For most people, having their little herb garden at home is a dream come true. However, growing herbs successfully requires the right climatic conditions.
What are the right herbs to grow at home? The right choice depends on your climate. Some herbs are fragile, while others can thrive no matter what mother nature throws their way. Whether you live in a hot or a cold zone, below you’ll find herb options that can thrive in your garden.
Choosing the Best Herb for Your Climate
Herbs include a wide range of plants and leaves. Determining the best options for your garden comes down to your home needs, and more important, your climate.
For instance, sweet woodruff and mint are shade-loving herbs that thrive in moist woodland settings.
On the other hand, oregano and lavender are Mediterranean herbs that thrive under the sun, lean soil and warm temperature. Annual herbs like chervil, coriander, basil, and dill grow best in full sunshine.
When planning your herb garden, choose the best herbs depending on your climate. By choosing optimal conditions for growing herbs, you are guaranteed that your herb garden will thrive.
Growing Herbs and Vegetables in the Tropical Climate: How to Choose the Right Ones
Tropical climates are usually characterized by high temperatures, which can make it hard to grow most herbs and vegetables. When choosing the best herbs to grow in the tropics, you need to choose those that thrive in hot temperatures. Some of the best herbs to grow in tropical climate include:
Oregano – this is a popular perennial herb common in Italian dishes. You can grow it in pots and containers annually, making it a common herb in most kitchen gardens.
Rosemary – this is a woody herb best known as a fantastic addition to most Mediterranean foods. Originally, it was only grown in high humidity areas close to the ocean. This makes it highly tolerant to heat and drought.
Thyme – this is a herb grown for its culinary and medicinal properties. It is commonly used to spice liquor, cheese and other dishes.
Herbs for Dry Conditions: Choosing the Best Match
If you live in a drought-prone region, choose herbs that can thrive in dry conditions. The best thing about living in dry places is that most herbs can thrive in your climate. This is because most herbs originated from the Mediterranean, which is generally rocky, dry and hot.
Garlic chives – these are excellent for low water gardens. You can use them in the place of garlic since they have a garlic flavor, making them suitable in just about any dish.
Lavender – there are many lavender options you choose from for your herb garden in a dry region.
Oregano – this is also a perfect match for a low water garden. When used fresh, they are culinary masterpieces that also possess medicinal properties.
Sage – This hardy perennial sub-shrub herb comes in a range of options. You can use them dry or fresh.
Thyme – planting thyme in dry soil helps to concentrate its aromatic oil. This herb best thrive in rocky, dry conditions.
Easiest Herbs and Vegetables to Grow in Elevated Places
If you live in the highlands, there are plenty of herbs and vegetables that thrive in this environment. The best options include herbs and vegetables that can thrive in very cold winters and mild summer temperatures. Some of the best options include:
Curry leaf – this is an evergreen herb rich in alkaloids said to help in fighting cancer cells. The seeds can be planted in autumn and will continue to grow through winter.
Rosemary – this is a medium-shrub herb that thrives as a hedge, with the prostate form ideal for covering retaining walls.
Mint – as a perennial, fragrant herb, mint can grow up to 30cms depending on your plant species. Because of the invasive nature of mint, it is ideal for planting it in containers for manageability.
Thyme – this low growing shrub is characterized by grey-green leaves that can grow and thrive throughout cold seasons, making it perfect for highland regions.
Lemon balm – this is also an invasive herb ideal for planting in containers. While most of it can die off in autumn, covering it with a cold frame will encourage it to grow through winter.
Creating a Coastal Herb Garden – What to Include:
The benefit of living on the coast is that you can grow most, if not all, herbs.
Once you have established the herb plant, they become resistant to drought, grow every season and get a rich aroma. You can choose to plant your herbs directly in the grounds, in containers or on raised herb beds.
The ideal herbs to grow at the coast include basil, chive, coriander, lavender, sage, garlic, rosemary, thyme and marjoram. These can be used for their medicinal properties and their culinary benefits.
The best thing about coastal herb gardens is that they require little to no maintenance. You only need to occasionally pinch the tops, prune and groom the beds to encourage the plants to flourish.
Essentials for a Thriving Herb Garden
For your herb garden to thrive, you need:
Soil – most herbs can thrive in the same conditions. You can keep your plants happy by using drained soil with natural minerals and fertilizer.
Light – for your herb garden to thrive, ensure your herbs have at least 6 hours of light exposure per day.
Water – while herbs become drought resistant with time, the first year will require you to water them regularly until their roots are matured and well set into the ground.
Conclusion
Growing a herb garden is one of the easiest ways to bring life to your kitchen or home. With this guide, you can grow herbs in any environment in any season. Additionally, new technologies, including grow lights, hydroponics, etc, empower you to grow more plants regardless of your specific climatic conditions.