Back to Info Sheets	Herb Growth and Care   Herbs are low growing annual or perennial plants which have soft, juicy stems, at least when they are young.  They are usually grown with a "Practical Purpose" in mind, such as culinary or aromatic use, or sometimes even for their medicinal or magical properties. The three most important elements to growing herbs are light, temperature, and soil.  Most herbs require full sun, at least five hours a day,  and well-drained soil. Some examples of these would be: Rosemary, sages, thymes, savoury and lavender.  However there are exceptions such as mint, parsleys,   and coriander which prefer richer soils containing composts or loam.  Mints  need wetter conditions and should be confined by an edging barrier since they spread rapidly.   Herbs labelled Tender Perennials such as Rosemary, Bay, Lemon Verbena, and some Lavenders, among others, must be over wintered indoors.  The most convenient way to do this is to grow them in pots or tubs and enjoy them in the garden or patio as the weather permits.  Bring them back inside well before the first frost and place them in a cool, bright location.  Your herbs will require sixteen hours under flourescent light during the winter.  Try to use one warm and one cool white flourescent tube.   You will also want to maintain a winter temperature of 65 degree Fahrenheit in the day and  55 degrees Fahrenheit in the night.  Also decrease your watering and cut back your foliage by 1/3.   In early spring, newly purchased plants will need to be carefully accustomed to the outdoors.  If they are very green and leafy, they may need to be kept in a bright window until the weather moderates.   Keep plant shapely by trimming their tips.  Plants which are overwintered  indoors may need weak winter growth pruned back in the spring.                                                    HINTS   WATER - as a rule of thumb, the thinner the leaf the more water the plant will need. Annual herbs will use more water than established perennial herbs because they are actively growing. Perennial herbs need care early on until they are established.  Plant them as the soil is warming up in late May to June, and make sure to water until the plant is established.   Vol. 97 no. 6
© Murray's Garden and Horticultural Services Last updated: March 2, 2008