Chapter 2: The Basics of Raising Herbs
“What was Paradise, but a garden full of vegetables and herbs and pleasure? Nothing there but delights.”
- William Lawson
Climate, soil, sun, and water are the basic ingredients for growing any plant, not just herbs. Most herbs are easy to cultivate, adaptable, and rarely contract plant disease. Of course, you will need to pay special attention to drainage as most herbs do not like wet roots and to each herb’s preferred sun position. Any one of the basic herb reference books listed in the Appendix will detail the specific light, water, and soil requirements for each herb.
Where to grow the herbs — outdoors in beds, in a greenhouse for starter plants or all potted plants, or inside the house for starter plants — is a decision that will depend upon the amount of space available and zoning laws in your area. Once you determine the space available for growing and storing plants, decide which plants you want to grow. Fortunately, most herbs require only a little space to germinate and can then be easily transplanted into small pots for sale.
Your Herbs’ Growing Environment
Each herb has its own soil, climate, and water requirements. Some herbs will get started as seeds, others bought as seedlings, and still others as larger plants. The basic types of soil and directions regarding the plants fit the needs of many herbs, but no set of general directions on herbs should ever substitute for reading about the needs of each specific herb you choose to offer. The following sections offer some basic information on the soil and care needs for herbs in general.
Organic methods
Organic growing involves using natural materials rather than chemicals, such as fertilizers or chemical pest repellents, during the growing process. Add credibility to your business by becoming certified by the government as an organic grower. The drawback of becoming certified is it requires additional money and time that may be difficult for you to invest when you are first starting your business. According to the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) certification, costs can range from $400 to $1,000 per year for an herb grower to obtain the certification. Organic certification is an annual process, so the fee for certification is a yearly expense, but your herb garden or farm must also undergo annual inspections for organic practices to maintain your certification. In addition to the annual fees, the application for certification is $275.
According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, organic certification has its own set of advantages. First, it allows you to use the term “organic” on your herb packaging and marketing materials, which can attract consumers searching for organic products or healthier options for herbs. Because the National Organic Program requires growers to meet a high set of standards to attain the organic certification, people in search of healthier herb options are willing to pay a premium for herbs grown organically.
“You just cannot say that you are certified organic,” said Margaret Shelton of Shelton Herb Farm. To become certified is a long process, but growing herbs organically by not using pesticides is possible, and you can market the organically grown herbs. She added that many herbs are naturally pest-resistant, which is helpful in avoiding chemical pest repellants. “Simple water rinsing or rinsing leaves with soapy water gets rid of most pest problems,” Shelton said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library offers extensive help for growers in the form of a bibliography of sources that includes information on requirements for organic farming at www.nal.usda.gov/ref/herbs.html.
Soil
In general, herbs like loose, well-drained, well-fed soil. Turn to your local Cooperative Extension office or a Master Gardener program to have your soil tested or to inquire about the mineral content of the soil in your area. You can also buy an inexpensive soil testing kit from most garden centers. Simply enter the terms in the search engine of your choice along with your state and county information to find the help closest to you. Often, these groups will test your soil at little or no charge. They will also help you learn and then find sources for any products you may need to change the conditions of your soil to make it more herb friendly. Whether you are growing herbs from seeds or plants, check the soil requirements for each herb you are growing. If you want to mix your own soil mixture instead of using a commercial potting mix, a good formula for herbs that provides proper drainage and the right level of acidity is a mix of garden sand, compost, and topsoil, one-third of each. Artificial fertilizers are not usually necessary unless your soil has a high mineral deficiency.
Soil categories include peat, clay, loam, sand, and silt. Soil varies from region to region and can even have different compositions in different areas of the same farm. If you ask a gardener what the best soil is for growing, you will most likely hear a combination soil with sand, silt, clay, and organic matter is good for growing herbs. Beyond the type of soil, also test the pH level. The pH levels range from 0 to 14. Soils that are acidic substances have smaller pH numbers. Alkaline soils tend to have high pH numbers, so a soil with a 0 pH level is extremely acidic, 7 is neutral, and 14 is extremely alkaline. The ideal pH level for growing herbs is 6.5. This is the point where the concentration of the nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and minerals is in balance to grow the herbs easier.
