Tag: herbs

5 herbs to grow in your garden in 2023

5 herbs to grow in your garden in 2023

Herbs are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle as eating  them daily may help support the body from the inside out as they provide a wide range of nutrient-rich compounds. This includes vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytochemicals that nature has provided for human consumption. Furthermore, herbs have four major components that flavour dishes and boost health. Such components include essential oils, glycosides and alkaloids; their pleasant aromas give our meals an extra layer of goodness. One must include herbs and spices in their diet for nutritional benefits and unique tastes.

Why are people moving towards growing herbs in their gardens in 2023?

Many people have been growing herbs in their garden this year, and for good reason. Individuals find the experience of gardening and the satisfaction of harvesting their produce stimulating and rewarding. Additionally, cultivating herbs at home allows one to experiment with different spices and seasoning to add range to their cooking repertoire and enhance the flavour of dishes.

Gardening is also an environmentally conscious choice as it reduces waste from store-bought products with packaging and which often requires more transportation before reaching our tables. Lastly, growing herbs is an economic decision since home-grown plants are typically more affordable than purchasing herbs from the supermarket regularly. These factors combine to create an appealing option for consumers wishing to regain control over how they access fresh produce.

5 herbs to grow in your garden

1. Lavender

Lavender is an attractive, fragrant, low-maintenance herb that can add life and interest to any garden. Its gentle aroma can fill the air, and the purple flowers attract pollinating insects. Lavender thrives in well-drained soil and direct sunlight and is suitable for growing direct in the ground or pots. Whether you choose a single plant or a grouping, lavender is a beautiful choice to jazz up your garden. And with plentiful benefits such as improved relaxation and enhanced sleep quality, this helpful herb provides additional comfort for homeowners looking to promote overall health and well-being.

2. Mint

Mint is a popular herb for your garden due to its hardy nature and great flavour. It prefers moist soil and partial sun, so it can sometimes be more suitable for shady patches than direct sunlight. Planting mint in containers is also an excellent way to ensure the roots don’t spread too far out and overrun other parts of your landscaping. Harvesting it regularly helps keep the leaves fresh, sweet-smelling, and full of flavour throughout the growing season – perfect for garnishing salads or adding a tangy kick to tea!

3. CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, has become a popular topic lately but what many people don’t know is that it is an excellent herb to grow in the garden. It’s relatively easy to cultivate and requires very little maintenance. With light watering and good sunlight, CBD plants will multiply and you can enjoy its attractive foliage in no time. Its beautiful leaves come in shades of green, purple and even pink, making it an aesthetically pleasing addition to any garden. Moreover, accessing quality CBD oil in UK after harvesting your plant can be far cheaper than buying it from stores. Cannabidiol could genuinely be a great decorative shrub for your urban outdoors!

If you were wondering – yes, it’s currently legal to grow hemp in the UK. However, you’d need to apply for a license from the Home Office to grow hemp in your garden. Moreover, only hemp plants with less than 0.02% THC are permitted to be grown in the UK.

4. Rosemary

Rosemary is a delightful addition to any garden. It’s low maintenance and drought tolerant, making it an ideal plant for almost any environment. To get the best results, position your rosemary in an area that receives plenty of sunlight and has well-drained soil with a pH of around 6-7. Regular pruning in spring can encourage good growth, while fertilising once or twice a year will promote lush foliage. When harvesting the leaves, trim just above where leaves join stems not to disturb the plant’s natural shape and vigorous growth habits. Occasional watering during dry spells will prevent wilting, but too much moisture may make it susceptible to soft rot fungus and other diseases. With proper care and attention, rosemary can provide mouth-watering flavour to your culinary creations for many seasons!

5. Sage

Growing sage in your garden can be an excellent experience for both novice and experienced gardeners. Sage is hardy and relatively easy to grow, provided you have the right conditions. This herb prefers full sun, though it can withstand some light shade. Soil with good drainage is essential; the soil pH should range between 5.6 and 6.8 (slightly acidic to neutral). Watering sage frequently but lightly during dry spells will ensure optimal growth.

