Which herbs?

[Cabbage Patch]

Hi
I have been working solidly digging for 3 weeks on my new allotment, moving lots of rubble and bricks, it has been really hard work but hopefully I will soon be reaping some rewards.
I have just cleared a space where I want my herb bed to go, it is quite a sunny spot with a high fence at the back that I don't want to waste.
Would anybody be able to help me with my question? Are there any herbs that I could plant to climb up the trellis at the back of the bed? and, Can you recommend any herbs that are relatively easy to grow, it is quite a large bed approx 3.5 x 1m.
I will post some photos on soon to show how I am changing a building site into an allotment, I absolutely love it
Many thanks for any replies that I may get, please be patient I am a complete novice.
Michelle x

[rustylady]

Sorry, I don't know of any climbing herbs. Why not plant something decorative like sweet peas or sunflowers right at the back against the wall - both will attract bees into the garden. As for herbs to grow - what do you like? I love rosemary which can grow quite tall so that could go at the back. I would also include chives, parsley and coriander (though they don't like to be too hot).

[coreopsis]

Lovage grows very tall,borage is not small either,looks lovely and attract the bees.

[rustylady]

Lovage grows very tall,borage is not small either,looks lovely and attract the bees.

Not strictly speaking a herb, but comfrey would be good. Again, it attracts bees, and the leaves can be used to make your own liquid feed.

[perkin]

Welcome to the vine - and to growing your own!
Mints are very easy to grow but bear in mind they are very invasive and can quickly take over. A tip is to grow them in terracotta pots and sink the pots into your bed. That way the roots are confined to the pot and cannot spread around the place. You might need to take the mint out and split it/thin it every couple of years to reinvigorate it and ensure it doesn't get too pot bound. Mine are grown in this way in my patio containers along with other herbs - mainly sage and rosemary - and are looking very happy in the sun.
I've also sown some fennel seeds this year, which germinated very quickly and have a beautiful aniseed scent. I think these can grow upto a metre tall so might be good for in front of your fence.

[Cabbage Patch]

Thank you everybody, this is very much appreciated. I have a better idea now.

Michelle

[Nicos]

Dill and fennel grow high too. You can get bronze fennel too!

If you kept the lower bits cut back then they wouldn't shade the other herbs.

[Two_Sheds]

Not strictly speaking a herb, but comfrey would be good.

It doesn't do well in pots though. I was going to suggest sorrel, but that needs to be in the ground too, or lemon balm for scent/herbal tea

[ilikesoup]

i agree, celery flavoured lovage can get to 6foot (but mine havnt reached those dizzying heights!) but it does come back each year, borage can get to a few feet & has cucumber flavoured leaves/stems.

bay trees & rosemary can get pretty big over the years but not fast growers, however they are evergreen & its nice to hav some permanent shape to your patch. this year i hav some newly rooted thai lemongrass in pots which i'll (hopefully be using) to give some height wherever its needed throughout the summer as they can get to 4ft tall with 3ft spread, but into the warm leantoo over the winter.

how tall is your fence? a nice rambling rose is always pretty & nasturtiums will cover a large area (plus you can eat the petals, leaves & seeds!) once you'v grown them they keep coming back, my mum isnt a fan & they keep coming through the fence from her neighbours garden!

or if you like beer you could try growing some hops lol its a vine that'll gro crazy with the right conditions.

failing that i'm some peas/beans up the fence would work, i'm growing beans in a huge pot with dwarf nasturtiums hanging over the edge (hopefully any blackfly etc will go for those flowers not my beans but still leave sum for me!).

hope i'v given you some inspiration!

[ginger ninger]

Why not grow a grapevine across the fence or a passion flower, I have some blackcurrant sage that grow's very tall and has lovely red trumpet shaped flower's on. Angelica is also a tall herb.

[1jim]

I have an old rusty wheelbarrow, am thinking of planting this up as a herb bed on my new allotment, would this be ok? was thinking about mixing compost/soil and horticultural grit to grow in, any flaws in this plan?

[ginger ninger]

I have an old rusty wheelbarrow, am thinking of planting this up as a herb bed on my new allotment, would this be ok? was thinking about mixing compost/soil and horticultural grit to grow in, any flaws in this plan?

You'll have to pop some drainage holes in but it sound's like a good idea to me. My neighbour has an old tin bath planted up with herbs in her garden...look's great. I have an old wicker basket lined out with old plastic compost bag's with herbs in.