What fertilizer to use for herbs

shelby_nj

16 years ago

I am new to this section of the forum. What fertilizer would you normally use for herbs?

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Comments (7)

herbivore
16 years ago
Lots of herbs (maybe all of the Mediterranean ones?) don't like fertilizer. It reduces the pungency of their...herby-ness. :) and it just doesn't make them grow well.

I know with thyme, especially, you stick it in poor soil and fertilize it maybe once, at the end of summer? Remember the conditions they are from. Thyme, for example, grows natively on cliffs and between rocks!
ksrogers
16 years ago
A natural nitogen may help some. Your wanting to get as much green as you can.
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From the three elements, N, P, K, the P(phosphorus) sticks to the soil for a long long time. Th "K"(Potasius) is also partially stable. But "N"(nitrogen) is water soluable and will be used up fast and will leach out quickly. So, after fertilizing with NPK for a while, you won't need "P" or "K". All you have to keep adding (slowly, continuously) is "N". With most herbs you do not need extra "P" because you do not want flower or fruit, but just green top. So, to summarize, in most cases you will need just the nitrogen(N), very sparingly. I mixed a lot of wood ash that takes care of Potash(k) and also makes soil more alkaline that most herbs like. cyrus
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You will (of course!) have your peppermint in a pot, won't you? In which case, just give it a handful or two of compost whenever the soil level drops, and replace the soil every time you repot - a handful or two or fresh potting mix will also nourish it sufficiently. Also stick a couple of large builder's nails into the soil - mint loves iron. Other than that, don't bother fertilising it at all. Oregano - if it's in a pot, the compost/potting mix topper-upper will be quite enough for it. If in the garden, leave it to its own devices. Don't forget to water it!
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Daisyduckworth
16 years ago
Most of the popular culinary herbs don't want or need fertiliser - they prefer their soil poor. Potted plants, however, will need not to be ignored - they are high maintenance and you'll need to fertilise those from time to time as the nutrients leach out (this doesn't happen in the garden).

I find that compost is a good fertiliser. I have only a teensy courtyard garden, so no space for a compost heap - so I buy it in bags. Whenever the soil level in pots gets a bit low, in goes a handful or two of compost. And while I'm at it, I toss handfuls of it hither and thither over the garden.

Even changing the potting soil from time to time will be enough for many of your herbs - you'll do this for things like mint or lemon balm on a regular basis.

Basil and chillies are greedy plants and will need more fertiliser than others. I suggest for beginners to use a slow-release fertiliser in pellets according to manufacturer's instructions around basil.
gborosteve
16 years ago
"hither and thither"? LOL! LMAO here!
pink_warm_mama_1
16 years ago
I've enjoyed the use of "hither and thither"....!
homey_bird
16 years ago
I have Thyme, Sage, Greek Oregano, Rosemary, Italian Parseley, Basil, Mint and Lavender in pots. Except for Lavender, everything else I have fed Fish Emulsion regularly during growing season.

In my experience, it has not introduced pungency to the flavors. In fact, once in winter I bought mint since my mint had lost all its leaves. At the checkout, a woman behind me commented on the smell of the mint; however when I actually cooked with it, I had to add a lot more than my home-grown mint (ie store one had less flavor).

IMO, plenty of sunlight + regular feeding works wonders on herbs. I have heard somewhere that you should not overwater them; and I usually water them once every two days during summer.
Daisyduckworth
16 years ago
I agree with homey-bird about the sunlight. Without it, and plenty of it, the plant will not produce the essential oils which give herbs their flavour and aroma. For the Mediterranean herbs, the more sun, and the hotter, the better.

Potted plants will always need more fertiliser than those in the garden, because nutrients leach out quickly. However, in the garden, fertiliser for most of these herbs just isn't needed or wanted by the plants.

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What fertilizer to use for herbs

Comments (7)

herbivore

ksrogers

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Daisyduckworth

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