The window sill will soon be too narrow for those who have discovered the herbal taste. A real herb bed is needed. But just as the different types of herbs do not all taste the same, their needs can also differ widely. A guide.
Herbal selection
The selection of varieties is the decisive point when planning and creating a herb bed. Because the cultivated herbs, as beautiful as they are to look at, should above all be useful. So first make a list of all the herbs that you want to use or try. Of course, you can also choose one or the other herb, simply because it is decorative. Get an overview of location and maintenance requirements.
Location search
In the second step, it must be checked whether your own garden offers a suitable location for the bed. Strongly scented herbs in particular need a lot of sun and warmth. The sunnier you are, the more essential oils you will make. At the same time, they demand a rather dry and nutrient-poor soil that does not tend to become waterlogged. These include basil, savory, lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme, among others. Ramsons, dill, fennel, camiles, chervil, lovage, mint, parsley, chives and lemon balm want a rather partially shaded place with humus, nutrient-rich and slightly moist soil. A few herbs, such as watercress, like it particularly moist.
Optimal size
The bed should not be too large and accessible from all sides so that harvesting is always easy. In the case of rectangular beds, sides up to 1.2 m have proven to be optimal. About three square meters are ideal for a well-stocked herb spiral. But smaller spirals can also be erected on just one square meter. Then the number of plants has to be reduced or strong growth has to be prevented by cutting measures.
Simple garden bed
- A low bed is the quickest and easiest way to create it
- with a border made of wood, wicker fence, bricks or stones
- possibly. also possible without a border
Tip: Would you like many
Cultivating herb species with different location requirements is difficult to please everyone in a single bed. It may be worthwhile to create two smaller herb beds at the ideal location in each case.Raised bed
- Raised bed enables back-friendly work
- Ready-made kits facilitate assembly
- inexpensive do-it-yourself construction from wood scraps or pallets possible
- Herbs are harder to reach for some pests
Herb spiral
- a herb spiral, also called a herb snail, looks decorative
- can be built from stones or bricks
- also winds upwards
- thus enables different soil zones
- ideal for space-saving and optimal arrangement of herbs
- large stones store heat (ideal for Mediterranean plants)
Establish a herb bed
It is best to set up the herb bed in autumn. Obtain appropriate instructions with all the detailed steps so that the construction is stable and lasts for many years. The side walls should be at least Go 5 cm above the ground so that it is not washed away by irrigation water or rain. Lay natural stones carefully on top of each other so that they cannot slip at any time. If you implement your own constructions, pay attention to materials that can withstand moisture and are not coated with any toxic paint or the like.
Tip: In a garden where there are many voles, a fine-meshed wire fence should be worked horizontally into the ground at a sufficient depth and, if necessary, be connected to the construction. How to protect the roots of the herb plants.
Soil optimization
Soil cultivation should also be tackled in autumn so that the soil can settle by spring. First, the garden bed is loosened up deeply, about 20 cm deep. Larger stones and weed roots should be removed in the same operation. Raised beds and herb spirals are also ideally filled with soil in autumn.
At least two weeks before planting. Depending on the needs of the herbs, the soil is optimized with sand, compost and lime. Dry areas in the garden and raised bed
need a drainage layer. A spiral of herbs spiraling upwards is divided into the following areas from top to bottom:- dry area: 50% each of sand and garden soil or herb soil
- moderate area: each 30% sand, compost and garden or herb soil, 10% lava granulate
- humid area: 50% garden soil and 50% compost each
- Water area (optional): compost, if necessary with garden soil
Tip: A herb bed should last for many years. It is therefore worthwhile to carry out a soil analysis before laying out. In this way, the soil can be improved with the required minerals in a targeted manner.
Plant the herb bed
time
Begin to green the herb bed in spring. You can use seeds, self-grown plants or larger plants from the trade. In the latter case, the harvest can start earlier and is therefore more abundant overall. The plants you buy should be strong and well branched, with good roots and perfect foliage. Then you don't drag pests or diseases into the bed. Annual herbs sensitive to frost may only be planted or planted after mid-May. to be sown outside. Note the sowing conditions on the seed sachet.
Rules for planting
- Place the potted herbs in a water bath until the root ball is soaked
- Dig out a sufficiently large planting hole
- Maintain planting depth
- Press the soil down well for good ground contact
- Pour on with a fine effervescence
Tip: Before planting, you can spread a special weed fleece over the earth, into which you cut plant openings. This way, weeds will hardly grow later. But the fleece does not replace winter protection measures for frost-sensitive herbs.
Tips for arranging the herbs
1. Types of herbs for dry areas in full sun
- Mountain savory (Satureja montana)
- Curry herb (Helichrysum italicum)
- Lavender thymial (Thymus thracicus)
- marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- sage (Salvia)
- thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
2. Herbal types for the temperate area / partial shade
- basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
- Spice fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Little meadow button (Sanguisorba minor)
- coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
- Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
- parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Pimpinelle (Sanguisorba minor)
- Chopped garlic (Allium tuberosum)
- chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
3. Types of herbs for the humid area
- Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
- Borage (Borago officinalis)
- dill (Anethum graveolens)
- Garden mountain mint (Calamintha grandiflora)
- Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
- chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
- sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
4. Types of herbs for the water zone
- Bachbunge (Veronica beccabunga)
- Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
- Sweet flag (Acorus gramineus)
- Sedanina (Apium nodiflorum)
- Water mint (Mentha aquatica)
- Water nut (Trapa natans)
5. Do not put these herbs in the herb bed
It is better to plant outside the herb bed on types of herbs that grow strongly or that exude inhibitors from their roots. These are among others these types:
- Comfrey (Symphytum)
- Spice Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
- turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
- Lovage, Maggi herb (Levisticum officinale)
- Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
- Hyssop, vinegar herb (Hyssopus officinalis)
- Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lavender likes to take a seat under a rose bush. Wormwood can be placed near currants because it keeps disease away from them.
6. Do not mix annual and perennial plants
Make sure that you do not mix up perennial and annual herbal plants unnecessarily. The annual soil work that is necessary for annual plants is disruptive for the other herbs.
7. Pay attention to good neighborhoods
Some types of herbs have very similar requirements in terms of location and care, while others form a good symbiosis against pests or mutually promote growth. As you arrange these good neighborhoods, plan for a healthy, bountiful harvest:
- Mediterranean herbs among each other
- Basil with oregano, parsley and rosemary
- Parsley with basil, dill, garden cress, chervil and chives
- Tarragon, lemon balm, sage, chives and thyme
- Oregano, sage and winter savory
8. Avoid unfavorable combinations
- Parsley: borage, tarragon, chervil, coriander, lavender and peppermint
- Basil: marjoram, dill, peppermint and lemon balm
- Camiles and peppermint
- Coriander: fennel, chervil and chives
- Thyme: marjoram and peppermint
- Vermouth: lemon balm, fennel and caraway seeds
9. Place intensely fragrant herbs at the edge of the bed
In a simple herb bed or raised bed, you should place intensely fragrant herbs such as thyme, mint and oregano at the edge of the bed. Your essential oils will be Drive away pests.
10. Make sure there is enough planting distance
Take into account the size potential and also the rate of growth of an herb. If the bed is very small, it would be better to reduce the choice of herbs instead of relying on close planting. This prevents pests and diseases.
11. Plant marigolds in the bed
Find a sunny spot for the marigolds in the herb bed. It repels lice, harmful nematodes and other pests. Their flowers are also edible.
