Growing herbs outside has become a long time favorite of the outdoor gardener. Just as they like growing vegetables and fruit in their gardens, so do they like growing herbs. Some herbs in fact, when grown along with the vegetables and fruits, will fare better as the plants sort of help each other along.

One Plant Helping Another

Take tomatoes for instance. When they are properly cared for, they will produce lots of fresh fruit. Now if you plant basil alongside the tomatoes, the tomatoes can be better still, because you won’t have to use insecticides to keep the bugs and other vermin away. Basil naturally repels bugs. In this way, it actually assists the tomatoes in staying healthy and it keeps them from being invaded.

There are other varieties that will act much in the same way as well when growing herbs outside. A little research can go a long way and almost eliminate some the steps you would otherwise have to take in order for the plants to survive.

The Same as Vegetable Gardening

When growing herbs outside, it’s pretty much the same as far as care goes when you are working the herbs. You’ll need to keep the weeds away so they don’t overtake the plants, and you have to place them according to the needs of the herb plant in question.

If your garden is large, then it may possibly have a section that is not quite as sunny as the rest of the garden. This will be the location in which you will plant the herbs that prefer more shade than others. Parsley is one of these plants and it actually fares best where the sunlight is filtered, such as an area that has some tree limbs overhanging.

Basil on the other hand, like tomatoes likes the full sun and so should be planted where the sun shines best.

Preparing the garden

Just like your vegetables, the herbs like the soil to be rich in nutrients. They also like the soil to be loose and porous. When planting, you should “pack” the dirt down as it will stunt them, and in some cases they may not do very well at all.

The location of the garden should cover a combination of sunny and shady areas, but this actually depends on the varieties that you choose to grow. In other words, if you choose herbs that all like a lot of sun then there will be no need for any shade over the area at all.

Grouping

When growing herbs outside, they should be grouped according to the type of herbs they are, and the care that they require. For instance, place all culinary herbs that like lots of sun and water together. In another group, place the herbs that are used in teas and have similar qualities together and so forth.

This will actually make your job of caring for them easier.

Herbs are Useful

Herbs are useful for many things. They are probably most commonly known for their flavor properties and the enhancements that are made to certain dishes when we cook. It is also commonly known that they make some tasty teas as well.

What you may not commonly know however is that not only did people take to growing herbs outside for cooking purposes, and for making teas, but also for the medicinal qualities that some herbs naturally have.

Herbs of this type are used for many things including:

• Easing headaches

• Curing stomach ailments

• As a sleep aid

Many studies have shown that these herbs do indeed help with many things.