Sowing Herbs directly in the ground?

Supermarket bought Coriander gets a bit woody and will bolt like any others...but give it a try, what have you to lose? Repot in fresh compost and see what happens.

Only way to keep basil from being eaten is by growing it in a pot, on a patio table or windowsill. Is that such a hardship (I love the smell you get from accidently brushing against it when opening curtains in the morning). Sow batches continually from now until late autumn so you always have a fresh supply. Its one herb I cannot be without and is so easy to grow.

Chives don't spread like mint and take over. They're great border edging plants too, especially if you let them flower. Otherwise, keep cutting them for cooking and you'll encourage more growth.

 

Chives are good for beginners. They transplant OK so sow them in small pots on a windowsill before planting out. They're slug resistant. You can harvest them sparingly within the same year of planting and the following year, you'll have a clump to feast on...and flowers!

Rosemary needs direct sunlight and really good drainage (sandy)--get these two things right and you won't go wrong. Without decent sunlight rosemary just looks sad and bored. Rosemary is also fun and to propagate from cuttings.

I think Coriander tends to bolt because it hates being transplanted, so I sow where I want it to grow. If it does bolt--start to flower--pinch out all flower buds and keep them pinched out at the first sign. If your coriander does bolt, let the seeds ripen, harvest and eat -- or harvest and sow the next time. Coriander is tricky but not impossible so keep trying.

 

I must be the only person on the planet who finds it hard to grow mint ! I had to make 2 wee beds from bricks at the lowest part of the garden and fill with compost to keep it alive. I wanted it all over the place because I love the smell but it just wont invade anywhere ...

 

OK. Are you growing from seed? Planting out bought plants? Planting out supermarket plants?

 

Basil:

I grow enough for three 5" pots - three plants per pot (so that's 9 plants, natch!)

One pot is on the kitchen windowsill, and is "mown" as required by the Catering Crops the other two are in the greenhouse being lovingly cosseted. When the kitchen one is fully murdered it is rotated with the best one in the greenhouse, and by the time its turn comes round again it has reshooted and is ready to be mown again!

 

Re mint, I buy plants, from garden centres and ebay. Over the years I have tried many times but they either die off or they hang onto life for a summer then vanish forever. I think the soil is too dry and crumbly, we are on the side of a hill. So I made a brick square at the lowest part of the back garden near the door, filled it with compost and keep it wet.
The mint was great last year, filled the square, & I started another one next to it. I now have tiny green shoots in both squares. But I have 2 plants I got from the garden centre out in the border and they look like they're dying so I will move them in beside the rest. It's annoying, because I want some mint in the front garden in the border near the door so I can smell it !

 

Plant in a large pot (using the right-sort-of-compost ) and "plunge" it into the front border?

 

i MIGHT TRY THAT, THANK YOU. oops yelling. Dig a big hole and shove the pot in...

 

Re: Mint -- I agree with Kristen, it must need slightly richer soil and a larger pot. It dies down in winter, goes scraggy etc so by the sound of it your last years mint might be coming to life again. Plant your new mint next door to it and keep your fingers crossed.

 

Good point, mine is only just coming up, and ming is a long way north of me ...

 

I want it to grow round the front, and the bed I made for it is round the back at the back door. I think the problem must be the soil being too poor and the water running downhill leaving the mint always dry. I will try a big pot in the garden and keep it moist.
Until I forget. LOL!