PROCTOR'S TIPS: Growing herbs in your garden

What's an herb? The answer depends on who you talk to, but I think of herbs as the "useful plants." Herbs can be used for cooking, healing and household chores such as keeping moths out of your closet or perfuming your linens.




I rely on my pot of aloe vera for a multitude of minor complaints, such as sunburn, insect bites and scratches.

Although a garden space devoted exclusively to herbs is nice, you don't need a proper herb garden to grow herbs. Many make excellent garden plants. Others may be grown in pots or planted in your vegetable garden.

Almost all herbs need a sunny position but it's not necessarily true that they do best in poor soil. Most are drought tolerant, with basil being the main exception. In addition, many herbs actually repel insects. That's why some gardeners grow garlic, lavender or artemisia around their roses. Rabbits and deer often avoid many herbs.

Some of the best herbs for use in beds and borders include lavender, sage, savory, tansy, thyme, artemisia, chives, oregano and fennel. Bay, aloe, lemon grass, society garlic and rosemary aren't hardy in Colorado but they are easily grown in pots that can be brought inside to a winter windowsill. Most herbs are easy to grow in patio pots as well if you garden primarily on a balcony or deck. Annual herbs such as dill and basil can be grown in a pot as well, or in a vegetable plot.

Lemon balm and mint are rambunctious growers and are best confined to pots. Otherwise they'll overtake most of your garden in a short time.

My favorite herbs for cooking include fennel, thyme, oregano, basil and dill. If you have limited space, try growing your favorite culinary herbs in a large pot. Lavender and santolina, which I harvest and dry for use in my linen closet and in the closet where I hang wool sport coats, can also make good specimens on a sunny patio. Most herbs don't require any fertilizing for good, sustained growth.

Herbs can be harvested and dried for winter use, although fresh ones always have more flavor. Some herbs can also be frozen for later use. When possible, it's ideal to keep pots of your favorite herbs growing in the kitchen window or a sunny porch in winter, so that their tangy flavor is just a snip away.

To learn more about growing, harvesting and cooking with herbs, check out the Herb Festival at Tagawa Gardens today. In addition, check out "Herbs in the Garden" and "Herbs in Pots" by Rob Proctor and David Macke, from your local library.