Herb Bed Planting Plan

[cambourne7]

Hi Guys & Gals,

Right i have 1/2 the plants ready and the rest are waiting to germinate but i think i have he herb bed almost ready to plant up.

The beds about 5ft wide and about 12ft long (2 fence pannels so guessing at 12ft) i have dug the ground over and covered with black membrane and will be planting the following into the membrane (will have bark chips over when i finish planting)

I am also going to screw a board between the posts on he fence pannel which will be ideal for beans/peas and garlic.

Back of the bed

* Bronze Fennel  *Normal Fennel  * Lemon Grass * Lemon Balm
                                                   * Mint(pot)
*French Thyme         *Spearmint(pot)     *Peppermint(pot)   *rosemary
*Orange sented thyme  * Parsley    *Dill     *Chervil
*Thyme        * Sorrel    * Summer Savory   *Coriander      *Oregano
     *Chard      *Chicory    * Chives   * Garlic Chives

Front of the bed - As the grass is not going down for a while i am planting on the edge

                 *Courgette      *Courgette      *Pumpkin

Herbs are new to me so do you think this is a good plan? I have tried to keep the big plants to the back. Medium sized plants to the middle and smaller plants to the front.

(Basil is going into the greenhouse with the tomatos )

Tips and advice welcome :)

Cam

[cambourne7]

[PurpleHeather]

I do not keep herbs in a bed any more. I keep all mine in very large tubs.

Beds have a nasty habit of getting weeds of the sort which are difficult to remove so by having herbs in pots, I can get rid of the weeds a lot easier.

Many soft herbs are best sown fresh each year and others like rosemary need to be replaced every other year or else they tend to get very woody. Chives need to be split up and divided. Mint goes mad and takes over.

I do use a lot of fresh herbs in cooking unlike a lot of people who like them because they attract insects. So a lot depends on what you like and how you want to use them.

[GrannieAnnie]

Do you have good drainage for the rosemary?  I can never seem to grow it thru winter because the soil stays too wet. Might not be a problem in your area though.

[cleo]

Looks good although I`m not so sure about lemon grass. I have never tried it outside.

The rosemary will need constant pruning but mine survives the winter and your climate is not so different to here.

And watch the lemon balm-given half a chance it will self seed everywhere

[aquilegia]

A 5ft bed is very wide. Have you got stepping stones to stand on when picking?

I keep chives and parsley at the front of my beds to make it easier to pick them. Mint, rosemary and sage (you must get some sage!) I keep in pots on the patio. I've never managed to keep thyme alive. I don't know what your soil's like, but it doesn't like sitting in cold, wet soil, so may be better in a pot too.

I also like to dot herbs around the garden, but keeping them nearer the edge of the bed, as they are so beautiful and many attract beneficial insects or deter pests.

Where did you get your sorrel? If you grew it from seed, was it easy?

[betula]

Lemon balm spreads like crazy,I have potted mine

[manicscousers]

Cam, I have my thyme growing over a small wall, they don't like rich or wet soil, nor does rosemary, I'd definitely put the lemon balm in a pot, it goes berserk in the ground, also, my oregano took over the bed I had it in and now seeds freely all over the place  ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

Lemon balm spreads like crazy,I have potted mine

I've finally eradicated it (I think!) from our yard after being oblivious to its invasive ways.

[cambourne7]

thanks guys :) Planted all the non potted stuff today photos will follow.

The bed will be planted though membrane and topped with bark which should keep the weeding down and stop the self seeding issues with lemon balm and fennel. Its very well draining and rocky ideal for herbs.

Yes i am planning on planting some fresh every year/2 years but want to have a fairly specific plan as to where things are going to be. Husbands not good with me moving things all the time :)

I am sinking pots for the mint, will do the same for the lemon grass(in case i need to move it inside), Lemon Balm, Oregano thanks to your tips.

The husband wants a specific herb bed by the kitchen door so for the moment i am not going to talk him out of it as his usual intrest in the garden is about NIL :)

I want to turn this into a rose bed but i think it will take me a year or three to talk the husband around :)

cam

[GrannieAnnie]

thanks guys :)

The husband wants a specific herb bed by the kitchen door so for the moment i am not going to talk him out of it as his usual intrest in the garden is about NIL :)

I want to turn this into a rose bed but i think it will take me a year or three to talk the husband around :)

cam

Funny how different- it would never occur to my husband in a thousand years to ask for an herb bed by the door!  Isn't parsley or some other herb planted by roses supposed to increase their fragrance?
Maybe he'd be interested in a mixture?

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

sounds fine, yeah pot the lemon balm.  I love the fennel/bronze fennel idea.

[betula]

My lemon Balm,planted in quite a large pot.Just loves to grow   ;D

[cambourne7]

Tried that aproach psi having none of it :)