Herbs are plants whose leaves and flowers are used fresh or dried. They are primarily used as spices, as vitamin-rich food supplements, as medicinal plants, or as ingredients in cosmetics. Grown in your own garden, they are always fresh, have a strong aroma, and are more affordable than store-bought herbs.

The most popular herbs in our regions are likely parsley, dill, chives, basil, savory, rosemary, lovage, peppermint, marjoram (oregano), thyme, and sage. They can be bought as pre-grown perennials and planted out, or sown as seeds in spring. The latter is especially recommended for annual varieties that are frequently used. These include, for example, parsley, dill, chives, and basil. They can be started early in a seed tray and then transplanted as young plants.

Perennial herbs like sage, rosemary, lovage, winter savory, thyme, peppermint, or marjoram are best purchased from a garden center. They multiply quickly, and for home use, one to two plants are usually completely sufficient. The small herb pots found at supermarket produce counters are unsuitable for further cultivation; they are intended for immediate use.

Choose your herbs based on your taste and their actual use in your kitchen. Then, plant them in different spots in the garden right away to quickly find a suitable location. The strong essential oils of herbs have the positive side effect of keeping pests away. Therefore, it's advisable to create the herb garden near the patio.

Usually, providing the soil with compost is sufficient for fertilization. Annual herbs also appreciate liquid fertilizers like nettle manure or compost tea. All other herbs don't need such strong nitrogen fertilization but are happy with a slow-release fertilizer in the form of horn shavings when planted.

Since herbs have different water needs, they should also be planted together in their own beds accordingly: one bed for drought-loving Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and marjoram, and another bed for the thirstier herbs like lovage, chives, and peppermint. Also, make sure you don't plant your herbs too close together. Some will grow significantly larger than you might expect and need their space. By the way, herbs promote the growth of their neighbors through so-called phytoncides (plant compounds that enter the soil).

Perennial herbs that grow in their location for several years are happy to find their place in the beds at the edge of the vegetable garden. There, in the traditional country garden, flowering perennials grow in peaceful harmony with long-lived spice herbs.

Remove dried plant parts and rejuvenate your herbs by dividing them every few years. To do this, the plant is dug up and divided with a knife or spade. The smaller parts are then replanted into the bed or into pots and watered. This gives the herbs new vigor.