Every good garden starts with a little planning. Medicinal herb gardens can be particularly well planned because much of what you use may be growing wild in your area. For me this means the strengthening herbs: nettles and red raspberry leaf. I use too much of it throughout the year to rely on what I can grow naturally. Part of my garden planning is preparing a spot on my land where I can sow these specific herbs directly into the landscape. These days I spend as much time as possible in my greenhouse taking inventory of which herbs made it through the winter months, and what I need to replant or repot before growth begins in the spring. From my time as a greenhouse grower and wildcrafter, I have some tips that can help you stay organized and keep costs down while growing your own medicinal herb garden.
- Seeds are cheap. Whenever possible, start your herbs from seed and start with more than you hope to use. That way you will be diligent about thinning the seedlings and will eventually get replacement plants as needed.
- Start your seeds at the right time by counting backwards from the time you plan to put them in the garden. There’s a delicate balance: you have to start early enough to be ready as soon as the soil is ready, and start early enough that your herbs become leggy and weak.
- As soon as your days start to noticeably lengthen, water your plants and seedlings with a weak fish emulsion. Also water more often at this time. The hours of sunlight cause your plants to come out of dormancy and have a greater need for fertilizer and moisture.
TIP: A natural fungicide that will help you prevent your seeds from becoming soggy is a triple chamomile tea sprayed over the top of the soil before the seedlings break through.
Amy Jeanroy is a garden writer living on the Bay of Fundy in Northern Maine. She harvests herbs from the forest and coast where possible, and grows the rest in her gardens.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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