Cultural Requirements

• Herbs have a wide range of cultural requirements due to the diverse types of plants commonly considered herbs. A botanical definition of an herb is any plant without a permanent woody stem, but this definition is so broad it includes most plants in the world except trees and shrubs. Lavender and rosemary are considered herbs, yet they have woody stems and often thrive as perennials. The average gardener generally refers to herbs as a special group of plants used for delicate culinary flavoring or scenting purposes.
  
  

Soil

• Due to the diversity of plant types considered herbs, some will grow in soil conditions that are not appropriate for others. Most will grow any place where there is reasonably rich, well-drained soil. Some herbs, such as rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) and lavender (Lavendula) need an exceptionally well-drained sandy soil while others, such as the mints (Mentha viridis) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) will grow fine in a medium that retains moisture.
  
  

Full Sun

• Again the broad range of plants considered herbs means that some will thrive in hot and dry conditions. The gardener needs to know the requirement of the particular herb being planted. Two Italian sauce herbs that enjoy full sun and a fairly dry soil are oregano (Origanum vulgare) and basil (Ocimum basilicum).
  
  

Shade

• Some plants under the herb category need a moist and shady environment. Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is an herb used in soups, sauces and salads and needs a semi-shady, rich and moist soil. Parsley (Petrselinum hortense) is another herb that should not be planted in a dry spot in full sun, but needs a humus soil and some shade.
  
  

Tender

• Chive is an herb that grows well in a pot.chives & bee image by redrex from Fotolia.com
  
  Some herbs must be sown from seed each year, others are perennials even in the temperate north, and some are tender perennials that will die unless protected from frost. These tender herbs can be grown in containers and brought indoors in the cold season. The larger the pot, the better the chance the herbs will thrive. Use a fast-draining, porous potting mix and check the water daily, making sure the medium dries between watering. Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), rosemary and lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) are all tender to frost and will grow well in pots. Bay leaves are used in soups and stews while lemon verbena makes a fine tea.