An herb spiral is a gardening technique that allows herbs to grow in close-relation while offering a wide range of moisture and sunlight levels to each and every plant. Herb gardens pertain to permaculture as they emulate the spiral pattern found in the wild and use it to optimize growth in plants. Overall, this is a cost-efficient and sustainable design that can be used in many gardens and outdoor areas which can also add to the beautification of a site.
Location
Herb gardens can be situated in many areas but do best, like many other plants, in a partly-shaded to sunny spot. Although sunlight is needed, it is important to make sure that the herb spiral is protected from intense sun or wind. The kind of herbs that you want to grow in your herb garden can help decide the location. If you are growing herbs that need high moisture, it is better to situate them away from complete sun.
It is also important to think about the practical function of herb gardens when deciding where to put your herb spiral. Since herbs are mostly used for cooking, placing the spiral near the kitchen allows for optimal use of the plants. Moreover, herbs can also give off protective properties if they are aromatic and reduce pests from the rest of your garden. If there is a plant that has particular problems with pests in your garden, it may be beneficial to place the spiral near that plant.
Herb gardens can range in size, so when determining where to put your herb garden it is important to know how large you want the project to be. So, any amount of space is enough, as long as you know how many herbs you will like to include. Herb gardens are made up of three dimensions and can be spread out over the ground or built upwards.
Building
When it comes to building your herb spiral, there are many different ways to achieve the same outcome. Typically, the base starts with a flattened area which you can cover with cardboard to make sure that weeds do not get in. After laying the cardboard down, you can use bricks, logs, stones, or even glass bottles to build your spiral. Make sure to know the coordinates of your garden. The north side of the herb spiral should be facing the southern hemisphere. Then, place biomass, soil, and compost above.
Herbs
When it comes to planting your herbs, the possibilities are endless. What’s important to consider is what each and every herb likes best so that you can properly place it in the spiral. If herbs like a lot of sun and moist soil then you should put them somewhere towards the top and if they like the opposite, place them towards the bottom. Here are some herbs and conditions that they thrive in:
Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Marjoram, and other Mediterranean Herbs: Warm and dry conditions. Place them towards the top and the south facing side. Also, herbs that have deeper roots like Rosemary and Lavender should go on the very top so that they can have space for their roots to grow.
Sage and Oregano:
Place these herbs towards the bottom of your herb spiral because they enjoy the shade from the other herbs and dryer conditions
Coriander, Dill, Basil:
These herbs also like somewhat dryer conditions but with a little more sun. Place these three herbs towards the bottom but facing direct sunlight.
For more information, visit permaculture sites or this website below. Happy planting!
https://happydiyhome.com/how-to-make-a-herb-spiral/
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