Herbs Love Fall Weather

Fall is a great time to start fresh in the herb garden. After the heat of summer, cooler days can make it much more enjoyable to spend time outside planting, trimming and harvesting.

At Lindley’s Garden Center in New Smyrna Beach, October is a nice time to refresh tired containers, add a few new culinary herbs and make room for plants you will actually use in the kitchen.

Start With the Herbs You Use Most

The best herb garden is one that gets used.

Think about what you cook with regularly and start there. Popular choices include:

• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Chives
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Sage
• Rosemary

A few favorite herbs can be more useful than planting a large collection you rarely harvest.

Refresh Tired Summer Herbs

By fall, some herbs may be stretched, woody or simply past their best.

Trim back healthy plants where appropriate, remove anything that is no longer performing well, and replace tired plants with fresh starts. This is also a good time to clean up containers, refresh potting mix and make sure drainage holes are clear.

Grow Herbs in Containers

You do not need a large garden bed to grow herbs successfully.

Containers work beautifully on patios, porches and near the kitchen door. Keeping herbs close to the house also makes it easier to grab a handful while cooking.

Group herbs with similar light and watering needs, and choose a container with good drainage.

Give Herbs Plenty of Light

Most culinary herbs perform best with plenty of sunlight.

Before planting, watch the area for a day and see how much direct sun it receives. If your porch or patio is shadier, choose herbs that can tolerate those conditions rather than forcing a sun-loving plant into the wrong spot.

Harvest Often

Regular harvesting helps keep many herbs productive and encourages fresh growth.

Snip what you need for cooking, but avoid removing too much of the plant at one time. Frequent light harvesting is usually better than one heavy cut.

Fresh herbs can add flavor to soups, sauces, roasted vegetables, salads, breads and countless other dishes.

Keep Your Fall Herb Garden Simple

A fall herb garden does not have to be complicated.

A few containers near the kitchen, a sunny corner of a garden bed or a small raised planter can provide fresh flavor for weeks or months. Start with herbs you enjoy, pay attention to sun and drainage, and build from there.

Fall Herb Garden FAQs

Is fall a good time to plant herbs?
Yes. Fall can be a very enjoyable time to plant and refresh culinary herbs as temperatures become more comfortable.

Can herbs grow in containers?
Absolutely. Many herbs grow very well in containers as long as they have proper drainage and the right amount of sunlight.

Which herbs are good for cooking?
Parsley, cilantro, dill, chives, thyme, oregano, sage and rosemary are all popular culinary herbs.

Should I replace herbs that struggled through summer?
If a plant is badly declined or no longer producing well, fall can be a good time to replace it with a fresh plant.

Visit Lindley’s Garden Center

Ready to start or refresh your herb garden? Stop by Lindley’s Garden Center in New Smyrna Beach and see what is available for your fall containers and edible garden.

Lindley’s Garden Center
1232 Canal Street
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
386-428-7298

Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday through Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM
Sunday: 11 AM to 4 PM