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Alma
My Time
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 02:47 pm EST : |   
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I am planning a herbgarden in a semi-steep hillside, that measures 4x4 metres. The herbgarden is facing south, well drained and with good soil.
There will be stairs on one side, and some kind of steppingstones. I think I want to use lavender, rosemary, sage, chives, strawberry (F. vesca var. semperflorens). Maybe some small cucumbers? Garlic?
Do you have any suggestions to other herbs I can use? I want plants I can use in the kitchen, and that also looks nice since everyone that passes can see this herbgarden quite well :)
Alma
- Dalane, Rogaland, Norway,
Zone "Z7-8?"
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Maggiepie
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 02:57 pm EST : |
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I would also have french thyme, oregano, marjoram, and french tarragon as well as basil.
Some lemon balm, it is lovely to walk by and brush it with your hand, smells lovely.
Borage has gorgeous blue flowers and will attract heaps of bees although it can be a bit ungainly with its growth habit, but you can use the flowers in salads.
Maggiepie
- New Brunswick,
Zone "4b"
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Growit
 Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 03:21 pm EST : |
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I have a seperate enclosed bed for these as they are quite invasive. They would soon smother things like thyme.
Apart from the herbs already mentioned I would add Calendula officinalis (lovely in a salad with the borage) and Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena) The smell is amazing and the leaves are delicious in summer punches etc.
Make sure you post some pictures when you have planted it Elin! 
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
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Stephie
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 03:41 pm EST : |
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Nobody yell....but I would include ginger mint (put in a pot and sunk into the ground) because it smells nice and has a yellow/green variegated leaf. I, in fact, have a mint garden to itself, all potted and plunged. Another favorite is nasturtiums...leaves are peppery and quite pretty edible flowers. As a tall member that is striking (it gets about 3 feet or so) is whorehound (not black)...the plant looks incredible! And, easy recipe to make the well-known candy humbugs!
Stephie |
Alma
My Time
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 04:49 pm EST : |
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Thyme, oregano, marjoram, and terragon are all in my plans (had forgotten about them)
Thank you for the tip reg. strawberrys, they will go in enclosed beds. Maybe for the borage as well? Or maybe not that bad? My father-in-law has borage in his garden, so I will get that from him.
Tried to google whorehound, with no luck. Can you help me out? I have no idea what this is.
I will post pictures as I go, but probably not yet! We are renovating the house, and the garden has to wait for at least another month :) But I can post a before-pic :) Just have to find the camera, and wait for the rain to stop... and daylight (11 PM here now)
Alma
- Dalane, Rogaland, Norway,
Zone "Z7-8?"
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Growit
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 05:49 pm EST : |
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I shouldn't worry about it. It self seeds and spreads quite readily but is easy to get out whereas the alpine strawberries are bricked in and still manage to climb over and root in the lawn! I have a devil of a job trying to get all the root out and invariably end up mowing it instead.
AArgghh!
(Sorry couldn't resist lol!) Not really yelling. It is the prettiest of all the mints isn't it, well, apart from corsican. I love that one when it flowers.
Oh goody. I love before and afters.
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
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Stephie
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 08:13 pm EST : |
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HAhahahaha...my apologies! HOREHOUND! Terrible spelling mistake wasn't it????! Marrubium vulgare to be exact..what I especially like is the flowers form little round balls along the stems making it quite remarkable in the garden...plus it is a bit silverish in leaf. Gee with that spelling mistake you could have gotten all kinds of porno sites...yikes!!!!!LOL
Stephie |
Cozyglow
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 11:51 am EST : |
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Hi, everyone. I'm new here. I just got in, today.
I've got a problem. I can't get mint to grow, no matter what I do. Can anyone help? Mine always dies, whether in the ground or in a pot.
Cozyglow
- Texas,
Zone "don't know"
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Alma
My Time
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 01:48 pm EST : |
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Cozyglow: I suggest you start a new topic about your mint-problem, instead of using mine to get answers. That way yo will probably get more answers, cause the question will be more visible for gardenbuddies not looking into this one 
And let me also say WELCOME
Alma
- Dalane, Rogaland, Norway,
Zone "Z7-8?"
