Which soil for which herbs? This is how herbs thrive best

table of contents

Herb soil
Herbs
Mix the herb soil yourself
Loamy soils
Herbs with high water requirements
Herbs with high demands
Mixed culture instead of monoculture

Fresh herbs as an addition to dishes are in high season in our kitchens from spring to autumn. And so that they are always ready to hand, many hobby gardeners create a herb bed or cultivate them in pots or in the balcony box on the balcony or terrace. For a rich harvest, not only the optimal location is important, but also the right soil. Because it ensures that the plants thrive.

Herb soil

Herbs are mostly bought in this country as pre-grown potted plants. A large number of kitchen herbs are offered in garden centers or supermarkets. The range of herbs from the so-called vertical cultivation. The young plants are grown in a special liquid nutrient solution under artificial light. Once the plants have developed strong roots, they are harvested and offered without substrate. They must therefore be used as quickly as possible so that they can develop well in the home garden or on the balcony.

It is not a science in which herbal soil each herb grows best, but not every herb feels equally good in every soil. Therefore, you should pay attention to the optimal substrate when planting. It should also be well drained, because kitchen herbs usually cannot tolerate waterlogging. We have put together a selection of soils and culinary herbs for you here.

Herbs

basil

the popular culinary herb prefers a humus-rich and well-drained soil that should be kept moderately moist
a mixture of earth and sand is ideal

mugwort

the soil for the mugwort should be sandy, dry and well drained

Watercress

Watercress thrives optimally in moist and humus-rich soil

Savory

Savory prefers a well-drained and loose garden bed that should be kept dry

Borage

Borage grows very well in slightly moist, permeable and humus-rich soil

dill

this culinary herb needs a slightly moist, loose and humus-rich garden bed for optimal growth

Eberraute

In contrast to many other culinary herbs, the boarwood feels extremely comfortable in a slightly calcareous soil that is also loose and permeable

Verbena

for verbena, the soil should be lean, dry and permeable

tarragon

the soil for tarragon should be permeable, moderately moist and rich in humus

Garden cress

Garden cress thrives in conventional garden soil and needs to be watered abundantly

coriander

Coriander prefers a humus-rich garden soil

Caraway seed

a mixture of garden soil, compost and sand is ideal for caraway seeds

Lovage

like the rowan tree, the lovage also tolerates a slightly chalky soil
the herb also prefers loamy soil that is moderately moist

marjoram

Marjoram feels very comfortable in slightly sandy, humus-rich and well-drained soil

oregano

like marjoram, oregano also thrives in a slightly sandy, humus-rich and permeable soil

parsley

the classic among the kitchen herbs comes in a moist, humus-rich and permeable garden bed

rosemary, Sage and thyme

these Mediterranean culinary herbs prefer a permeable, dry and sandy soil
they are best planted in a mixture of soil and sand

chives

Chives prefer clay soils and need a lot of water

Lemon balm

A well-drained, humus-rich substrate is ideal for this popular herb

Mix the herb soil yourself

If you want to offer your kitchen herbs the best soil, you can use garden soil and compost in addition to a special herb soil. So that the soil meets the needs of the respective herb, you should mix it yourself, so the herb soil can be optimally matched.

For Mediterranean culinary herbs, mix:

Garden soil: 55 percent
Compost: 15 percent
Quartz or lava sand: 30 percent

Tip: For kitchen herbs that are cultivated in pots or tubs, potting soil is recommended instead of garden soil.

If soil with a higher proportion of compost is used for the kitchen herbs, such as tomato or vegetable soil, it should be stretched a little. Coconut soil, which is less pre-fertilized, is suitable as an extender. It also loosens the soil.

Loamy soils

Many herbs do not like loamy soils because they are not permeable enough. Nevertheless, you do not have to do without a herb bed in the garden. In order for the kitchen herbs to thrive in loam or clay soil, however, you should make it more permeable. To do this, mix coarse sand or fine gravel under the soil.

Herbs with high water requirements

Kitchen herbs such as parsley or watercress have a high water requirement. If they are cultivated in pots or tubs, expanded clay or zeolite should be added to the substrate. These materials store water and nutrients and release them to the culinary herbs when needed.

Herbs with high demands

As with other plants, there are also types of culinary herbs that prefer a rich substrate. They include, for example mint, Tarragon or lovage. So that these herbs thrive, compost should be added to the herbal soil. The rule of thumb here is that the planting hole or planter should be filled with around a third of compost.

Mixed culture instead of monoculture

If herbs come into the garden bed or in the balcony box, you should plant different kitchen herbs together. However, attention must be paid to the correct composition, because not all varieties are compatible with each other. Basically, herbs that have a similar nutritional requirement should not be placed next to each other.

"Wrong" neighborhoods are for example: