Sun or shade ??

[shazzafly]

I want to start a herb patch/garden outside my kitchen window, its shady, but not completly dark. Would herbs survive here ?

Otherwise its full sun, so not sure if that will kill them.

Help, I'm new at this !

[Eyren]

Hi, shazzafly and don't worry about being a newbie - we've all been there, killed that

Some herbs love full sun: rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender - basically any of the woody mediterranean ones. I've had trouble growing herbs in shade - even mint didn't like it very much. I find that parsley and coriander like sun as long as you don't let the soil dry out - they really romped away in my south-facing back garden last spring when it rained a lot!

I have a small herb bed in my north-facing front garden in the middle of the lawn where it gets a good bit of sun, and the Mediterranean herbs have done well. What I'm trying this year is extending the bed to the north and south sides. I'm going to leave the tall sun-loving shrubby herbs like rosemary and lavender in the middle of the bed, then put short sun-loving herbs such as thyme on the south side, and those that prefer a bit of shade on the north side where they get some sun but also a bit of shade from the shrubs.

Something like this might work for you, and I think you'll get better results than trying to grow herbs in shade!

[MrsC]

I grow mint in the shade and it's ok as well as chives, golden marjoram, lemon balm, various sages. Also have lots in a sunny spot also. Just try some and see.

[Victoria26]

I've got mint and parsley planters fixed onto a wall in full shade. They do great.

[shazzafly]

Thanks all, will start digging the bed 2morow