** 5 GIANT AFRICAN TREE BASIL SEEDS**

Where to put an herb garden can be answered simply by “in the sun with good drainage.” Most herbs prefer a lean soil with good drainage, and a goodly amount of sun. “Full sun” in the Northeast is different from “full sun” here in Tennessee. Our herbs get morning sun which dries dew off the leaves, and mid-afternoon shade, which keeps them from cooking in our heat! If your herb garden gets some shade, afternoon shade is preferable. If you fertilize your herbs, you will get lush foliage, big plants and very little taste. Herbs need a little adversity to develop the essential oils that provide their distinctive taste. If you are growing an herb just for the looks of it (like the artemesias or tansy) go ahead and give an occasional feeding. Of course, the culinary herbs should be as close to the kitchen door as you can manage, human nature being what it is—nearby herbs get used and enjoyed more than ones that require a trip to the farthest part of the yard!

Herbs in containers usually do well, if the herb doesn’t have a long tap root (like dill) or gets really large (like African basil or a bay laurel tree). Basil, oregano, thyme, chives, parsley, and most definitely mints do well in containers. It is best to put only one herb per container, since the moisture and fertilizer requirements may differ dramatically. Yes, we said don’t fertilize herbs, but in a container the essential nutrients are used up or leach out faster, so a little fertilizer judiciously applied is appreciated by the plant.

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