Things You'll Need:
- Compost
- Hoe
- Herb transplants
- Fertilizer
- Straw mulch
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Step 1
Choose a well-drained garden bed that receives at least six hours of sunlight a day. Place a 3-inch layer of compost over the bed and till it in to an 8- to 10-inch depth to aid drainage and add nutrients to the soil.
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Step 2
Plant herb transplants into the garden after all danger of frost has passed in spring. Call your local university or county extension office to find when this is.
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Step 3
Harden off transplants before planting outdoors. Place the herbs outside on a patio or other sheltered spot out of direct sunlight for two hours on the first day. Gradually increase the time outdoors each day for seven days, until the plants spend the whole day outside on the last day. This acclimatizes them to outdoor growing conditions and helps them avoid shock.
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Step 4
Plant each herb in the garden at the same depth it was at in the nursery pot and follow the spacing recommendations between each plant as detailed on the plant label. Plant annual herbs in one section of the garden and perennials in another, so you won't disturb the perennial varieties when replacing the annuals each spring.
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Step 5
Water after planting them weekly thereafter. Provide enough water that the soil is moist to an 8-inch depth---approximately 1 to 2 inches of water a week though more may be necessary during hot, dry weather.
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Step 6
Fertilize at mid-summer using a 5-10-5 fertilizer. Apply 3 oz. of fertilizer to every 10 feet of row, applying it to the side of the plants so it doesn't come in direct contact with roots or leaves. Direct contact will burn and damage the herbs.
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Step 7
Apply a 2- to 5-inch layer of straw mulch around perennial herbs after the first frost in fall. Mulching preserves soil temperature and moisture, and protects the plants during the cold winter.
