Herb Bed

I can keep mint through worse winters than you will get down there Andy but it doesn't come to life until later on. I can't keep rosemary or verbena though.

 

Sounds like exactly the problem I have created for myself! Thyme in the shade of my mint, soil probably too rich for the thyme....reckon it's a goner! Oh well, you live and learn, and it's the mint I use much more so hopefully that will bounce back as suggested.

Would it be good to cut that right back now or doesn't it matter? If so, how close to the ground?

What a shame...I always though rosemary would be one of the hardier of the lot...maybe in a few years from now if things continue as they are you'll be keeping rosemary all year and I'll be growing pineapples?! In the meantime I'm happy to stick some in the post to you next autumn winter if you like as we have tons :-)

 

I'm in Yorkshire too Andy and the rosemary I put in last year seems pretty healthy... I can't get mint to thrive though no matter what I do! I think my garden might not get enough sun. Everyone says it's invasive, I wish mine was! Is your herb bed quite sunny?

The first year I had my thyme I thought it was a goner, year before last and just too wet. I trimmed it right back and it looks much better this year, although it's not in ideal conditions. I have a lovely lemon thyme that I might move because of the shading, it's a lavender in my case.

I recommend dill and oregano which have grown rather nicely for me. If you let oregano flower it's very pretty and mine was covered in bees last year. Dill is an annual but it's got very attractive architectural flower heads with little yellow flowers.

 

Herbs are really weird things when it comes to overwintering, it turns out. I got all mine last year, they are all fine, the one that has done the best during winter is lavender. Looks nice and huge with lots of this season grow on it <bit shocked>. Rosemary, despite me trimming it down to practically nothing in autumn, is now flowering <shocked even more>. The rest has bounced back beautifully inc. mint, lovage, marjoram and oreganos. Chives is growing like crazy and also has flower buds.

Dill flowers are essential to making your own pickled ghurkins