Planning a herb bed

[ColourMeSurprised]

So I'm thinking of expanding a small, temporary bed into a longer herb bed, but was wondering how wide it should be. At the moment it's only about 4'x1'. Obviously it'd need to be as long as necessary to accommodate the herbs, but I'm concerned about leaving enough room width-wise.

I'm planning to plant thyme, oregano, rosemary, mint (in a sunken pot), bay and various annuals in spring. I bought a small potted thyme plant the other day, and I have the bay potted too. I'm just not sure how big to expect them to get, really.

Any suggestions?

[ColourMeSurprised]

Oh! And also, will it be a problem that this bed is up against a tall fence?

The garden is south-west facing, but this would be the right-hand fence of the garden. I've succesfully grown mangetout there before, but am not sure how a herb bed would fare.

[Vince G]

I think 4'1 x 1' would only just be big enough for the thyme, oregano, rosemary and mint, and only then if you keep everything well trimmed.

I'd keep the bay in a (bigger) pot, as they're not big fans of very cold conditions, so you'd need to be able to move it somewhere less cold if we have a freezing winter. Same applies for tarragon if you get some of that (must be French tarragon, the Russian stuff doesn't taste of a lot.)

I think I'd increase the width to 3' (or make the bed longer). A Sage bush would sit in the ground happily for the winter. As regards annuals, obvious ones like parsley, coriander and chives are nice, also recommend chervil, nice taste a little similar to tarragon, maybe some dill or florence fennell, both are great with fish or for pickling.....plenty of choices out there!!

[ColourMeSurprised]

Oh no, sorry, I don't think I was clear enough there. I fully intend to expand it. I'll definitely be making it longer, and I'm not sure how much wider to make it. If I was to lengthen AND widen it, would widening it to about 2' work? Since it would be longer too.

What size pot would you recommend for the bay and the tarragon?

[veggiechicken]

If the back of the herb bed is a fence, you won't be able to pick from that side, so make the bed wide enough, but not too wide, for you to pick the herbs without standing on them. About 2' should be about right.

[ColourMeSurprised]

Ahh, good point, chicken! Thanks, I'll stick to 2' then!

[Vince G]

Unless you're very tall with very long arms !!

VC, do you have a fave herb for veggie dishes? What sort of stuff do you use? As you might remember, I enjoy the full gamut of available cuisine from bloody steaks to tasty veg cuisine. We've got a bumper harvest of borlotti beans this year - usually I do what I call posh baked beans, which is basically borlotti beans boiled for a bit then cooked in tom sauce from our home grown toms, garlic, onions chilli etc. We have so many this year, I'd like another recipe option, and something fresh and herby would be good

[Feral007]

I've found that my french tarragon survived in the garden two winters now. This winter we got snow and down to -12C as well. I just mulch it up well with hay, around all the herbs, and the french tarragon was the quickest to come back again in spring. Almost as quick as the comfrey!

Another way of managing getting into the garden if it is a bit wide is to have a narrow walking path between certain things so that you can pick both sides. Or alternatively, some stepping stones so you can step between them.

I'm determined to make one of those herb swirl things that the smaller herbs seem to look good in.
I've got the wire this year, so might actually happen

[ColourMeSurprised]

Hahaha, only 5'7" with normal arms, unfortunately

Okay, so tarragon could possibly stay out, so long as it's mulched/protected during frosts? And the rosemary, thyme, oregano and mint would all be okay outside in the winter? Still not sure on the size of pot needed for the bay.

Is this the wrong time of year to be putting these plants into the ground, from pots? If need be, I can wait until spring. Just not sure if it's necessary.