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Alma
My Time
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 02:02 pm EST : |
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The before pictures :) As you can see, a lot of work to be done 
Alma
- Dalane, Rogaland, Norway,
Zone "Z7-8?"
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Growit
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 02:41 pm EST : |
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Hi Cozyglow (great name!) When you have posted about your mint problems on a new thread go over to the "Social Gallery" and introduce yourself to everyone.
Wow! Just look at the potential though Alma.
What a great position to grow herbs. It might be worth getting golden marjoram to hold it all together. I have a herb garden on a slope and it stops everything sliding downwards as it roots where it touches.
I presume you are going to use the rocks. If so bury them by 2/3rds to make them look more natural. Just think of all the little nooks and crannies you can create to grow things like creeping thyme etc. I know you said edibles but are you going to allow a few more ornamental herbs in there and possibly a few bulbs? What about saffron crocus? They are herbs...kind of.
I so wish I could come and play in the dirt with you Alma. It would be so much fun!
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
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Alma
My Time
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 03:08 pm EST : |
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The large blocks? Yes, we are going to use them, but don´t know how yet. They are from the old wall between the old and new basement. Let me see if I have some pictures of that process.
This is a concrete wall, and in the concrete they used smaller rocks, to make more of the concrete. The house was built in 1949.
The potential is great, and I am so looking forward to start the work, but I have to finish this work:
You are more than welcome to come and play in the dirt 
Mostly edible, but I want tulips and crocus as well, some of those early spring flowers that are starting to blossom now!
Alma
- Dalane, Rogaland, Norway,
Zone "Z7-8?"
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Growit
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 03:19 pm EST : |
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The ones at the top of the picture not at the bottom. The large blocks could be used to retain things but the rocks could be use to give you a rockface which the herbs will love to grow in. Things like thyme and oregano like to tuck themselves into little crevices where a bit of water will collect and they get a little protection from the weather just like alpines do.
Oh!!! You seem to have a lot to be getting on with then! LOL!! How many years down the line do you think you'll be finished
Excellent. You can have colour all year round then.
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
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Alma
My Time
| | Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 03:50 pm EST : |
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Oh, those rocks :D You are right, I will do exactly what you said :lol:
I guess I have to start with removing some of those old roots, and the smaller rocks too. Does it look like I need more soil as well? Maybe not too easy to see on these pictures, though...
I have looked through my seeds, and this is what I have that I can use. I am not sure about the english names here, correct me if I am wrong.
Fragaria vesca – strawberry (we call them ”monthly strawberry”)
Physalis pruinosa L
Solanum lycopersicum L – cherrytomato green grape
Allium tuberosum – chives?
Brassica oleracea – kale scarlet
Indian mustard
Lactura sativa - salad
Origanum vulgare – golden marjoram?
Cucumis sativus - cucumber
Alma
- Dalane, Rogaland, Norway,
Zone "Z7-8?"
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Growit
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 02:50 pm EST : |
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It may do. The soil does look pretty poor but I am just looking at a picture. I cannot get my hands in it. If you mix a bit with water how does it feel? Gritty? Clay? Soapy? All these give you a clue as to what you have and what you need to add. I should not worry too much just yet. First I would just clear it of all the debris.To the left of the plank in the first picture it looks more grey? Why is that? Is it something leftover from the house being done?
Don't worry about English names I tend to use the Latin. Saves any misunderstandings. Your list looks fine to me with a nice mix of annuals and perennials. I would add some Thyme or other low growing herb to your list to use as well as the Oreganum just to help hold the bank.
Here are a few pictures of my herb garden where you can see the Oreganum vulgare 'Aureum' that I use to hold the bank. It is also a lovely golden colour and just as tasty and useful as the green form.
 This is growing between and around two paving slabs so they won't move.
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
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