Health News

WHAT CONDITIONS DO HERBS REQUIRE? LIME AND WATERING

Nearly all the commonly-grown herbs need an alkaline soil. For soils that tend to be acid and are somewhat deficient in magnesium, dolomite, a natural mixture of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, is preferable to lime (calcium carbonate only), to give the necessary alkalinity. A sure-fire test for soil acidity is this: If your garden grows camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons to perfection, or if it grows in its natural state a fine array of bush plants, it will need lime or dolomite added to the section where you wish to plant herbs.

A light scattering of dolomite can be put through the loose topsoil before planting, together with any manures or blood and bone. This is contrary to accepted gardening practice, but was recommended to me by the Department of Agriculture in New South Wales. Their booklet, Building up Fertility in the Garden, is invaluable. No doubt the Agriculture Departments in other states and countries will have similar material available.

WATERING. Herbs must have regular water for their best growth (in conjunction with the good drainage mentioned previously), even though many of them can still thrive in dry conditions. Water seems to be necessary for the production of a high oil content.

The herbs can all be watered even in the heat of a bright summer’s day, particularly basil, whose brittle leaves and stems need moisture when the sun is at its hottest. In cooler weather it is advisable to water them in mid-morning so the soil will not be too damp and cold overnight.

So now your herbs are ready to set out in their permanent positions. Keep a section for annuals, another separate one for perennials, or if planting them amongst the flower beds and shrubs remember their individual likes and dislikes and they will give you beauty and usefulness from season to season.

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