Weeds
Weeds not only detract from the beauty, fragrance, and appearance of your herb garden, but these pests can also be detrimental to your crop. Weeds tend to take over, even stealing water, light, and nutrients from your herbs. Weeds attract disease and insects that can be harmful to your herb crop as well. On a good note, you can deal with weeds in several ways before they show up in your garden and when they show up in your garden.
To avoid weeds, start with a good, clean bagged soil and do not forget to mulch to help keep weeds down. Mulch will keep the soil free of weeds and helps keep the plants from becoming waterlogged. Once weeds start to appear in your herb garden, pick each one out by hand. The downside of hand weeding is it can be time and labor intensive. Another weed-killing option is cultivation. Cultivation is tilling the soil where your herbs are planted in between the herb plants. Cultivate or till the soil with a rototiller, tractor-drawn cultivator, human-powered cultivator, or with a hoe.
Herbicides are another option to kill weeds. Herbicide formulas are available to target what stage your crop is in: before you plant, before you have weeds, and when you have weeds. The catch with using herbicides to control the weeds in your garden is the chemicals can be harmful to the herb plants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many herbicides are being taken off the market. Because the chemicals have to be registered with the EPA and the chemical mixtures are inorganic, many formulas are not safe for the herb plants or for the gardeners who take in the chemical vapors or ingest the herbicides. As far as organic herbicides are concerned, vinegar, which is acetic acid, is one method you can use to spray on weeds. The issue is the organic weed-killers are not as effective as the chemical or inorganic herbicides.
Growing plants
For most herbs, plant seeds or put plants into the soil after the soil has been prepared and all danger of frost is gone. Devote a line, also called a furrow, in the ground to each kind of herb and mark each row with cards to help you identify the herbs when they sprout because in their early stages, many herbs look alike. Make sure you check the specifications for each herb, but in general, most herbs take a shallow planting — about ¼ to ½ inch into the soil. Each herb has its own space requirements, but in general, you should be safe leaving 2 inches between each plant. Read directions carefully on the back of each plant’s seed packet when it comes time to separate the seedlings.
Sowing the seeds in flats will save time separating them later, for the most part. Even if you have sown your plants into the ground and you must separate the plants, they can be put into paper cups with dirt or into flats after separating to increase the yield and not waste any plants. Some herbs germinate quickly and others take a very long time, so figure these germination times into the planning for the business. For herbs that propagate by cuttings, purchase a supply of small plants and establish your own stock over a couple of years before you begin taking cuttings. See the training section in Chapter 3 for how to learn about propagation methods.
Purchase seeds, flats, or plugs in bulk from a commercial grower to save money. Price breaks on seed packets begin with as few as ten packs in some companies, such as Richters Herbs. But when expanding the line of herbs in your business, it may be just as economical to start small and use a few packs of retail commercial seed from a reputable seed company.
Watering
Margaret Shelton of Shelton Herb Farm said because different herbs have different watering needs, she uses hoses, watering cans, and sprinkler-type watering to accommodate the watering needs for all her herbs. The differing needs of the plants combined with their varied requirements for sun and shade keep her from using only a single type of irrigation system. Most importantly, when dealing with herbs, remember not to water too much because it can cause disease in herbs or cause the roots of the herb to rot and die. In climates with a severe winter season, if the herbs are oversaturated, this can weaken the herbs entering dormancy for the winter and cause the herbs not to survive through the winter season.
Organization, Schedule, and Record Keeping
One of the most important ways to accomplish any large task is to divide it into smaller segments or chart out the details so no important elements of the task will be missed. For planting herbs, keep track of when the germination will occur, when and how much to water, the type of soil you will be using, the specific herb variety you have planted, when to harvest, and notes on special conditions for each herb. These notes could include propagation by cutting, thinning guidelines, how well the plant did where you had it growing on your site, and even how well it sold. Your handy chart is a shortcut for the basic and the odd bits of information about each plant. It can have as many or as few categories as you need.
