Having your own herb garden is a piece of quality of life. Kitchen herbs give dishes spicy power and tasty fullness. Medicinal herbs relieve annoying ailments. Aromatic herbs pamper the senses with a seductive scent. We invite you to an inspiring foray through imaginative ideas, practical examples and concrete instructions on how and where to create your personal herb garden.

Herbs thrive equally well in tubs and in beds

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. ideas and options
  2. Build your own herb spiral
  3. Create as a raised bed
  4. Make a mobile raised herb bed
  5. Collection of ideas for a vertical herb garden
  6. Herb garden window sill examples
  7. Location dictates planting plan
  8. planting guide
  9. care tips
  10. frequently asked Questions

    11. Ideas and options - inspiration for outdoors and indoors

    Herbs are tough and characterized by a high degree of tolerance. Mediterranean, Asian and local herbal treasures give the good-natured green light for horticultural design ideas that push capricious flowers and perennials to their floral limits. Consequently, classic and unorthodox variations come into consideration for the herb garden. The following selection of ideas gives an insight:

    garden balcony/terrace apartment
    as a spiral in pot and bucket on the windowsill
    in the raised bed in the flower box hanging in the window
    as a herb wheel as a mobile raised bed as vertical wall greening
    in the classic bed vertical herb garden in the pot tower
    in baskets, pots hanging in traffic lights in the mini greenhouse

    When it comes to pots, tubs and boxes, feel free to let your imagination run wild. As long as herbs don't have to get their feet wet, they thrive in many everyday objects. An inverted umbrella filled with herb substrate is smart. Old clogs act as a rustic planter for dwarf herbs. Opened wooden drawers of an old chest of drawers accept hanging herbs as a bed substitute.

    Build your own herbal spiral - an overview of the concept

    The herb spiral is practical and beautiful to look at

    As a spiral, a herb garden advances to the Olympus of the best herbs on our planet. Thanks to an ingenious design, valuable types of herbs from all climate zones find suitable conditions for lush, healthy growth. Important key points for the sophisticated concept of a herbal spiral are summarized in the following overview:

    • location: sunny, warm, sheltered position
    • shape and orientation: Snail shape opening to the south
    • construction: 4 climate zones as dry, normal, humid and water zones
    • framing: Surroundings made of stones, wood, steel or gabions gradually increasing to 80 cm
    • filling: Gravel and crushed stone in the core up to 50 cm as drainage and substructure, tapering to 0 cm towards the water zone
    • drainage protection: Gravel filling covered with breathable fleece
    • plant layer: Mixture of compost soil and sand, the proportion of sand gradually decreasing
    • pond: Heart of the water zone with 100% compost soil as bank substrate

    You can read detailed step-by-step instructions for building a herb spiral in the garden here, peppered with numerous tips for planning and preparatory work, as well as expert planting in every climate zone.

    Creating a herb garden as a raised bed - central ideas for beginners

    In the raised bed, herbal plants get a box seat in the garden, combined with ideal living conditions. Thanks to a planned filling, the soil is warmer, more permeable and drier than in a normal bed. Furthermore, a herb garden scores as a raised bed with the advantage that annoying bending over for planting, care and harvest is a thing of the past. The best argument for growing herbs at table height: Annoying constant clinches with snails are over because the plants thrive at an inaccessible height for the voracious rabble.

    You can design the back-friendly herb garden as a picturesque eye-catcher with a well thought-out kit, tastefully matched to the architectural style of your house. Matching the elegant country house there is the Stima raised bed made of Douglas fir. The Feliwa raised bed is made of woven willow in a cottage garden style. A raised bed made of gabions, which can be discovered in many sizes at Obi, shines in a trendy and modern way.

    A raised bed makes gardening easier

    Fill the raised bed in a herb-friendly way - this is how it works

    It doesn't matter to the herb plants how you design the outer frame of a raised bed. Basil, oregano, and chives place more emphasis on soil quality. You weigh your herbal treasures when you fill the raised bed in layers for a loose, permeable consistency that reliably prevents harmful waterlogging. How to do it right:

    1. Cover the ground with vole wire
    2. 1st layer: 20 cm high coarse pruning, chopped up root remains
    3. 2nd layer: twigs chopped 10 cm high, autumn leaves, perennial cuttings
    4. 3rd layer: 20 cm high semi-rotted compost
    5. 4th layer: 30 cm high Mixture of 3 parts sieved compost soil and 1 part sand or lava granules

    Over the months, immigrated soil organisms process the organic material of the lower layers into humus. In this process, the cultivated area decreases. It is therefore necessary to fill up the herb raised bed with a mixture of compost and sand every spring.

    tips

    Allow at least two weeks between filling and planting time in the raised bed. During this period, the soil will sag slightly, which could distress newly planted herbs. This premise applies equally to the classic raised bed and the herb spiral.

