Fertilize herbs: timing, procedure & the right fertilizer

click fraud protection

Herbs should also be fertilized from time to time for the perfect flavor. We reveal when and how to fertilize herbs properly and which fertilizer is suitable for herbs.

Various herbs in pots
Proper fertilization is crucial to ensure that your herbs thrive and are rich in flavor [Photo: pixfix/ Shutterstock.com]

Herbs are indispensable for the preparation of delicious dishes. In order to be able to fully develop the aroma, however, they need an adapted supply of nutrients. Too much can harm flavor, too little can reduce growth. The right measure is therefore crucial here.

contents

  • Which herbs do you need to fertilize?
  • When and how often should you fertilize herbs?
  • Herb fertilizer: How and with what do you fertilize herbs?

Which herbs do you need to fertilize?

As with all plants, there are some herbs that are particularly nutrient-hungry, and others that too many nutrients are actually detrimental.

In their homeland, sun-loving, Mediterranean herbs thrive mainly in dry and nutrient-poor locations. For this reason, they should also be planted in permeable, nutrient-poor soil in your bed or pot and not supplied with too much fertilizer. In the worst case, not only does the aroma of the herbs suffer from an oversupply, but also their frost hardness and resistance to pests and diseases. Mediterranean herbs are therefore best grown in nutrient-poor, well-drained soil like ours 

Plantura organic herb and seed soil planted. Many herbs even benefit from adding more sand or broken expanded clay to the seed soil.

Low nutrient requirement herbs include:

  • mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris
  • savory(Satureja spec.) 
  • cress (Lepidium sativum)
  • lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • marjoram(Origanum majorana)
  • oregano(Origanum vulgare)
  • thyme (Thymus spec.)
  • rue(Ruta graveolens)
  • lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
  • hyssop(Hyssopus officinalis)
  • sage(Salvia officinalis)

Tip: Herbs with low water and nutrient requirements grow in a herbal spiral at the top.

Thyme with purple flowers on stony ground
Thyme, as a sun-loving herb, thrives on a rather nutrient-poor and stony substrate [Photo: Martin Fowler/ Shutterstock.com]

On the other hand, herbs that grow in their natural habitat in damp and nutrient-rich places and prefer something shady and damp need more generous fertilization. In addition, the potting soil used should be able to store water and nutrients effectively. A nutrient-rich vegetable soil like ours is ideal for these herbs Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil very suitable. Due to its high compost content, it can not only store many nutrients and water very well, but their high potassium content also ensures stable cell walls and thus stable and healthy ones Plant.

These herbs with rather high nutritional requirements include:

  • basil (Ocimum basil)
  • tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
  • chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
  • mint (mentha)
  • parsley (Petroselinum crispum ssp. crispum)
  • lovage (Levisticum officinale)
  • borage(Borago officinalis)
  • wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
  • lemon verbena(Aloysia citrodora)

When and how often should you fertilize herbs?

Sufficient nutrients are extremely important for lush growth of many plants. Nutrient-loving herbs should therefore be fertilized regularly. But “less is more” is the rule here. If herbs get an excess of nutrients, the aroma suffers. The firmness of the shoots and the resistance to many pathogens also decrease significantly with moderate over-fertilization. Therefore, fertilize your herbs sparingly.

One to a maximum of two fertilizer applications per year for your Herbs with high nutritional requirements are absolutely sufficient. The first application of fertilizer should be given in spring at the beginning of growth, a second is possible in early summer.
Herbs with low nutritional requirements can often thrive very well in the bed for years without fertilizer. In pots, regular repotting ensures sufficient supplies. If frequent repotting is not possible or desirable, you can also fertilize sparingly in spring.

One to two doses of organic fertilizer per year are absolutely sufficient for nutrient-loving herbs [Photo: bluedog studio/ Shutterstock.com]

Herb fertilizer: How and with what do you fertilize herbs?

Nutrient-hungry herbs only provide a lot of tasty foliage if they are well fertilized.
For a natural long-term effect without endangering the aroma, a primarily organic fertilizer like ours is required Plantura organic universal fertilizer a good choice. Our animal-free fertilizer enables a quick start in spring by being in Water is soaked and then distributed with the watering can - so the fertilizing effect continues faster one.

Low nutrient requirement herbs can be grown once a year with a smaller amount of our primarily organic Plantura organic universal fertilizer or a plant manure, for example nettle manure, to be fertilized.

Summary - Fertilize herbs naturally:

  • Fertilize nutrient-loving herbs once or twice a year.
  • Fertilize frugal herbs very rarely, at most once a year.
  • First fertilizer application in spring.
  • Organic fertilizers like our primarily organic Plantura organic universal fertilizer use in order not to endanger the aroma and health of the plants.

Many herbs can be easily grown in pots or on the balcony. If you want to learn more about it, you will find our articles about herbs in the pot and about one Herb garden on the balcony find it.

Sign up to our newsletter

Pellentesque dui, non felis. Maecenas male