Which aromatic plants to plant on a balcony or in a garden? How can they be combined and maintained? Discover all our advice on how to successfully grow these essential plants in the kitchen and perfect for having a little corner of greenery at home.
In the garden as well as on the balcony, aromatic plants are invited into our flower beds and planters. They are easy to grow, aesthetically pleasing and smelly. And when you need them, you can pick a few mint leaves or sprigs of thyme to make your mojitos and ratatouilles unique (don't be fooled, that would be a shame). But the choice is vast: so which aromatic plants for your garden? Let's take a look at the essential varieties...
AROMATIC PLANTS: WHICH SPECIES TO CHOOSE?
On distingue :
Perennial aromatic plants with deciduous foliage: this is the case for chives, tarragon and mint. They lose their foliage in winter but regain it in spring.
Perennial aromatic plants with evergreen foliage: this is the case of rosemary, sage officinale, thyme. These retain their foliage during the winter.
Aromatic annual plants: such as dill, basil or coriander that only live for one year and must be planted or sown again every year.
Biennial aromatic plants: they live for 2 years, like parsley.
Keep these differences in mind when planting.
HOW TO GROW HERBS SUCCESSFULLY: CHOOSING PLANTS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR YOUR SOIL AND ORIENTATION
The secret of happy aromatic plants? It's not a question of green thumbs, but a question of choosing the plants for which the conditions of your garden or balcony will suit you best. Thus:
Is your garden or balcony sunny, warm and the soil well-drained or even sandy? Oregano, rosemary, savory, sage and thyme are yours.
Is your garden or balcony sunny but not excessive and the soil is rich and fresh? You can enjoy dill, basil, chives, coriander, tarragon and lemon balm.
Does your garden or balcony benefit from a semi-shady exposure and a rich, fresh soil? Chervil, mint or parsley (curly or flat) is yours.
HOW TO COMBINE AROMATIC PLANTS?
One of the most common mistakes in the cultivation of aromatics? Associations that don't work..
To create an herb garden or a simple planter, it is advisable to combine plants that have the same needs in sun and water. Thus, you can place tarragon, chives and coriander together in a corner in partial shade with cool soil while thyme, rosemary and oregano, plants of Mediterranean origin, will thrive on sunny ground with drained soil.
However, be careful with mint: isolate it in a large pot because it is very invasive!