There are so many types of herbs available for planting, it can be tricky choosing the best variety for your particular garden. Each type of herb has its special needs and temperaments. There are three basic types of herbs – herbaceous, evergreen, and annual.
The herbaceous herb is classified as a perennial, meaning they die off every winter and reappear in the following spring. Some common herbs of this type include oregano, tarragon, bee balm, mint, chives, sweet fennel, and winter savory. This type of herb needs no extra pruning; just cut them down to ground level when season end arrives.
The evergreen herb is also classified as a perennial. Unlike the herbaceous herb, evergreen herbs require regular pruning when not harvested in a continuous manner. Some common types of evergreen herbs include sage, rosemary, and thyme. This type of herb should be pruned back in the early spring or fall. Be careful not to cut to much off, this can affect plant growth.
The annual herb dies back at the end of the season and need to be replanted the following year. Some common annual herbs include basil, cilantro, parsley, dill, and chervil. To keep a constant crop of annual herbs, plant them every four to six week during planting season.
To prevent your annual herbs from going to seed, cut off any flower buds that are present. Once the herb produces flowers the leave production usually stops.
When deciding which types of herbs to garden, it’s a good idea to select only the herb variety you plan to use regularly. Planting every type of herb known could be fun at first, but may lead to burn out. You want to keep it fun and rewarding, so start out slow.
