Powerscourt Garden Pavilion has a wonderful range of herbs to choose from. Here are our top picks with advice on how to grow them from our horticulturalist Monic Schmidt:
Basil:
It needs a good, steady amount of sunshine in order to grow. If this is not available, the basil plant is best grown indoors in a very light area.
Basil seeds are best planted in April into a small pot. After 2-3 weeks, you will see the growth of the seedlings. Once your plant has more than 5 leaves on it, you can now transfer it to its future home, for example on a balcony or step outside or if you feel there is too much frost, the plant can be kept indoors.
Pruning/ Harvesting
It is best to only pick off the leaves of the Basil plant, leaving the stem intact, which will ensure further growth. Unlike Rosemary, it is best to remove any flowers that appear on the Basil.
Parsley:
Although Parsley will be able to manage in poor soil, to get the best from this plant, rich, well drained soil is best for this easy-to-grow herb. It prefers areas that have a mixture of sun and shade, with Parsley needing little maintenance.
Parsley is best planted in Spring to ensure that the plants get the sun and shade that is required. You can use both seeds or plants that are available in garden centres. If you decide to use seeds, this process will take a little bit longer, with many seeds taking up to 6 weeks to grow. Parsley is perfect to grow both in your flower bed or simply in a container on your balcony.
You can begin to harvest the parsley when the leaves start to curl, with it possible to harvest throughout the year.
Rosemary:
Rosemary prefers a light soil, but luckily it tends to adapt to whatever soil is used, as long as the area is not water logged. Although it manages in severe frosts, Rosemary thrives in sunny and sheltered conditions.
Rosemary is available to plant from either seeds or by taking cuttings or buying an already growing Rosemary plant. If using cuttings, one or two should be added to each pot and kept at an ambient temperature of 15-20 degrees. This will ensure that the root of the plant grows and will be ready to plant after 8 weeks.
Thyme:
Thyme grows best in dry soil, as if the soil is too moist, the root can begin to rot. Although it is possible to grow thyme from seeds, usually thyme is grown from cuttings or existing plants. If growing with seeds, Thyme should be sown in March indoors, with a gentle sprinkling of normal potting compost. They should then be kept in a warm place indoors so that the seeds are sheltered. Once the seeds reach up to 10cm, you can move them outside and follow the steps below. If using a cutting or plant, you can simply place in the ground and watch it grow. The plant should then be ready for harvesting late June or early July.
The thyme plant should be ready for harvesting late June or early July, although it will produce some leaves throughout the year. It is necessary to be careful of over pruning the plant during the winter as this will hamper growth for the following year.
Mint:
Mint strives in moist soil, without fertiliser and in an area that is slightly shaded. It is a perfect herb to grow in a pot on your balcony or garden window as the roots will not be able to spread and takeover the rest of your garden if it is separated into it’s own container. Plant the seeds into well watered soil, about 15cm apart from each other It is key to keep the soil well watered and hydrated. The mint leaves can be taken off the plant whenever is required. It is best to trim the plant once every two months to encourage more leaves to grow on the side of the plant, rather than simply from the top.
See you soon at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion!
Monica
Parsley:
Although Parsley will be able to manage in poor soil, to get the best from this plant, rich, well drained soil is best for this easy-to-grow herb. It prefers areas that have a mixture of sun and shade, with Parsley needing little maintenance.
Parsley is best planted in Spring to ensure that the plants get the sun and shade that is required. You can use both seeds or plants that are available in garden centres. If you decide to use seeds, this process will take a little bit longer, with many seeds taking up to 6 weeks to grow. Parsley is perfect to grow both in your flower bed or simply in a container on your balcony.
You can begin to harvest the parsley when the leaves start to curl, with it possible to harvest throughout the year.
Rosemary:
Rosemary prefers a light soil, but luckily it tends to adapt to whatever soil is used, as long as the area is not water logged. Although it manages in severe frosts, Rosemary thrives in sunny and sheltered conditions.
Rosemary is available to plant from either seeds or by taking cuttings or buying an already growing Rosemary plant. If using cuttings, one or two should be added to each pot and kept at an ambient temperature of 15-20 degrees. This will ensure that the root of the plant grows and will be ready to plant after 8 weeks.
Thyme:
Thyme grows best in dry soil, as if the soil is too moist, the root can begin to rot. Although it is possible to grow thyme from seeds, usually thyme is grown from cuttings or existing plants. If growing with seeds, Thyme should be sown in March indoors, with a gentle sprinkling of normal potting compost. They should then be kept in a warm place indoors so that the seeds are sheltered. Once the seeds reach up to 10cm, you can move them outside and follow the steps below. If using a cutting or plant, you can simply place in the ground and watch it grow. The plant should then be ready for harvesting late June or early July.
The thyme plant should be ready for harvesting late June or early July, although it will produce some leaves throughout the year. It is necessary to be careful of over pruning the plant during the winter as this will hamper growth for the following year.
Mint:
Mint strives in moist soil, without fertiliser and in an area that is slightly shaded. It is a perfect herb to grow in a pot on your balcony or garden window as the roots will not be able to spread and takeover the rest of your garden if it is separated into it’s own container. Plant the seeds into well watered soil, about 15cm apart from each other It is key to keep the soil well watered and hydrated. The mint leaves can be taken off the plant whenever is required. It is best to trim the plant once every two months to encourage more leaves to grow on the side of the plant, rather than simply from the top.
See you soon at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion!
Monica 