    The best time to start a herb garden was 10 years ago. The second best time is now.

    Make a mobile herb raised bed with a Euro pallet

    The privilege of herbal care at table height is not linked to your own garden property. Balcony and room gardeners simply build a herb garden as a mobile raised bed themselves. Various modifications must be taken into account during construction. In contrast to the raised bed in the garden, there is no direct contact with the ground, which makes drainage particularly important. The classic four-layer structure is dispensed with in favor of an airy, loose substrate mixture. The following instructions formulate an example of how you can build a mobile raised bed as a herb garden yourself:

    materials and tools

    • 1 euro pallet (new and untreated)
    • 1 wooden board as floor (1200 mm x 800 mm x 6 mm)
    • 3 stacking frames for wooden pallets (from the hardware store)
    • 4 wheels including fastening material and wooden wedges
    • 1 can of liquid beeswax as non-toxic impregnation
    • pond liner or garden fleece
    • Paintbrush or painter's brush
    • cutter or scissors
    • Drill or cordless screwdriver
    • Spax screws

    The enthusiasm for handicrafts with wooden pallets has led to an increased demand for special wooden collars. The specialist trade has reacted to this and is offering a corresponding selection of products. Matching the recommended floor dimensions, 3 wooden frames are sufficient for a mobile herb raised bed at a comfortable working height of 85 centimetres. The special frames come with galvanized steel hinges, which you do not have to buy separately. Furthermore, the wooden frames are foldable for easy transport.

    manual

    Place the base plate on the Euro pallet and screw everything together with Spax screws. As a non-toxic protection against moisture, coat the wooden floor with liquid beeswax according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then drill a few small holes so that the irrigation water can drain off. Now turn the wooden pallet over and screw on the wheels. Place the underbody on the wheels, blocking them with small wedges or stones. Now you can mount the collars. Line the inner walls with pond liner or fleece and staple everything in place.

    For the mobile herb raised bed, we recommend filling in two layers. For drainage, cover the ground with a hand's width of gravel, expanded clay (19.73€) or lava granules. Fill in peat-free herbal soil. Mix sand into the substrate depending on the planting. Mainly Mediterranean herbs want sandy, dry soil. Native wild herbs prefer to stretch out their roots in nutrient-rich, fresh, moist compost.

    Hip and modern - this is how a vertical herb garden succeeds

    Wall hangers come in handy for a vertical herb garden

    A lack of space is no reason for balcony gardeners not to enjoy fresh herbs from their own cultivation. Are petunias, geraniums and beautiful summer flowers already taking over the window box? Then simply move the cultivation area for your favorite herbs to the vertical. The following ideas may inspire you for a vertical herb garden on the balcony and terrace:

    • Make your own flower boxes (€16.99) from gutters, screw them one on top of the other to the house wall or fence element
    • Fasten the steel grid, plastic mesh, rock wool mat and cover with round recesses to the wall in layers
    • Buy a vertical wall hanger with planting bags (e.g. from Amazon) and plant with herbs
    • Purchase and plant a ready-to-use plug-in system with planters (e.g. Gardena 'NatureUp').

    So that balcony gardeners can indulge in herbal dreams in the smallest of spaces, popular species can be discovered in specialist shops as dwarf varieties. Under the trade name 'Nana' (Salvia officinalis), sage makes itself small to enrich the vertical herb garden. The 'Compactus' variety hides dwarf thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The dwarf curry bush (Helichrysum italicum ssp. serotinum) is not only completely hardy and tolerates pruning, but also remains at a height of 25 centimeters.

    tips

    Use a wooden board, chalkboard paint and hemp rope to make a chic sign for each herbal plant. Cut a wooden slat to the right shape, either round, rectangular or square. Sand the wood smooth with sandpaper. Then apply black chalkboard paint (craft store) with a paint roller or brush. After a drying phase of 24 hours, use all-purpose glue to stick the hemp rope on as a rustic frame. From now on you can write down with white chalk which herbal treasure is thriving behind the shield.

