made between annual and perennial herbs. Most of our herbs are persistent and do not survive too cold winters even outside. They will sprout again the next spring. Well-known representatives of perennial herbs are thyme, oregano (Origanum vulgare), sage (Salvia officinalis), Chives, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and Savory (Satureja hortensis).

Annual herbs, on the other hand, only bloom for one summer and die after seeding. That is why they have to be re-sown from year to year. Some species are only short-lived here due to the lack of winter hardiness. Annual herbs include, for example dill (Anethum graveolens),chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Borage (Borago officinalis) and Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus). parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) are two years old, which means that they only bloom in the second year and then die, unless they have already been harvested.

Another selection criterion can be the sensitivity to frost. Some Mediterranean herbs are not hardy with us. Basil, Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), Rosemary and laurel (Laurus nobilis) should be overwintered indoors and are therefore only partially suitable for the herb bed.

Which herbs go well together?

From a work point of view, it can make sense to plant annual and perennial herbs separately. It is much more important, however, to pay attention to whether the neighboring cultivation of herbs is possible due to growth-inhibiting intolerances and the increased susceptibility to diseases. The most compatible type of annual herb is probably basil. Among the perennial herbs, savory, oregano and sage go very well together.

The site conditions also give an indication of which herbs go well together. Savory, rosemary , Basil, lavender (Lavendula angustifolia), Oregano, sage or thyme, for example, prefer sunny locations and poor soils without waterlogging due to their Mediterranean roots. Herbs like watercress (Nasturtium officinale), Dill, parsley, chives, Lovage (Levisticum officinale), peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and chamomile are not permanently dependent on sunshine. In contrast to the Mediterranean herbs, they also prefer humus-rich, nutrient-rich and slightly moist soils.

More details on the question "Which herbs go well together?" can be found here in our special article.

What do you have to consider when buying herbs?

Many garden centers offer a large selection of different herbs, especially in spring. Those who have no experience in growing herbs can also get very good advice there. If you want a quick harvest, buy young plants. Growing herbs from seeds is also possible, but it takes a little more time and effort.

Make sure you only buy healthy and strong plants with as many branches as possible. In addition, the pots should already be well rooted. The leaves should be a fresh green color and free from fungus and pests.

Planting the herb bed: instructions

After the subsoil has been loosened with a suitable substrate, you can start planting in the herb bed from mid-May. The pots of the young herbs are often already deeply rooted, so they should be used as soon as possible after purchase. To do this, dig a hole of sufficient depth with a hand shovel. The base of the plant should be at ground level after watering. Free the plant from the pot and, if necessary, loosen the root ball a little with your fingers. Then the plant can be placed in the hole and filled with loose soil. Carefully press the soil down and provide the plant with sufficient water.

Here's the best way to go about planting herbs:

• Dig the planting hole
• Free the plant from the pot and loosen the root ball
• Put in and fill up with soil
• Lightly press
• Water sufficiently

Suggestions for arranging a herb bed

There are several ways in which the herbs can be arranged in a flower bed. Geometric beds, for example, are relatively easy to care for. The herbs can be placed in groups and surrounded by low hedges of bushy herbs such as lavender or fences. If you arrange the herbs clearly and perhaps even label them, this makes it easier to find the individual species. Good accessibility through cleverly laid out paths also makes it easier to care for and harvest the herbs.

When arranging them, however, keep in mind that not every herb will grow well in every location. Tall plants (fennel, mugwort, wormwood) should be placed in the center or in the background. Drought-loving herbs (thyme, rosemary, savory) can be planted on the edge. Overgrown plants (mint, lemon balm) should in turn be placed in delimited areas or provided with a root barrier. You can of course also dedicate your herb bed to a theme. How about, for example, a fragrant aroma garden, a culinary herb bed or a colorful tea herb garden.

Maintain the herb bed

Most herbs are relatively easy to care for. As in the vegetable patch, the weeds should be weeded regularly. If the heat continues, you should also water it. A layer of mulch made from grass clippings can reduce evaporation. In addition, the soil should be loosened up a little from time to time. For heat-loving plants such as lavender, thyme or savory, a layer of gravel or chippings (about 2 cm high) can also be applied.

To ensure that your herbs are adequately supplied with nutrients, you can work some compost into the soil in the spring. A regular cut of the herbs also ensures dense growth and the reproduction of young, tender leaves. Fortunately, herbs rarely get sick and attract relatively few insect pests. Be careful not to use chemical pesticides if the leaves are meant to be eaten soon. It is best to remove infected shoots with secateurs. When fertilizing, use primarily organic long-term fertilizers like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer.

Hibernate the herb patch

Perennial herbs require special measures so that they can survive winter undamaged and sprout again in spring. The wintering of local herbs is usually unproblematic, Mediterranean herbs, on the other hand, have somewhat higher demands.

Before the first snowfall, you should loosen the soil well again, if necessary some compost can also be incorporated. In addition, the herbs should be cut back and covered with fir green. Herbs that are sensitive to the cold, such as lemon verbena, can be covered with straw or garden fleece. Herbs that grow in pots are brought inside. They can be overwintered in a bright place at around 5 ° C on the windowsill or in the stairwell. However, darker, cool rooms have the advantage that the herbs shed their leaves on their own, thus reducing the risk of rot. Don't forget to water the potted plants every now and then so that the herbs don't dry out.

Summary: Create a herb bed

1. First select and arrange herbs according to the location requirements
2. Buy young plants or seeds depending on the time available
3. Dig up the bed in autumn and improve it with sand and garden soil
4. Maintain the bed after planting: weed, mulch and water
5. Cut back herbs before winter and cover with fir green; do not overwinter hardy species indoors

Alternatives to the herb bed

In addition to the classic herb bed in the garden, there are also various other options for growing herbs. We would like to introduce some of them to you in more detail.

Herbal raised bed, herb spiral and herb snail

Those who prefer raised beds can also grow a wide variety of herbs in them. The optimal location of the raised bed depends on the requirements of the herbs that are planted in it. Mediterranean herbs need a sunny spot, while other herbs also feel good in partial shade. Since most species do not have very deep roots, a height of around 50 cm is usually sufficient for a raised herb bed. Here we explain how to get one Plant the herb raised bed properly.

The herb spiral, also known as the herb snail, is a modern and space-saving form of the herb garden. For this purpose, a more or less large mound of earth is created in a spiral or snail shape. The hill-like shape offers different habitats for the plants. At the bottom there is a good place for moisture-loving herbs such as mint, parsley or chives. At the top of the spiral feel thyme or Quendel (Thymus pulegioides) very well. You can plant mint, cress and chives on the shady north side and Mediterranean herbs such as sage, rosemary and lavender thrive on the sunny south side. Here we show how you can easily create your own in just ten minutes Create herb snail in the garden can.

Herbal cultivation in pots for balconies, patios and windowsills

If you don't want to do without fresh, aromatic herbs in the kitchen in winter, you can also plant herbs in pots. Chives and parsley, for example, are wonderfully suitable for cultivation on the windowsill. A layer of gravel or potsherds under the substrate ensures that the irrigation water in the pot can drain away and that no waterlogging occurs.

If you have enough space, you can also cultivate herbs in tubs or flower boxes. It should be determined beforehand whether the alignment of the balcony or terrace corresponds to the location requirements of the plants. The use of a suitable substrate and the size of the planters are at least as important for successful cultivation. Dill and lovage, for example, have very deep roots and need a correspondingly high container. Special deep roots or plants with a pronounced root system, such as tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) or wormwood, are not suitable for growing on the balcony or terrace.

More tips on Planting herbs on the windowsill, on the balcony and in the flower bed can be found here.