Starting a New Herb Garden

[bluemoon]

I've had an allotment for a few years now and it's finally how I want it. Unfortunately when I designed it I left only a small space for herbs. This hasn't actually been much of a problem as I keep most of the culinary ones at home in pots anyway, however now I'm becoming more interested in the medicinal aspects of the subject and also in making natural dyes. Last Christmas a good friend bought me a drop spindle and a (very) raw sheep's fleece. It seems a shame now not to dye the wool using my own home produced pigments.

The lack of space was really the only obstacle but, on visiting a different site where a relative has a plot, I noticed a small allotment which is apparently vacant and I've considered taking it on purely to grow herbs. As allotments go it's pretty tiny but it would make a massive herb garden. Would I be able to fill it? Would the work involved, once it's up and running, be prohibitive? Could I make it extremely formal? Or perhaps a wild looking place where new things are hiding in unexpected places? Should I give up the whole idea?

Any advice would be welcome as at this stage the plot is a blank page. (well no, it's a sea of brambles and docks - obviously, - but you get the idea.)

Many thanks Bluemoon

[SarzWix]

I'm wanting to start a herb garden this year, and I've found Jekka McVicar's website a good starting point http://www.jekkasherbfarm.com/index.asp
She also has a great book, which is on my Christmas list!
I shouldn't think you'd have much trouble filling the plot, there is a massive range of herbal/medicinal plants, and some of them are huge!! (Thinking of comfrey & lovage for instance). How much extra trouble would it be having to travel to 2 different sites to tend to your plots though? Even if your original plot is 'fettled' already it will still need a reasonable amount of time in the growing season, and the herb one sounds like it needs a fair bit of time to get it ready and will also need maintenance once established. If you're sure you can cope with both, and the travelling between sites, then I'd say go for it!

[donald]

I've done a small herb garden on my plot using an 8' X 6' area. I acquired recycled bricks and marked out quadrants for my selected herbs. I've put a small eucalyptus in the middle and some mint in one quadrant. I acquired some roof slate from a neighbour who was having a new roof and buried it as a border around the plant, as mint is an invasive herb that is a prolific grower, so this stopped it from taking over the adjacent quadrants.

I've also put in a couple of different lavenders, parsley, oregano, basil, sage, chives and rosemary that were bought as small plants from my local garden centre for a reasonable price. All of these herbs have thrived in the herb garden and after 9 months had spread out, filling the area. The herbs are used in the kitchen at home and by friends.

[bluemoon]

In the end I did take on the other plot after a friend said she'd like to share it and then a friend of hers also said she was keen on the idea. Between the three of us, splitting the work and the rent, it's not such a daunting proposition. As my friend and I want to grow herbs for dying (her textile work is a serious art-form) and her mate makes incenses, we will not be growing just the culinary things and the extra space will be welcome. Although it will also mean that there is now room for some of the less common edible herbs, so that will be something of an adventure too.

We've had the plot for a couple of weeks now and if it ever stops raining I'm looking forward to making a start.

Thanks SarzWix and Donald for your help.

[HeyWayne]

Good luck with it bluemoon, I'm hoping to fit a few herbs into my plot this year and that's a bit of a task, so hats off to ya for going for a whole plot's worth.

[Flummery]

I've done a small herb garden on my plot using an 8' X 6' area. I acquired recycled bricks and marked out quadrants for my selected herbs. I've put a small eucalyptus in the middle and some mint in one quadrant. I acquired some roof slate from a neighbour who was having a new roof and buried it as a border around the plant, as mint is an invasive herb that is a prolific grower, so this stopped it from taking over the adjacent quadrants.

I've also put in a couple of different lavenders, parsley, oregano, basil, sage, chives and rosemary that were bought as small plants from my local garden centre for a reasonable price. All of these herbs have thrived in the herb garden and after 9 months had spread out, filling the area. The herbs are used in the kitchen at home and by friends.

Sounds gorgeous Donald. You will be vicious with the eucalyptus though won't you? They grow to a thick trunked tree about 100ft high! Chop it to knee level every year and you'll get loads of the lovely 'silver pennies' leaves that the flower arrangings will snap your hand off for. Leave it alone for about 10 years and you won't be able to join your hands around the trunk or reach more than a third of the way up. I speak as one who knows!

[Nicos]

I'd be interested in hearing what you plant and what they will be used for.
I have plenty of spare land in France and this seems a rather tempting idea!!!

[Seahorse]

I'm so jealous bluemoon I'd love to see pics as it all progresses.

[moggssue]

I love herbs, but so far have only had the space for the 'conventional' ones - parsley, mint, rosemary, basil - can't wait to add others to my lottie as well so am very interested in what you grow and how you get on with it (how they get on with each other?!).