I have this sudden urge to grow herbs in my backyard, but have no clue how to go about it.

How do you start growing mint, basil, cilantro ??

If you grow mint, keep it in a pot otherwise you will soon find that you are growing nothing but mint in your herb garden. And everywhere else for that matter <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif">

As for starting to grow them...perhaps toddle down to your local garden centre and find out when they will begin stocking herb seedlings. What's the climate like there? Is it a very cold winter? In some places where the winter's mild enough you can put in herbs any time and they should survive (well, it worked for me in Australia anyway <img src="../images/emoticons/ytongue.gif"> ).

Further details - over to Kew!

Quote:

I have this sudden urge to grow herbs in my backyard, but have no clue how to go about it.

How do you start growing mint, basil, cilantro ??

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What climate zone are in Franji? If you don't know, tell me where you are. (Again!!)

What is a climate zone ??

My current coordinates are : approx. 35° North, 85° West.
Topography : a valley.
Elevation: 936 feet above sea level.
Annual Average Temperature: High 69°F, Low 46°F
Average Low Temperature: January 26°F, July 66°F
Average High Temperature: January 46°F, July 87°F
Annual Average Precipitation: 47.14 inches
Annual Average Snowfall: 11.40 inches

Generally the summers are green and gentle. The fall colour is truly magnificent as the hills light up in brilliant autumn hues. Winter is brief and mild. Spring arrives early and stays for a long time, so I am told.

Ok! Franji. Now is the time to start seeding some of those herbs. Which ones have you in mind?

I've answered herb questions somewhere before. I'll dig into my doc's and see if I saved any of it.

Yup. Someone failing at growing herbs in one of those mixed basket things. Here's what I wrote.
"These mixed herb 'gardens' don't work. Main reason is that they are all lumped together so are forced to share the same environment, conditions and season. Basil can be grown in a propagator on a window sill or in pots or trays in good quality compost in March! Temp needs to be 10-15c. You cover the seeds with 6mm sieved compost. Then you plant them out after the last frost in mid-May! 15cm apart. Pinch out the tops to create a bushy plant. Ready July to Oct.
Sweet Basil is the same but need spacing out to 25cm.
Oregano. Different thing altogether. Sow the seeds thinly outdoors in good quality fine warm soil in April/May. You should get leaves Aug/Sep. Leave them in the ground...next year you should have leaves Apr to Sep.. This plant is a hardy perannual and will live forever even during hard winters.
There are many sorts of parsly. Basic rule is to start off by sowing seeds indoors in a propagator and plant out after frost. Keep the soil moist at all times, even in the seed tray or pot. Whatch out for slugs and carrot fly. Sow another row direct in the ground in July to prolong the season.
Coriander should always be sown where it is to grow, it doesn't transplant very well. Sow the seeds about 5mm deep in April/May and thin out the plants to about 25cm. When about 15cm tall, cut the leaves for use. Repeat monthly. For late summer plants, sow seeds in pots on a window sill.
Chervil; It's leaves are used as a garnish, in soups, egg and potato dishes. Leaves should be picked just before use or the aniseed aroma/flavour deminishes. It's not as invasive as Cow Parsley which belongs to the same family. Leaves look nice too. Sow the seeds direct and along a border for display (and where you can get at them) in March. Slow to germinate and needs to be thinned out to about 20cm. Carry on sowing up to September and you'll have early Chervil next year. Water if they get dry."
That do you for now?

Thanks Kew. I tried with a pot of mint, but its dead now. I guess plants and me don't get along that well. Especially with all the traveling, they just dry out when I am gone. Poor plants, I refuse to torture any new ones.

You never heard of drip feeding?

Take one drip (preferably a neighbour)...