Growing herbs together

Designing, planting and sharing a herb garden can be interesting, fun and economic. A bed of herbs can look and smell fantastic. Herbs are pretty tough plants, are easy to grow and can be used in an assortment of ways - for flavouring food, for their relaxing scents, for their medicinal properties or simply for decorative reasons. There are a large variety of plants to choose from; annuals/bi annuals such as basil, coriander, parsley, chamomile, borage, dill and marjoram and perennials such as mint; fennel, oregano and thyme, rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, hyssop, chives and sage. With so many varieties - what plants do you choose?

Perhaps one way to make the choice easier is to have a themed herb garden,  for example:

1. A wildlife themed herb garden:

Herbs to attract wildlife could include; chives, fennel, hyssop, lavender, rosemary, thyme, mint, borage, rosemary, teasel and angelica.

2. An Italian cooking themed herb garden:

Herbs could include; basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, fennel and sage.

3. A French culinary themed herb garden:

Herbs could include; lavender, tarragon, sorrel, thyme, fennel, rosemary, parsley, oregano, and chives.

4. An English kitchen themed herb garden;

Herbs could include; chives, chamomile, lemon balm, dill, parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, sage, borage and assorted mints.

Top tip:

Some herbs such as mint and lemon balm are vigorous and can spread rapidly. To help keep them under control, you can plant them in a large pot and then put this into a herb bed.

For more detailed information about growing herbs please visit:

Garden Organic website here.
Royal Horticultural Society website here.