A chart is a tool to reference at each stage of the growing process from seed to harvest and sales. It is a self-teaching tool. When you expand your business to include many types of herbs, you might prefer a more extensive system with an entire page devoted to each herb in a tabbed notebook. Although computer recordkeeping is great, having a notebook chart you can take into the planting area to make notes as you inspect the plants is important. Take a look at the chart below: It is a four-category chart filled out for three herbs. There is room to list yield per row or per packet of seed next to the name of the plant if desired or in the notes section.
Herb Reference Chart: Three Sample Entries
|
When to Plant |
Germinates |
Thin/Harvest |
Notes |
|
|
Parsley, a biennial (Flat-leafed Italian) |
After frost |
3–6 weeks |
Does not like thinning; harvest outer leaves first |
Soak seeds before sowing |
|
Basil, an annual (Green globe) |
After frost |
5–7 days |
Pluck leaves at top |
20 plants per package |
|
Rosemary, a perennial |
After frost |
15–25 days |
Clip stems as needed |
Grows from cuttings |
Indoor spacing
Germinating seeds indoors requires fluorescent lamps that are close together and not far above the plants. Of course, the actual amount of space needed will depend on the number of flats and containers you plan on using. An important factor to consider when using indoor space, especially space not originally configured for commercial use such as a room in home or a basement, is the electrical wiring is brought up to sufficient level and the wiring meets local fire and electrical codes. Be sure to also check that grow lamps are placed so they cannot tip over, heat flammable material, and cause a fire. One way to multiply indoor space is to place the plant flats or containers on staircase-style shelving. Be sure to have sufficient grow lights to cover each and every plant.
Hydroponics
The word “hydroponic” comes from the Latin word that means “water working.” Literally, hydroponics is the practice of growing plants or herbs in water instead of soil. Hydroponic herb growing has been popular since the ancient times of Babylon. Today, Canada and Holland are the biggest producers of hydroponic food, and even a big portion of the herbs and vegetables you buy at the local supermarket is grown using hydroponics. One of the major benefits of growing food, herbs, and plants hydroponically is the process yields larger quantities and creates healthier herbs than soil-grown plants. In addition, herbs grown hydroponically have a higher nutritional value because the roots of the herbs are directly in the nutrient solution that goes into the water in a hydroponic garden. According to the University of Mississippi’s Office of Sustainability, hydroponic herbs contain higher vitamin and mineral levels than those grown in soil.
Another accolade for hydroponic herb gardens is you can plant a variety of herbs in the same garden, referred to as companion planting, which promotes easier herb garden management and healthier herb plants because some of the herbs protect the others from insects or help fellow herbs to grow better. For example, coriander and anise seem to grow better when planted next to each other in a hydroponic garden.
Growing herbs hydroponically is growing in popularity, especially for culinary and medicinal purposes. The hydroponic style of herb growing gives you more control over the growing environment because a hydroponic garden is a simulation of a natural garden. You can control the temperature, how much light your herbs receive, the quality of the air exposure of the herbs, the pH level of your garden, and the amount of nutrients the herbs receive.
In previous years, hydroponics was considered an expensive way to grow herbs because you had to purchase fluorescent lights to act as the light source for your garden. The introduction of the less-expensive halide lamp, however, allows you to grow your herbs hydroponically at a less expensive cost. Find halide lamps at any major garden supply store or plant wholesale suppliers. In reality, if you live in a region where you can place your hydroponic herb garden in a window with southern or western sun exposure, you can grow your herbs without a simulated light source. However, using metal halide lights does speed the growth rate and adds flavor, color, and fragrance to the herbs. To give you an idea on cost, a metal halide light can run anywhere from $13 to $90 each, depending on the size and strength of the light.
To get your hydroponic herb garden going, start with a basic nursery tray, dome cover, and rockwool starter cubes. Rockwool is a growing medium used in hydroponics and is a combination of rock and sand. The combination is spun into a fiber material then shaped into cubes. Place the herb seeds in the tray, cover the tray, and store it dark and warm location until your seedlings sprout. When the seedlings appear, place the tray in a sunny window or under your light source until the leaves of the herbs start to form. Once this occurs, transfer the herbs to your hydroponic garden.
