|
Planting Herbs In The Fall
By Ted Roberson
For gardeners who have tried and possibly failed at planting in the spring or summer, you may have already figured out that planting in the fall is usually best for many herbs. Especially for grown from bulbs, planting them in the fall gives them a chance to make roots and they will be ready for harvest in the spring. Since are almost always very delicate plants, planting in the fall is the best because of the cool weather. The harsh humid conditions that occur in many parts of the country throughout the summer means that will have a difficult time getting started, let alone surviving.
Of course, planting in the fall is not for all climate zones, especially for climate zones above 5 or 6, and not for all herbs. In these climate zones, it is usually cool enough through the spring and summer months to grow and may be too cool in the quickly approaching cold weather of the fall months. If you are interested in particular then it is best to research their hardiness independently for climate zones 1-5.
For the rest of the country, planting in the fall works well because need lots of sun, but do not need the humidity that goes along with the sunshine. There is a fine balance between too little and too much sunshine for these delicate plants, who usually need about five to six hours of sunlight a day. Keep in mind that there are a few that enjoy the shade, such as parsley and mint, but the majority of prefer at least a few hours of sunlight a day.
The best part about planting in the fall is that can easily be planted in containers, just in case the weather gets cold. This
way can be moved to a greenhouse or indoors where grow lights or just placing them in a sunny window will keep them at bay for the winter.
It really is best to start out small herb plants or from seeds in small pots in the fall and transfer them to the ground in the spring, if at all. Since they are so fragile, placing them right in the ground might mean not getting good results. Remember that there are a few that come in the form of perennial bulbs, such as garlic, fennel, saffron, and shallots, but the rest are in the form of plants or seeds. Herb perennial bulbs should be placed in the ground as the fall weather approaches, but at least 6-8 weeks before a freeze, this way they have time to establish roots before becoming dormant.
There are both annual and perennial as well as biennial herbs. Popular annual include basil, borage, cilantro, chamomile, and rosemary. Popular perennials and biennials include parsley, sage, and mint. Most are annuals and the point of planting in the fall is to give them a chance to get rooted and be prepared for an entire season in the early spring and summer months. That means you will be harvesting these annuals in the midst of the summer when the heat of the summer is useful in helping dry for storage. Ted Roberson owner of landscape living is a landscape and garden enthusiast who has years of experience working and creating outdoor living areas. Discover how you can improve and maintain your landscape and garden area with simple projects.
|