    Herb garden for the windowsill - imaginative examples

    Herbs also thrive in pots

    Room gardeners quickly transform the windowsill into a mini herb garden. Many spice plants happily tolerate life indoors behind glass. Chives, dill, basil and room garlic refine hot and cold dishes with fresh flavor if they are allowed to have a sunny spot with constant temperatures of around 18 degrees Celsius. The following examples may fire your imagination for a decorative herb garden on the windowsill:

    • inexpensive: in an empty egg carton with halved egg shells as a mini seed pot
    • accurate: small pots in a row in a self-made wooden frame with supporting feet made of glued spruce wood
    • vertical: Pot tower made of 3 different-sized cachepots with 2 upside-down clay pots as tiered pedestals
    • rustic: Make flower boxes out of pallets and plant them with herbs
    • Noble: Equip the mini greenhouse with potted herbs

    The free, light-flooded glass surface above the window sill is perfect as an additional cultivation area. There is space here for a hanging basket, creatively planted with hanging herbal beauties, such as climbing nasturtium 'Red Wonder' (Tropaeolum majus) or creeping rosemary 'Santa Barbara' (Rosmarinus officinalis).

    Note the consensus of planting plan and location

    The site conditions ultimately determine your planting plan for the herb garden. Reconcile species-specific requirements and location so that your favorite herbs thrive in premium quality. This premise applies regardless of whether you create a majestic herb castle as a spiral in the garden or a small herb garden on the balcony. Even indoors, the lighting conditions are decisive for the weal and woe of your kitchen herbs. The following table presents a selection of sun worshipers, semi-shade herbs and shade enthusiasts:

    sunny/dry location botanical name partially shaded/fresh location botanical name shady/humid location botanical name
    sage Salvia officinalis basil Ocimum basilicum wild garlic Allium ursinum
    rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis dill Anethum graveolens water celery Apium repens
    lavender Lavandula angustifolia tarragon Artemisia dracunculus Bärwurz Meum athamanticum
    marjoram Origanum majoricum chives Allium schoenoprasum woodruff Galium odoratum
    anise Pimpinella anisum Parsely Petroselinum crispum chervil Anthriscus cerefolium
    mountain cumin Laser pitch silver horseradish Armoracia rustica
    Spice marigolds Tagetes tenuifolia mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
    mountain savory Satureja montana peppermint Mentha piperita
    Oregano Thyme Thymus species lemon balm Melissa officinalis

    When choosing herbs, please note that the boundaries are fluid. Mildly spicy thyme also thrives in half-shade if the soil is moderately dry and well-drained. Basil will not let you down if you give the Mediterranean classic a sunny location in fresh, moist soil.

    digression

    Properly socialize herbs

    The perfect planting plan for the herb garden takes into account that the selected species and varieties are balanced. Act according to the rule of thumb here: do not mix annual and perennial herbs. In fact, short-lived, frost-sensitive and hardy herbs are at war with flowers and do not want to stand side by side. The solution to the problem is socialization in small groups: parsley, garden cress and dill are good neighbors. Oregano, sage, savory and thyme form a sworn community of herbs. Loners in the herb kingdom are wormwood and lovage, which prefer a solitary location.

    Planting herbs in an exemplary manner - step-by-step instructions

    The soil should be loosened before planting

    Building bricks, assembling Euro pallets or tinkering a pot castle require creativity and manual skills. Of course, these activities only mark the prologue on the way to the DIY herb garden. Expert planting is essential for the floral protagonists to develop magnificently in beds, spirals, pots and boxes. This guide explains how to properly plant herbs outdoors and indoors:

    Plant in the bed

    Good soil preparation is the be-all and end-all for planting in beds. Rake the soil thoroughly, removing stones, roots and weeds. Dig up compacted soil a spade or two deep. Work quartz sand into the soil to optimize permeability. Enrich sandy bed soil with sifted compost soil if native wild herbs are included in the planting plan. While you're digging, place the potted young herbs in water to thoroughly moisten the root balls. Mediterranean herb species, which by nature actually have a soft spot for dry conditions, also benefit from this measure.

    After the preparatory work, dig the planting pits. Please measure the distance generously. If the herb garden later becomes very cramped, diseases and pests have an easy time. Repot each herb plant and plant the root ball in the center of the planting hole. The planting depth should correspond to the level in the seed pot. Press the soil firmly with both hands and water with stale water.

    Plant pots, tubs and boxes

    Drainage plays a key role in planting herbs in all kinds of containers. First check whether there are at least two openings in the floor for water drainage. If necessary, help with a cordless screwdriver or drill. Many inorganic materials are suitable as drainage, such as gravel, lava granules, expanded clay or potsherds. Ideally, place an air- and water-permeable fleece over the water-bearing layer.

    Now fill the herb substrate in the pot and tub halfway up. Make small depressions in the substrate with a shovel or by hand. You position the water-soaked, potted root balls in it.Fill in the remaining herb soil until the original planting depth is restored and a pouring margin of 2 to 3 centimeters is created. Finally, pour in all the herbs thoroughly until the first drops of water run out from underneath.

