What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[munkee1965]

Hubby has spent the afternoon making me a tiered, raised bed which I want to grow herbs in. What herbs would you recommend for a complete beginner? Can I use the herb plants bought from the supermarket (much cheaper) or should I buy them from a garden centre?

[Olly]

You can sometimes succeed with the supermarket ones, but you might do better with garden centre ones - a lot of herbs can be grown from seed, though.

 

What herbs do you prefer - there's no point growing things you aren't going to use, unless you want it for colour/scent? I wouldn't be without parsley, thyme, sage, mint and chives. I grow basil indoors on the kitchen windowsill, although you can grow it outside in the warm weather.

[munkee1965]

I've got parsley, mint and basil on the kitchen windowsill. Thinking about chives, rosemary, thyme and corriander. I know rosemary grows outside all year round, do the others or would I need to replace them every year?

[craftyhunnypie]

I got a Rosemary bush from Morrisons - think it was £4. It's a nice size & has taken well.

From seed, I've got chives, coriander & basil. I love coriander - great in all curries & even better in carrot & coriander soup!

Emma.x

[Cinnamon]

I use my Rosemary & Thyme bushes more than anything,then my sage & my Oregano,Tarragon & Chives.

All of these are hardy & have been doing well for several years in my garden.

 

Any tender herbs like Parsley,Coriander,Basil & so forth I keep as windowsill herbs.

 

If you want a good windowsill basil,may I recommend the Greek Basil from Waitrose which comes in a growing pot. The leaves are smaller than normal Basil, & its a much bushier plant ,but I only bought one,right at the beginning of the season last year, & it lived right through until late Autumn.

Fantastic value seeing how expensive Basil is

[Olly]

Thyme will grow all year round usually, chives will die down in the winter but come up again in the spring. Coriander I think you would have to re-sow annually, I don't think it would survive the winter.

 

Beware - my hens lurve chives, I had to cover mine with an upturned hanging-basket to keep them off it, and then they pruned them within a beak's length of the basket!