The Herb Growing Cheat Sheet [Infographic] By Brett Janes on 7th April in Garden

Now we’ve entered spring and the sun is starting to creep out from behind the clouds, it is the perfect time to start growing our own vegetables and herbs.

Whether it’s a personal hobby of yours, or you want to educate the children in the science of growing herbs and plants, its an activity you will enjoy and feel self-satisfied after the herbs have grown.

If you have attempted growing herbs in the past, you’ll know its not as easy as putting a seed in some soil and hoping for the best. You have to bear in mind the time of year, tempreature, soil, hardiness and sunlight, etc.

To get you ‘sowing in the right direction’, this cheat sheet will provide you with information on planting, care and harvesting, as well as some tips and tricks when planting herbs in or outdoors.

8 Things the Herb Grower’s Cheat Sheet will show you:

What herbs to plant and when

The type of sunlight a herb needs

When to sow and harvest

Whether to water well or moderately

How far apart to spread the seeds/seedlings

Types of soil to use

A hardiness guide

Pests to be aware of

Infographic

Transcript The herb grower’s cheat sheet

*Growing seasons and planting information below are UK specific*

Herbs for growing indoors/windowsill

Basil

Bay tree

Chives

Coriander

Fennel

Lemongrass

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Spearmint

Thyme Herbs for growing outdoors

Basil

Bay tree

Chervil

Chives

Coriander

Dill

Fennel

Lemongrass

Lovage

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Spearmint

Thyme Pro tip:

All herbs can adapt to life indoors and outdoors. It all depends on:

– The plant’s hardiness

– Time of year

– Soil type

– Temperature Planting, care and harvesting Full Sunlight or Partial Shade Watering Soil Spread+

Height Pests Hardiness

Basil ‘Sweet Green’

FS WM L, S S:40cm

H:45cm A, L HH

Bay tree FS, PS WW S S: 750cm

H:750cm BS, SC HH

Chervil

FS, PS WW C, L, S S:25cm

H:45cm C, S, SN H

Chives

FS WO C, CL, L, S S:30cm

H:40cm N/A H

Coriander

FS, PS WW C, L, S S:25cm

H:40cm A H

Dill

FS WW C, L, S S:30cm

H:90cm N/A H

Fennel FS, PS WM C, CL, S, L S:50cm

H:200cm A H

Lemongrass FS WW L S:90cm

H:140cm SN H

Lovage

FS WW L S:200cm

H100cm L H

Oregano

FS WO C, L, S S:45cm

H:45cm L H

Parsley

FS, PS

WW L S:45cm

H45cm A, CF H

Rosemary

FS WM C, CL, L, S S:150cm

H:150cm N/A H

Sage

FS WI C,L, S S:90cm

H:60cm CB, S, SL H

Thyme

FS WO C, L, S S:35cm

H:30cm N/A H

Spearmint

FS, PS WM C, CL, L, S S:50cm

H:100cm C, L H Sow and harvest times Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Basil Bay tree Chervil Chives Coriander Dill Fennel Lemongrass Lovage Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme Spearmint When to sow When to harvest Key:

Watering Water well WW

Water moderately WM

Water occasionally WO

Soil Chalk C

Clay CL

Loam L

Sand S

Watch out for these pests

Aphids A

Bay sucker BS

Capsid bug CB

Carrot fly CF

Caterpillars C

Leafhoppers L

Leaf-mining flies LM

Sage leaf hopper SL

Slugs S

Soft and horse chestnut scale SC

Snails SN

Hardiness Hardy H

Half-hardy HH General tips and tricks

Let there be light

Herbs need 4-6 hours of direct sun every day to grow healthily indoors. Give the roots proper drainage

During winter, herbs will drink slowly. To prevent root-rot, make sure they have proper drainage, i.e. drain holes, rocks or plastic foam. Don’t eat their solar panels

Larger leaves are the plant’s energy providers – make sure you cut off a mix of mature and brand new leaves (and never cut off all the leaves at once). Propagate from existing plants

Many herbs — including oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sage — are best propagated for indoor growing by taking cuttings from outdoor plants. Taking cuttings with care

Snip off a 4-inch section, measured back from the tip. Strip the lower leaves and place the stem into a moist, soilless mix, i.e. perlite and/or vermiculite. Cover the cutting with glass or clear plastic and it keep medium-moist. Sources The Kitchn. (2012). 3 essential tips for successfully growing herbs indoors. thekitchn.com

Organic Gardening. (2015). 10 best herbs for indoors. organicgardening.com

Organic Gardening. (2015). Smart techniques for growing herbs indoors. organicgardening.com

Planet Natural. (2012). Lovage. planetnatural.com

Royal Horticultural Society. (2015). Herbs. rhs.org.uk

Sow Seeds. (2015). Spearmint herb seeds. sowseeds.co.uk

Thompson & Morgan. (2015). Herbs. thompson-morgan.com

Thompson & Morgan. (2015). Vegetable seed sowing guide. thompson-morgan.com

Which? (2015). Growing your our herbs. which.co.uk

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