Generally hardy and easy to grow Herbs have been used for centuries for their medicinal powers and deep flavours. Growing them in your raised steel garden bed on your balcony or patio, herbs will add to the overall health and production of your garden.

Like regular edible crops, there are annual and perennial herbs (grow for 2 seasons or longer), which are versatile growing well both in the ground or in pots and containers.

That being said there are a few things to keep in mind when growing with herbs.

DRAINAGE

First is to consider drainage. Herbs like mint, lemon balm, parsley and coriander love rich, moist soils but for the most part, the majority of herbs thrive in well draining soils.

So ensure that when planting in pots and raised beds there are sufficient drainage holes and if planting directly in the ground your soils are free draining (i.e. A little sand in them) to avoid root rot. Additionally don’t overwater your herbs restricting watering to when the first inch of soil is dry.

SUNSHINE

Generally speaking most of our favourite herbs originate from the Mediterranean regions of the globe, blessed with a lot of sun and dry conditions. So ensure you select a nice warm, full sun spot in your space. If your garden is heavily shaded then try planting a range of mints and some softer leafed herbs like coriander and parsley that can survive in lower light levels.

SPREAD

Herbs like mint like to run and spread, so much so that they can become a weed in your garden. Others such as Oregano, Thyme and Lavender will grow quite large after a few seasons. Keeping this in mind ensure your plantings are well spaced and with “runners” like mint, restrict them to pots and harvest regularly to ensure bushy growth.

Some TLC

Perennial herbs respond well to a light prune in early spring or autumn along with an application of compost or worm castings around the base of the plant.

When planting in pots and containers, replant every second year into larger pots to prevent herbs becoming pot bound.

All though known for their hardiness herbs can suffer from some fungal diseases like powdery mildew and fungal rust e.g. Mint Rust. To treat start by removing infected leaves, create some airflow around the base of the plant and add some compost or worm castings. If there is a major infection (40% and above) then remove the plant.

Some herbs to start with:

Annuals: Dill, Chervil, Sweet Basil, Summer Savory, Coriander, and Fennel

Perennials: Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Bush Basil, Mint, Chives, Lemon Balm, Sage

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Mint:

Mint is so easy to grow and sometimes can be one of the fastest herbs to grow. Mint is great in tea and is known to soothe stomachs in cases of indigestion or inflammation.

Basil:

This herb is easy to grow in spring and summer. There are more than 60 varieties of Basil. Fresh Basil is famously  sauces. Medicinally it is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Thyme:

Some common varieties of thyme are lemon, caraway and wild. Thyme can be used fresh or dried and is a great herb to be used in chicken. Its leaves are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron calcium and more.

Rosemary:

A great herb to be used with meat such as lamb, veal, pork. Versatile in that it can be used in tea also with mint leaves. Rosemary is a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6.

Start growing your herbs today.

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So who are they and how do we not only grow them, but have them thriving?

Members of the Brassicaceae family, aka mustard family or Brassicas include broccoli, cabbage, kale, collard greens, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, mustard greens, turnip, bok choy and rapeseed to mention a few.

WHEN TO PLANT

Although some Brassicas, such as Kale and Bok Choy grow through the warmer seasons the best time of year to grow them is in the cooler Autumn and Winter months. What you will notice is the temperature influences the flavours with cooler weather and slight frostings sweetening your Brassica buddies.

So, the best time to get planting is late summer/early autumn when you can take advantage of the still warm soil. This will encourage strong leaf growth for slow growers like cauliflower and broccoli and helps the plants get established before the big chill arrives.

KEEPING THEM HAPPY

Its well known that Brassicas love a good feed so start preparing your Tankworks Raised Garden Beds by adding some home made compost. A few shovel full’s turned in per square metre will add some good mineral content and healthy soil microbes to ward off soil borne pests and maintain plant health.

Following that add ¾ of a handful of blood and bone and 1 handful of either dolomite per square metre. This will sweeten the soil for good floret development (head part of plant we eat) and help in avoiding clubroot from occurring.

In terms of plant spacing’s these guys like a bit of room so plant 60cm between rows and 35cm between plants.

Remember to keep your new Brassica crop well watered and maintain a watchful eye for common pests like White Cabbage Moth and Green Loopers (caterpillar literally fluro green in colour).

They can be managed with a combined approach of erecting a moth netting, planting Landcress as infill plants around Brassicas as a companion plant, and applying certified organic DIPEL which is a highly effective bacteria at controlling winter time caterpillars.

By Adrian Baiada

About Adrian Baiada – Adrian Baiada is an Urban Farmer and Educator who combined his passion for real food and over 14yrs of experience in community development and environmental sustainability to create My Square Metre.

My Square Metre loves working with any- one and everyone to get them growing their own food. We have, and continue to, collaborate with a range of Schools, Council’s, TAFE, Not For Profit Organisations, Community Groups , Businesses and State Government organisations.

