Getting Started

• 1). Choose the herbs you want to grow. Generally, gardeners match their choices with their needs depending on whether they are using the herbs for cooking, teas, tinctures or home remedies.
  
  
• 2). Group your herbs by their sun, soil, and watering needs. Most herbs like full sun (at least six to eight hours). Herbs that prefer full sun include: basil, chamomile, echinacea, lavender, oregano, parsley, rosemary and sage. Herbs that do well in partial sun include: chive, comfrey, lemon balm and mints. These herbs require less water than those that prefer full sun. A more comprehensive list can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8110.html.
  
  
• 3). Plant your herbs according to their grouping in soil that is well drained. Herbs do not thrive in wet conditions. If you cannot improve the drainage of your soil, consider a raised garden bed. Mix in peat or compost into the soil before planting. Fertilizer is generally not recommended, as it produces plants with excessive foliate and decreased potency.