Planting herbs: tips for the balcony and bed

Herbs are an essential part of every good meal. You can find out how to successfully plant herbs (window sill, balcony and bed) here.

Growing your own herbs is back in fashion. After all, herbs are the spice of life and should not be missing in any garden. If you don't have enough space, you can easily grow your own herbs in a pot on the window sill or in a flower box on the balcony. We will tell you which herbs are suitable for which cultivation method and what else needs to be considered.

Planting herbs: A step-by-step guide

Many herbs can be planted both in pots and in beds. The main differences are in care. Due to the smaller volume in the root ball, potted cultures need to be watered more frequently. In the garden bed, you should pay particular attention to the correct location and suitable overwintering of the individual herbs. The regular removal of weeds in the garden bed also takes a lot of time. If you are looking for a quick harvest, in most cases you will prefer buying young plants to growing your own from seed. Since the pots are often heavily rooted, the young plants should then be planted out as quickly as possible.

Plant herbs correctly:

1. Loosen the subsoil with a suitable substrate
2. Dig a hole of sufficient depth - the base should be at ground level after pouring
3. Remove the plant from the pot and place it in the hole
4. Fill up with fine soil
5. Pour immediately

The choice of herbs

Herbs can be roughly divided into annuals and perennials. In addition, however, each herb has different requirements for its location. We will show you what needs to be considered when planting the individual herbs and which types go particularly well together.

Annual herbs

Botanically, plants are considered annuals if they reproduce only once in a continuous growing season and then die. However, some of our plants are "annual" due to a lack of winter hardiness or breeding for high yields. Annual herbs include dill (Anethum graveolens), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), borage (Borago officinalis) and Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). A common rule of thumb is that annuals and perennials should be kept to themselves rather than grouped together. This makes perfect sense from a work point of view, because many short-lived species prefer an annual change of location. However, it is more important to pay attention to whether the neighboring cultivation is possible due to possible increased susceptibility to diseases or due to growth-inhibiting intolerances. The most tolerable representative among the annual herbs is probably this basil (Ocimum basilicum), it can even provide protection to its neighbors from pests and fungal diseases due to the essential oils it contains.

Perennial herbs

Well-known representatives of perennial herbs are thyme (Thymus vulgaris), oregano (Origanum vulgare), sage (Salvia officinalis), chives (Allium schoenoprasum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), savory (Satureja hortensis) and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus). Lemon balm is particularly well tolerated (Melissa officinalis) – you should only avoid the combination with basil, because the two don’t like each other at all. A good neighbor among the perennial herbs are, for example, savory, oregano and sage.

Mediterranean herbs for sunny locations

Sunny locations are particularly suitable for growing Mediterranean herbs. These include savory, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), basil, lavender (Lavendula angustifolia), oregano, sage or thyme.

Since many of these species come from the Mediterranean region, they prefer rather lean soils without waterlogging. When choosing plants for the garden bed, however, you should consider that many Mediterranean herbs are not hardy.

Non-hardy herbs include:

• basil
• lemon verbena
• rosemary
• laurel

tip: We have an overview for you native wild herbs compiled.

Herbs for partially shaded locations

watercress (Nasturtium officinale), dill, parsley (Petroselinum crispum), fennel, tarragon, chives, lovage (Levisticum officinale), peppermint (mentha x piperita) and chamomile are not permanently dependent on sunshine. The east or west side of a house is optimal for the extension. In addition, these plants usually prefer humus-rich, nutrient-rich and slightly moist soil.

Herbs for the windowsill

It makes sense to plant the most common kitchen herbs within easy reach. Because let's be honest: who likes to walk halfway through the garden in wet and cold weather to get a handful of herbs? Especially in cities, not everyone has their own garden or balcony anyway – but luckily most of them thrive in flower pots Herbs on the windowsill also wonderful.

Especially in winter we don't want to do without fresh, aromatic herbs in the kitchen. Chives and parsley, for example, can easily be potted in autumn and cultivated at the kitchen window. With their fresh greens and wonderful aromas, they help banish any gloomy mood during the dark months of the year. Mediterranean and non-hardy herbs should be relocated to pots or tubs before the first frost anyway so that they can be transported to their winter quarters.