    Care tips for the herb garden

    Above all, herbs need sun and water

    Sun and water are the lifeblood of herbal plants. The frugal demands make life easy for the hobby gardener. The following care tips get to the heart of the matter with which care you can use to keep your herb garden in top form, both indoors and outdoors:

    Water and fertilize

    Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and lavender only need little watering in beds and pots, even in midsummer. If the substrate is noticeably dry, please water it a little. Basil, large-leaved herbs and native wild herbs evaporate a lot of liquid and should be watered more frequently. A previous finger test guarantees that the soil has actually dried well, because waterlogging ruins all herbal plants in no time at all.

    The majority of herbs are among the weak consumers and do without a supplementary nutrient supply. Strong-growing herbs such as basil, sage, parsley or wild garlic are out of the ordinary. Fertilize these herbs regularly by adding an organic liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water every week or two. In the bed you can administer sieved compost as a natural fertilizer.

    Cut and overwinter

    Many popular herbs thrive as woody shrubs and require constant pruning care. In addition to regular harvest pruning, subject lavender, sage and other subshrubs to care and maintenance pruning in spring. Cut back all shoots by at least a third in good time before new shoots begin.

    Native herbs are hardy and get through the cold season without any special protection. Mediterranean herbs, on the other hand, are designed for growth over several years, but are quite susceptible to severe frost. A thick layer of autumn leaves, straw and needle twigs has proven effective as winter protection in the herb garden. In pots and tubs, most herbs are threatened with freezing at temperatures below freezing and should overwinter behind glass.

    Many herbs are very hardy

    frequently asked Questions

    On my balcony I only have space for a mini herb garden in the traffic light. Which herbs are recommended?

    For your planting plan, note all types of herbs that naturally thrive with prostrate shoots. Planted in a classic hanging basket or the modern hanging basket, creeping herbs come into their own when the tendrils dangle casually. Cascade thyme (Thymus longicaulis ssp.odoratus), creeping sage (Salvia nevadensis) and the rosemary variety 'Boule' (Rosmarinus officinalis), whose aromatic shoots grow hanging, are recommended.

    How can I design my herb garden with LED lighting?

    Romantic lighting in the herb garden is easy and uncomplicated with solar-powered LED lights. Specialist shops offer a large selection of decorative lamps for outdoor use, which you can design without the hassle of laying cables. However, limited performance is to be expected in winter due to the lack of light. You can avoid this problem by installing spotlights or bollard lights in the low-voltage system in the herb garden.

    Which herbs are good for the indoor herb garden?

    All types of herbs that can cope with calm, lack of light and dry heating air grow indoors. For the indoor herb garden, the best location is on the windowsill. Dill, parsley, basil, oregano and chives thrive here. Herb expert Rühlemann recommends tropical herbs for indoor cultivation. These include liquorice day, ice cream and Vietnamese coriander.

    When is the best time of year to start a herb garden?

    Spring is the best time to start an outdoor herb garden. Soil preparation can be started as soon as the soil has thawed. You should also plan construction work and filling of raised beds or herb spirals for spring. By the end of April/beginning of May, when the planting season begins, the soil has settled and is ready for herb plants.

    I don't want to do without basil in my herb spiral in the garden. Are there varieties that are hardy and perennial north of the Alps?

    In fact, basil is a headache for many herb gardeners because the plant dies out after just one year, even though it is a perennial thriving in the Mediterranean. Thanks to an ingenious new breed, the problem was solved. Look out for the 'Wild Purple' basil variety (Ocimum canum x basilicum) in stores. In field trials conducted by the expert breeder Rühlemann since 1996, the red-leaved herb has proven to be reliably winter-hardy.

    As a beginner, I would like to create a small herb garden in the balcony box. Do you have a concrete example of a planting plan with herbs for soups and stews?

    We are happy to draw up a plan for you on how to plant a large flower box (€16.99) as a mini herb garden. The front row is reserved for basil (Ocimum basilicum var Minimum) and thyme (Thymus praecox var. pseudolanuginosus). In the background put gold marjoram (Origanum vulgare aureum) in the middle. To the right resides chervil (Anthriscus). Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) take their place on the left.

    tips

    Did you know that empty plastic bottles have the potential for a second life as a vertical herb garden? The masterpiece is achieved by using the cutter to cut out a long rectangle that is as wide as possible. Holes are drilled in the top and bottom of the bottle to thread and knot a cord as a hanging device. Now just fill with herbal soil, plant with dwarf herbs and hang up on top of each other.

Category:

Herbs