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Fresh herbs as an addition to dishes are in high season in our kitchens from spring to autumn. And so that they are always ready to hand, many hobby gardeners create a herb bed, or cultivate them in pots or in window boxes on the balcony or terrace. Not only the optimal location is important for a rich harvest, but also the right soil. Because it ensures that the plants thrive.
herbal soil
Herbs are usually bought in this country as pre-grown potted plants. A variety of kitchen herbs are available in garden centers and supermarkets. The range of herbs from so-called vertical cultivation is relatively new. The young plants are grown in a special liquid nutrient solution under artificial light. Once the plants have developed strong roots, they are harvested and offered without substrate. They must therefore be used as quickly as possible so that they can continue to develop well in the home garden or on the balcony.
Combine herbs in the pot
It is not a science in which herbal soil the respective herb grows best, but not every herb feels equally at home in every soil. Therefore, you should pay attention to the optimal substrate when planting. It should also be well drained, because kitchen herbs usually do not tolerate waterlogging. We have put together a selection of soils and kitchen herbs for you here.
herbs
basil
- the popular culinary herb prefers a humus-rich and permeable soil that should be kept moderately moist
- a mixture of soil and sand is ideal
mugwort
- the soil for mugwort should be sandy, dry and permeable
watercress
- Watercress thrives best in moist and humus-rich soil
savory
- Savory prefers a permeable and loose garden bed that should be kept rather dry
borage
- Borage grows very well in slightly moist, permeable soil rich in humus
Borage, Borago officinalis
dill
- this herb needs a slightly moist, loose and humus-rich garden bed for optimal growth
Southernwood
- in contrast to many other kitchen herbs, southernwood feels extremely well in slightly calcareous soil that is also loose and permeable
Verbena
- for the verbena, the soil should be lean, dry and permeable
tarragon
- the soil for tarragon should be permeable, moderately moist and rich in humus
Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus
garden cress
- Garden cress thrives in conventional garden soil and needs plenty of watering
coriander
- Coriander prefers a humus-rich garden soil
Caraway seed
- a mixture of garden soil, compost and sand is ideal for caraway seeds
lovage
- Like southernwood, lovage also tolerates slightly calcareous soil
- in addition, the herb prefers loamy soil that is moderately moist
marjoram
- Marjoram thrives in slightly sandy, humus-rich and well-drained soil
oregano
- like marjoram, oregano also thrives in slightly sandy, humus-rich and well-drained soil
Parsely
- the classic among kitchen herbs comes in a moist, humus-rich and permeable garden bed
Parsley, Petroselinum crispum
rosemary, sage and thyme
- these Mediterranean kitchen herbs prefer a permeable, dry and sandy soil
- they are best planted in a soil-sand mixture
chives
- Chives prefer loamy soil and need a lot of water
lemon balm
- a permeable, humus-rich substrate is ideal for this popular herb
Mix the herb soil yourself
If you want to offer your kitchen herbs the best soil, you can use garden soil and compost in addition to a special herb soil. So that the soil meets the needs of the respective herb, you should mix it yourself so that the herbal soil can be optimally matched.
For Mediterranean kitchen herbs, mix:
- Garden soil: 55 percent
- Compost: 15 percent
- Quartz or lava sand: 30 percent
Mix the substrate yourself
Tip: Potting soil is recommended instead of garden soil for kitchen herbs that are cultivated in pots or tubs.
If soil with a higher compost content is used for the kitchen herbs, such as tomato or vegetable soil, it should be stretched out a bit. Coconut soil, which is less pre-fertilized, is suitable as an extender. It also loosens the soil.
Loamy soils
Many herbs do not like loamy soils because they are not permeable enough. Nevertheless, you do not have to do without a herb bed in the garden. In order for the kitchen herbs to thrive in loamy or clay soil, you should make it more permeable. To do this, mix coarse sand or fine gravel under the soil.
Herbs that require a lot of water
Kitchen herbs such as parsley or watercress have a high water requirement. If they are cultivated in pots or tubs, expanded clay or zeolite should be added to the substrate. These materials store water and nutrients and release them to the kitchen herbs when needed.
Herbs with high demands
As with other plants, there are also types of kitchen herbs that prefer a rich substrate. They include, for example, mint, tarragon or lovage. In order for these herbs to thrive, compost should be added to the herbal soil. The rule of thumb is that the planting hole or planter is filled with about a third of the compost.
Mix the plant substrate
Mixed culture instead of monoculture
If herbs come into the garden bed or in the balcony box, you should plant different kitchen herbs together. However, attention must be paid to the correct composition, because not all varieties get along with each other. Basically, kitchen herbs that have a similar nutrient requirement should not be placed next to each other.
"Wrong" neighborhoods are for example:
- basil and lemon balm
- thyme and marjoram
- fennel and coriander
- dill and tarragon
- dill and garden cress
Dill, Anethum graveolens
"Correct" neighborhoods are, for example:
- sage and oregano or savory
- parsley and dill
- parsley and chives
- Chives and chamomile, dill or chervil
- Real thyme and coriander, tarragon or savory
- dill and chamomile or marjoram
- rosemary and sage or basil
- Lemon balm tolerates almost all herbs, except basil
- sage and oregano or savory
- Tarragon and rosemary, sage or chives
- lovage and parsley
- Cumin and dill, parsley, marjoram or rosemary
- Savory and Lavender
- Coriander and thyme, savory or parsley
- Oregano and sage or savory
- Chervil and dill, chives, chamomile or savory
If kitchen herbs are grown in pots, biennials and perennials such as lovage or lavender should be planted as solitaires.