Herbal Gardening - Preparing Your Herbs for Spring

As Spring nears, your herbs will begin to receive signals from Mother Nature, and, it is time for you to take steps to help them follow her instructions.

If you are looking for the information on the following:

• raised bed gardening
• container gardening
• kitchen garden
• growing herbs
• small garden designs

Wow! Spring is just around the corner. Have your herbs gotten the news?   Are you, and they, prepared for the coming of Spring? As the snows melt, and the frosts disappear, all plants begin to receive a number of signals from Mother Nature. The ground warms, soil becomes more porous, letting in more air, and the number of hours of sunshine per day will increase. All these are signals to the plants that the time is coming to germinate and sprout. Of course, indoor plants may get mixed signals, depending on where you have placed them and how you treated them over winter. If they're near a window, for example, that bright winter sunshine might feel like Spring to them. However, if they're in a corner, they may not get enough sunshine until mid-summer. Plan your placements to give sun-loving herbs (actually, most of them) the maximum amount per day. Outside, as the snow clears, dead stalks and leaves will become visible. For perennials, such as Chives, it's a good time to trim them down to near ground level. Avoid pulling so you don't accidentally pull up the roots. Instead, just take some pruning shears and snip off the stalks about an inch above the surface. Sample one or two before you proceed, though. Sometimes, they're green inside and, in that case, should just be left alone. Most herbs don't really require fertilizer, managing to grow quite happily in soil that would be considered poor for many other plants. For those that can use a little extra help, however, early Spring is a good time to apply it. If there's still a bit of frost or snow on the ground, fertilizer beads can be drawn into the soil as it melts. Don't overdo it, however. Now is also the time to ensure that the soil is right. Winter snows can compact the earth, but most herbs thrive on good drainage. Many, like Lavender, are native to the Mediterranean areas and evolved in rocky, well draining soil. If the dirt has become hard, a little aeration is in order. This is not complicated, just use a common spike to create small holes for air and water to flow into. Take care not to stab the plant, especially as the roots may have spread outward rather than down. Once loosened, you can add a little topsoil or sandy loam to ensure adequate nutrition and good drainage. The majority of herbs are able to combat insect invasions pretty well. This is the time of year, however, when grubs will soon start to become active and feed on roots or leaves near the ground. A bit of spray will solve the problem before it becomes pronounced. Liquid sea-kelp is a safe and easy to use solution in these cases.  If you are raising herbs, you will probably want to use some form of organic pest control. If you have indoor herbs, February is your friend as the days become longer. Let your plants enjoy the sun as the weather warms, and soon you will too. Herbology Course Herbal Gardening