If you are growing your hydroponic herbs in a contained area or a windowsill, use the deepwater culture method, which consists of placing your herb seedlings in a mesh basket filled with clay pellets. Suspend the tray over a container of nutrient solution with a small aquarium air pump to provide the oxygen the root systems of the herbs need to grow. Because the pH level plays a vital role in hydroponics, a pH test kit comes in handy to ensure pH levels remain between 5.5 and 6.5 for optimal growing conditions. If the pH level is off in hydroponics, the plant loses its ability to absorb the nutrients. Buy a pH test kit at any pool supply store, fish or aquarium store, or gardening center.
Outdoor growing: field or free space
Planning to grow herbs outside? Although herb growing inside a home or a greenhouse is certainly possible, it is much more economical to grow herbs outside, even if you only have a small space. It is not necessary to have a large outdoor space to begin an herb business. Some businesses, such as DeBaggio’s Herb Farm, growing and selling herbs since 1975, began in the founder’s backyard in Arlington, Virginia. DeBaggio’s Herb Farm moved to Chantilly, Virginia, in 1997, and it now grows about 100,000 plants each year. As your business grows, you too may find a need to rent land or use the small spaces available in creative ways.
Herbs can be put into staggered raised beds, and many can be started in containers. Even if you are in colder climates or if a greenhouse is not in the budget, a cold frame can be constructed with wood sides and a plastic top to keep delicate plants from freezing when the thermometer temperature dips. Farmers with a small field that has been fallowed, or plowed, but has not been used much may find that field more profitable if turned to growing herbs rather than sitting unseeded during a growing season. Homeowners with a large yard may be able to create enough beds for profitable herb growing in just a small space. Even the smallest yard can expand in an upward direction with raised beds and containers that take the rows of plants higher and higher on “shelves,” which are usually tiered. One caveat with using shelves to raise plants up is to be sure not to create shade for the plants on the lower level when building the arrangement upward. Visit other herb businesses or other plant nurseries in your area to see what the best method is in your climate and to find attractive ways to display potted herbs to customers.
Greenhouses
Greenhouses are freestanding or semi-attached structures devoted to growing plants, and they can be either glass-paneled or have plastic windows. Greenhouses can be home construction projects or ordered ready-made and custom constructed on site from a variety of sources. Size, design, and quality of materials make the difference. Several greenhouse companies are listed in the Resource Appendix of this book. To determine if you want to build a greenhouse, consider your climate because a colder climate will mean higher costs for maintaining a steady temperature in the greenhouse. Discuss the experience with a greenhouse owner in your area, as they will know from experience the cost of a greenhouse and its maintenance. In addition, consider if you have enough space for a greenhouse on your property.
State extension services, often run through universities, are another good source of information on the need for and building of greenhouses. According to the West Virginia University website (www.wvu.edu), the lowest cost per square foot of growing space is generally available in a freestanding or even-span greenhouse that is 17 to 18 feet wide. This size, the university estimates, can accommodate a central bench, two side benches, and two walkways. The benches would hold flats or pots. This site also said in general, it is not a good idea to put plants directly on the floor in a greenhouse. Placing the plants on the benches, planks, or tables allows better drainage, enables the farmer to work with the plants at waist level, and minimizes insect, pest, or animal damage.
Materials used to build greenhouses vary widely. There are pros and cons to each type of material, but for those in cold climates, it is important to remember structures made with PVC piping and plastic sheeting may not withstand the weight of heavy snow, severe storm rainfall, or hail. No matter what structure you choose, you must take certain factors into consideration if the greenhouse is going to provide the right indoor climate for herbs in all seasons that will allow them to germinate, grow, and winter over. Not every herb business needs a greenhouse, especially in the early stages, so do not let a decision about a greenhouse hamper your start. You can begin by starting herbs indoors or simply purchasing herbs as small plugs as the season and your customers demand.