Beautiful Gardens Spring Edition 2019 | Page 46

POT TO PLATE/HERBS Chives Applemint Herb haven TEMPTING TIERS Pack in lots of herb pots onto a patio or balcony by standing them on a step ladder. This allows all the plants to bask in the sun, and makes the leaves easy to pick, as they are close to hand. Create a space for growing herbs, and infuse your cooking with freshly picked flavours N Rosemary Thyme 46/BEAUTIFUL GARDENS othing beats the pleasure of being able to pop outside to pick fresh herbs from your own home- grown plants. Be inventive with your outside space. Try planting a single basil, parsley or coriander plant in a small pot. They don’t need much space to grow, and while parsley and coriander tend to die down in winter you’ll find they self-seed. Larger herbs, such as bay, sage, rosemary and thyme, which live for many years, will need bigger pots. Or plant into a bed or border – most herbs thrive in a sunny site and like free- draining compost or soil. The exception is mint, which prefers part shade. Plant it in a pot Purple of its own, not sage in the ground, as it’s invasive and will spread rapidly. HERB PALLET Why not create a herb wall by painting up a wooden pallet? Use a staple gun to fix a double layer of landscape fabric on the back and screw on a piece of timber along the bottom. Fill with compost and plant.