Читать книгу Your Herb Garden - Barbara Segall - Страница 66

Most garden centres stock a range of popular culinary and decorative herbs. If space is limited and your herb needs are basic, then buying well-established plants will be efficient and cost effective. There are also numerous specialist herb nurseries that sell plants direct from their premises or through mail order.

If you buy direct, choose healthy looking, well-established plants. Avoid any that are dried out in their pots or are competing with weeds for survival. A thriving potted herb plant should have a good root system – if the plant is pot-bound, you will see matted roots coming out of the drainage holes. The best sign of good health is the compact growth of fresh new shoots.

When you get your plants home, water them and place in a warm, sheltered site until you are ready to plant them out. Always get plants into the ground as soon as possible after purchase, but avoid planting in hot conditions during the middle of the day.

Dig a hole in well-prepared, enriched and weed-free soil. The hole should be large enough to accommodate the plant’s roots without cramping them.

Remove the plant from its pot, set it in the hole and replace some of the soil around the plant.

Firm the soil in, backfill with the rest of the soil and firm in again.

Water the plant in thoroughly, and then daily in dry conditions until it is growing strongly.