How to Plant an Apothecary Garden

The apothecary garden commonly contains a wide variety of plants, flowers and herbs.

For some, gardening is more than just a hobby where effort is rewarded by the production of beautiful plants -- it is a useful practice which results in a harvest that can be used to create of any number of simple, time-honored remedies. Those who wish to cultivate plants of medicinal value will find the apothecary garden is no more difficult to grow than a standard herb garden. In fact, the two may even contain a number of common plants since herbs are regularly used in a number of teas, tonics and tinctures.

Things You'll Need

• Paper and pencil
• Garden spade
• Compost, peat moss or well-rotted manure
• Gardening stakes

Instructions

1. Decide what you'd like to grow. Check the USDA hardiness map to determine your current zone, and bear this in mind as you make your selections; not every plant is suitable for every climate. Common additions to an apothecary garden might include peppermint, marigold, comfrey, ginger, sage, lavender, chamomile and lemon balm. Not only are these plants easy to grow, they have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments.

2. Plan your garden on paper prior to putting it in the ground. While an apothecary garden is not necessarily known for its beauty, many of the plants within it are lovely, and thoughtful placement will improve the overall appearance. Consider the height of the plants at maturity, and plan to place taller plants at the back of the garden while placing low-growing varieties near the front. In addition, be sure to leave pathways between different types of plants to allow for easy access at harvest time.

3. Choose a site that will allow your plants to receive full sunlight for at least six hours each day. Turn over the earth at the selected site, digging down 6 to 8 inches with a sturdy garden spade.

4. Amend the soil at the site by adding compost, peat moss or well-rotted manure to the excavated dirt. For every three shovels full of soil, add one shovel full of organic material, and mix well.

5. Plant each seed according to the package directions, paying close attention to seed depth and spacing. Mark each section or row as you finish planting it. This will make identifying young plants easier. Simple signs can be created by placing the empty seed packet over the end of a small gardening stake.

6. Water the garden. Pour water slowly over the soil so as not to dislodge the newly planted seeds. Check the surface of the soil each day, and add water as needed to maintain a moist growing environment until the plants are well-established. Once the plants have sprouted, reduce the frequency of the watering, adding water once or twice a week depending on the local weather.

References

• The Herb Companion: Herb Garden Design Plans - a 21st Century Healing Garden
• Harvest for the Hungry Garden: Medicinal Plant Garden

Resources

• Plants for a Future: 7000 Edible, Medicinal and Useful Plants
• National Arboretum: USDA Hardiness Zones Map