Although every rosemary variety yields edible foliage, some cooks prefer ‘Spice Island,’ ‘Alba’ and ‘Barbecue’ - cultivars that withstand winters in the lower half of Texas. 2017) and simply report here that (in my experience) no herb surpasses this one’s extraordinary performance as an all-season plant. I have celebrated the marvel of rosemary’s landscape versatility in an earlier article ( TG Nov./Dec. Two of my favorite herbs don’t give a hoot about freezes: rosemary and oregano. That’s why some people prefer to grow their greens in containers that can be moved from one setting to another as needed - not only to adjust for available sunlight but also to allow for a mad herb-dash into the garage to dodge an overnight freeze. As October segues toward December, however, the sun “sinks” lower and lower toward the southern horizon, leaving our herbs with less light and warmth. During that month my herbs enjoy “broken” light beneath live-oak canopies. October sunlight remains pretty intense, capable of withering young herbs unprotected by afternoon shade. On the other hand, they do benefit from organic amendments to gritty soils with excellent drainage.Ĭalculating sun exposure usually proves to be a more serious issue than space allotment. Unlike tap-rooted comfrey, most herbs root shallowly and so do not need much dirt depth. If the soil already in place is being reutilized, loosen its surface to aerate what the prior months have compacted and, at the same time, work in substantial amounts of compost. The use of large stones to outline an herb bed allows for the addition of new soil - ideally a mixture of 50 percent inorganic solids and 50 percent organic matter. When growing herbs, at least, a satisfying design does not require an entire circle. However, if aiming for a complete herb circle requires more space than you have available or want to cultivate, consider fashioning only three adjacent pie-slice portions. I particularly like petite, self-contained arcs located along plant-bed edges.Ĭomplete circles outlined in stone and divided evenly into pie-slice sectors always impress. Curved patterns always add extra eye-appeal to a layout. Basic bed designs include squares or rectangles with walkway rows. Given that tight timeframe, purchased potted plants (my preference) offer quicker, more certain bounty than seed.ĭuring the autumn season our in-ground herbs might best be limited to smallish, well-defined areas that allow for easy watering or protective covering, as needed. On the other hand, many in-ground cool-season herbs prove hard to maintain beyond mid-December, which leaves us with about two months or so for an optimal outcome. Certainly the ground contains enough warmth for anyone who wants to start with seed.
Anyone who has seen children perspiring uncomfortably inside their Halloween costumes knows why October is omitted from the cool-season category.Įven so, reasonable hopes for autumnal herbs begin in October, especially in the northern half of our state. Climate specialists define November through February as the Central Texas cool season.
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