Additionally, mulching is recommended to help conserve water and prevent weed growth. Lastly, pruning should be done regularly to allow new shoots to develop and become more vigorous plants with more potent aroma.

Things to bear in mind when growing herbs in your garden in 2023

If you plan to plant herbs in your garden this year, there are a few things to remember:

  • Begin by finding the right location: herbs need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily to thrive.
  • Also, herbs require good soil drainage; waterlogged soil can lead to root rot and quickly kill plants.
  • When it comes time to water your herbs, watch for signs that they might be thirsty; look for curling or wilting leaves and water accordingly.
  • Observe if your herbs begin to display discolouration or insect damage. It could be time to use some gentle organic pest control methods like introducing helpful predatory insects into your garden or using neem oil spray.
  • Finally, when harvesting your herbs, ensure you leave sufficient leaves on each plant, as it’s essential for allowing them to continue producing healthy foliage and flowers!

Conclusion

In conclusion, growing herbs is a great way to access fresh and tasty ingredients while adding a bit of natural beauty to your home. Most herbs are incredibly easy to grow and require little maintenance or effort. Planting herbs in pots allows you to enjoy their fresh flavour outside your door or indoors in window containers. Additionally, many herbs have medicinal properties that can be used for healing or incorporated into health and wellness routines. Dozens of herb varieties thrive in various climates, from cold temperate regions to hot, humid ones. With the proper care and attention, anyone can successfully grow herbs at home and reap the many benefits they offer!

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Galvanised Garden

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stacks of of vintage galvanised zinc florist's pots

We’ve just added a dozen of these galvanised metal containers to our garden – the tall shape is a give-away as to their original use.

vintage galvanised zinc florist's pot with drainage holes drilled

They’re actually vintage flower sellers’ tubs that once housed the long stems & blooms. A few holes drilled into the bottom and they were ready for their new role as garden planters.

vintage galvanised zinc florist's pot used to grow herbs

Over the years, we’ve replaced most of our terracotta pots with galvanised containers. We just love the colour of the metal and the small details such as seams & rivets. There’s a great variety in size & shape which makes a collection visually interesting. Dolly tubs, tin baths, water tanks and buckets all make great planters. Another huge advantage is that they don’t break or frost shatter like terracotta and pottery.

collection of vintage galvanised zinc florist's pots used to grow herbs

We decided to grow all our culinary herbs in this batch of pots – and they’ve taken very well to their new homes!

Growing our own

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flat leaf parsley and coriander growing on a windowsill

This year we decided to grow more of our own – and we’ve got no excuse, as Todmorden‘s the home of Incredible Edible.

strawberries growing in a vintage terracotta strawberry pot

We have a variety of crops to look forward to in the coming weeks.

home-grown beetroot in vintage enamel breadbin home-grown peashoots grown in vintage metal bucket

Most of them are growing in containers as much of our garden is paved with stone cobbles. It also makes protecting them from the ubiquitous slugs & snails much easier.

tomato plants growing in a vintage mini greenhouse

We use lots of the old galvanised metal ‘dolly tubs’, buckets and bins.

courgette flowers in a vintage metal dolly tub

The plants seem to like it!

potato plants overflowing from a vintage metal dolly tub just outside the kitchen door pink stems of rhubarb growing out of a vintage metal dolly tub

Potatoes, beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, rhubarb, strawberries, broccoli, courgettes, squash, peashoots, salad leaves, a variety of herbs – and yes, those are figs.

tiny fruits growing on a fig tree

There’s still a little room for some flowers.

lilac coloured osteospermum growing in a vintage metal bucket

pink lupins growing in a vintage dolly tub pink lupins growing in a vintage dolly tub

Perennials like the hostas, astilbes and lupins return each year like old friends. Although this year’s harsh winter saw a few losses.

purple lobelia growing in a vintage metal bucket

red geraniums just about ready to flower

To these we add a few annuals – osteospermums, lobelia and the like.

hosta leaves

pink fox glove about to flower growing next to a giant ribbed terracotta urn young purple shoots of astilbe plants

We’ve enjoyed working in the garden this year, growing our own. We don’t think self-sufficiency is here just yet – but hopefully we’ll reap some rewards!