Any Herb Gardeners here?

[enchanted_one1975]

I am planning on giving up truck driving next year and spending more time at home with my family. I am not quite sure how this is going to work financially, but I feel that I will be provided for. Normal gardening won't be a problem at all. I figure that will help the finances and my family will eat better too. What I am unsure about is the Herb Garden. I feel the need to mention now that I am talking about legitimate herbs. The kind that can be used for cooking and for my religious rituals. I live in a place with very little iron in the soil (in fact it looks yellow like sand) and the soil is also very firm. I don't think the little plants would do well at all in that. My idea is such:

Get some lumber and build a box above the surface of the ground. Above the box build another box out of chicken wire. I am thinking of starting with one about a foot high and about 64 square feet (less expensive lumber comes in 8 foot sections so 8x8 gives me my 64 feet). I would fill this box with premium soil, probably including some miracle grow soil. The chicken wire box over the top would keep out all the desert wildlife I have by me and also keep my four dogs from making their own contributions.

Does this sound like it will work or do I need to go deeper on the box? Ideas and suggestions?

[dragynfly0515]

Originally Posted by enchanted_one1975

I am planning on giving up truck driving next year and spending more time at home with my family. I am not quite sure how this is going to work financially, but I feel that I will be provided for. Normal gardening won't be a problem at all. I figure that will help the finances and my family will eat better too. What I am unsure about is the Herb Garden. I feel the need to mention now that I am talking about legitimate herbs. The kind that can be used for cooking and for my religious rituals. I live in a place with very little iron in the soil (in fact it looks yellow like sand) and the soil is also very firm. I don't think the little plants would do well at all in that. My idea is such:

Get some lumber and build a box above the surface of the ground. Above the box build another box out of chicken wire. I am thinking of starting with one about a foot high and about 64 square feet (less expensive lumber comes in 8 foot sections so 8x8 gives me my 64 feet). I would fill this box with premium soil, probably including some miracle grow soil. The chicken wire box over the top would keep out all the desert wildlife I have by me and also keep my four dogs from making their own contributions.

Does this sound like it will work or do I need to go deeper on the box? Ideas and suggestions?

I'm in New England where the soil is mostly clay, so I can't tell you much about desert gardening. I started an herb garden last spring and I basically replaced the soil with premium soil. I did not do a raised garden like you're going to do, but my sister did in New York and it worked really well. The only other thing I've heard of is to break up the ground under your box to about a foot deep before adding the soil.

I also became a stay at home dad last year (wife's business is doing well). The gardening helped with the weight gain, as I went from unloading 60,000 pounds of syrup to sitting at a computer and homeschooling.


Blessed be,
Crys

[Monte]

I have a few herbs and if you tell me what kinds you were thinking of growing I would be happy to help. I know you posted this last year so I don't know if you did this or not, if you did, some pictures of the garden would be cool!

[enchanted_one1975]

I haven't gotten around to doing it yet as I have been at work so much. I will hopefully get this project underway later this year. I still haven't decided on which herbs. Probably a good variety.

[Baydwin]

You're going to want to change the shape of the bed, an 8x8 foot bed will mean you'll need to tread on the soil and so compact it. Better to have two or three smaller beds with paths between giving you access to all the plants, without the need to actually stand on the soil.

[Monte]

Well what kind do you use? I know some good ones are Rosemarry, Thyme, Sage, Parsley, Catnip, Basil, Mints (all kinds), Lavender, Aloe Vera, Marjorams & Oregano are just some. Also a good book to look up is "The Complete Book Of Herbs" by Lesley Bremness and pbs.org has a program called Victory Garden. Hope this helps!

[MysticSang'ha]

Small raised beds are best.

In regards to what kinds of herbs to grow, just plant what you like, see what happens, take notes on windbreaks, sun exposure, soil temp and ph, and water and fertilizer requirements. You'll eventually find what plants that are also native to your area that are medicinal and culinary that will grow well as well as be of great use to you.

In other words, you've done quite a bit already with your preparations. Now go and get your hands dirty!

[*Anne*]

An herb garden with four dogs. You're very brave!

[Willamena]

You could invest in a mini-greenhouse, like this:
Mini Greenhouse, Lean-to Greenhouse, Greenhouse Kits, Hobby Greenhouses

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by *Anne*

An herb garden with four dogs. You're very brave!

I'm sorry that I don't have any particular pointers about herb gardening, but I can chime in with Anne and say that you really need to fence off your garden from the dogs or you're gonna get ****** at some point after planting. My dog ate the hot chilies first.