Tip: A layer of gravel or shards of clay under the substrate ensures that the irrigation water can drain off well and that there is no waterlogging.

The following must be observed when mounting on the window sill:

• Occasionally repot
• Water neither too much nor too little
• Don't forget to fertilize
• Proper harvesting to maintain favorable growth habit

Tip: Herb cultivation is particularly easy with a cultivation set. Our Plantura herb set contains everything you need to grow 5 aromatic kitchen herbs and is also an excellent gift idea.

Herbs for the balcony

Larger tubs and flower boxes will find a suitable place on the balcony. Depending on the orientation of the balcony, you should also consider the location requirements of the individual herbs. A south-facing balcony offers the best sun conditions, but the planters usually dry out faster and therefore have to be watered more often. The exact opposite is the case on a north-facing balcony: due to the lower solar radiation, the water evaporates much more slowly. A balcony on the east or west side is therefore ideal for growing herbs that prefer semi-shady locations.

In addition to the optimal location and a suitable substrate, the size of the planters also plays a decisive role in the success of the cultivation. Some herbs - like dill and lovage - have quite deep roots and need a correspondingly tall container. On the other hand, deep-rooted plants or plants with a particularly pronounced root system such as tarragon or wormwood are not suitable for the balcony.

herbs for the garden

Herbs are not only used to add flavor in the kitchen, many are also attractive garden plants. Due to the usually limited space available, the selection of herbs should be based on need and intended use. Easy access to the plants also makes maintenance and harvesting easier.

Herbs for the herb bed

In monastery gardens in particular, the herb beds are often laid out in a strict, formal style. The herbs are grouped together and planted in symmetrically arranged beds. The beds are usually bordered by low hedges, fences or paths. Cleverly laid paths between the beds mean that the herbs can be reached quickly and with dry feet, even in bad weather. Geometrically arranged beds are relatively easy to care for and a clear arrangement makes it much easier to find the individual herbs.

The following aspects must be taken into account:

• Not every herb grows in every location
• Do not mix annual plants with perennial plants
• Put tall plants in the middle or in the background
• Plant drought-loving herbs at the edge
• Place rampant plants in demarcated areas

A mixed culture with flowers, vegetables or fruit bushes often results in very harmonious compositions. Green, variegated or beautifully flowering herbs - such as marigold, borage or violet marjoram - also blend wonderfully into ornamental gardens. Some herbs even influence the growth of other plants through their active ingredients, which you can take advantage of in the vegetable patch. Basil between tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbage, for example, repels mildew and whiteflies from vegetables. Herbs that can be easily preserved, such as chives and parsley, can also be grown in larger quantities as required. A few specimens of aromatic plants such as tarragon and wormwood are usually sufficient.

Tip: Some herbs prefer to stand alone or should only be placed at a sufficient distance from other plants. Typical "loners" are lovage, lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and vermouth (Artemisia absinthium).

Herbs for the herb raised bed

If you prefer a raised bed instead of the usual garden bed, you can plant a wide variety of herbs in it. Most herbs don't have very deep roots. Therefore, a height of about 50 centimeters is usually sufficient for a raised herb bed.

If you want to put Mediterranean herbs in the raised bed, you should make sure when filling that the lower layers drain the water well. The optimal location of the raised bed depends on the herbs that are planted in it. Some species need a sunny spot, while others do well in partial shade.

Tip: Here is a detailed guide for the Planting a raised herb bed.

Herbs for the herb spiral/herb snail

The herb spiral - or herb snail - is a modern and effective form of herb garden. For this purpose, a mound of earth is created in a spiral or snail shape and bordered with a small loose stone wall, for example. The size of the spiral can vary greatly depending on the space available. The hill-like shape creates different habitats for the plants. Moisture-loving herbs such as mint, parsley or chives find their place at the foot of the spiral. At the top of the spiral are thyme and quenelle (Thymus pulegioides), which prefer a sunny and dry location, very well. On the shady north side you can plant mint, cress, sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and put chives. On the opposite side, on the sunny south side, Mediterranean herbs such as sage, rosemary and lavender thrive. In our special article, we show you how to create your own in just ten minutes Create herb snails in the garden.

if you want to know which herbs go together, we suggest you this article.