Adrian holds a Bachelors Degree with Honours in Landscape Management and Conservation and Certificates in Biological Agriculture, Permaculture and a Cert. 4 Training and Assessment.

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Eating healthier fruits and vegetables – There’s probably no healthier produce than the ones you’ve grown yourself. By nurturing it from your own space eliminating chemicals (as you would expect from store bought produce) you are not only saving your health but you are saving money on otherwise having to purchase expensive organic fruits and vegetables.

Enjoy breathing better quality air by bringing the outside in – if you are using a Raised Garden Bed then this can be easily done by alternating between your inside space and the outdoors. You can make this easier on your back by propping your Raised Garden Bed on a stand with wheels.

Less work – If using a Raised Garden Bed then you will soon discover that maintaining your plants is a lot simpler than if you were looking after a typical in-ground garden. With less maintenance and time spent on weeding, you will have more time on nurturing your plants and picking your produce (the fun part!).

If you are thinking about starting a new Garden Bed then refer to our How to Grow page to discover how simple it is!

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1. Move your Garden Bed into the shade
   Probably one of the best things about owning a Raised Garden Bed is that you can shift it around take advantage of your shady areas.
2. Water early in the morning or later in the afternoon before sunset
   Remember to water your plants in the morning or late in the afternoon before it gets too hot.
3. Check and clean your roof gutters
   If you have a rainwater tank then clear any leaves and dirt from your gutters to ensure that your rainwater tank is capturing all the free rainwater that is oh so good for your garden. Even if you dont own a water tank, cleaning your gutters is definately worth your time due to the potential fire hazard that they may impose.
4. Minimise heat shock
   Seaweed extract based liquid fertiliser treatment often reduces heat stress and it may help protect the plant in future.
5. Add magnesium or Epsom salt to encourage growth
   Using Epsom salt before planting any new seeds. Plants that aren’t getting enough magnesium can be identified by their yellowing leaves. Try sprinkling Epsom salt around your plants to achieve healthier foliage.

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Looking for something unique? Remember to consider a Raised Garden Bed. Made to measure, so customising a garden bed to suit those you hold dear is easy.

You can select from a traditional Round or a Slimline Raised Garden Bed (all available in different heights) and in a range of sizes to fit any space (no matter how large or small their space may be). You also have the option of choosing their favourite colour or go with the more traditional Christmas colours such as our Colorbond^® ‘Manor Red’ or ‘Cottage Green’.

For a gift with a difference – Fill the Garden Bed with goodies just like a hamper. Include items to help kick start their garden and encourage growth by including packets of different seeds, a small spade, a pair of garden gloves or other garden related goodies.

Get your orders in before 30th November 2015 to ensure you receive your Garden bed in time for Christmas.

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Pickling

Pickling is great for preserving limes, cucumbers and chutney. You can do this for a variety of vegetables or fruit using a vinegar and salt solution.

Jam and Jellies

Turning fruit and some vegetables into jam and jellies is a nice way to present your produce when wanting to give away to family and friends. Great for when you have lots of strawberries!

Freezing

A great way to freeze some vegetables or fruits for up to 6 months. Better with vegetables such as peas and berries.

By trying your hand at a few methods and seeing what works for you could ensure that your vegetables and fruits go even further.

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Studies have shown that gardening can help with mental and physical health as an activity to help with relaxation. and stress relief and as a form of exercise.

A study in the Netherlands indicated that gardening is better at relieving stress than other relaxing leisure activities. Gardening can lead to better moods and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

The activity of gardening is also good for our bodies and can help prevent many diseases such as high blood pressure and adult-onset diabetes.

Another study confirmed that you can lower the risk of Dementia by 36% if you are a regular gardener.

Start a Garden Bed and get underway to feeling better! If you are a beginner read our How to Start a Vegetable Garden.

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Even if you aren’t a perfect gardener – start planting your vegetable garden bed today with your child/children and start learning together. You will be surprised at how keen kids are to get their hands dirty and how excited they will be seeing a seed grow into a plant. By growing their own food children can watch their plants grow and are probably more likely to eat their home grown vegetables, fruits or herbs. A great way to get your raised garden bed project underway is by planting coloured flowers and other brightly coloured plants that grow quickly, so your children see the results and gain further encouragement to continue.

Gardening can also promote the learning of where fresh foods come from and may teach kids responsibility and how to care for something. You can design a raised vegetable garden bed on our website with your child’s favourite colour and get their opinion on where it should sit in your garden. Establish what type of fruits or vegetables your child likes to eat and then maybe call the Garden Bed with your childs’ first name – eg Lucy’s Garden. You can do this by writing your childs name on a garden stake and placing it in the garden bed or get a bit of creative and paint it with blackboard paint that way your child feels that its theirs…cause it says so!

Remember to garden as a family (we think its great bonding). Supervise your child and only you as the parent can determine the level of activity that your child is capable of doing.

Consider a Tankworks Raised Garden Bed today then when you are ready to get started – Read up on How to Set Up Your Garden Bed.

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