I’m again learning the only way I know how.. by trying something out and failing :D

We have a herb patch in the backyard, which was there when we moved in. We revamped it a bit a while ago – cleared it out of weeds, put in strawbales for edging, and planted our favourite herbs. It looked like this:

It’s been a while now, and the results have been:
- oregano did really well
- sage coped, but didn’t look happy
- thyme struggled on for a long time before finally dying
- coriander and parsley did OK
- everything else died (basil, rosemary, I forget what else)

We suspect that the spot just doesn’t get enough sunshine for herbs. It’s under a jacaranda tree and next to a huge wall so quite shady.

My question is… are there any other herbs that would thrive in the same conditions as oregano likes?

If it turns out just not to be a suitable spot for herbs, we’re thinking of putting a small pond there. That, or we’d be looking into local natives which might be happy there.

All advice appreciated :)

bon008 said:

I’m again learning the only way I know how.. by trying something out and failing :D

We have a herb patch in the backyard, which was there when we moved in. We revamped it a bit a while ago – cleared it out of weeds, put in strawbales for edging, and planted our favourite herbs. It looked like this:

It’s been a while now, and the results have been:
- oregano did really well
- sage coped, but didn’t look happy
- thyme struggled on for a long time before finally dying
- coriander and parsley did OK
- everything else died (basil, rosemary, I forget what else)

We suspect that the spot just doesn’t get enough sunshine for herbs. It’s under a jacaranda tree and next to a huge wall so quite shady.

My question is… are there any other herbs that would thrive in the same conditions as oregano likes?

If it turns out just not to be a suitable spot for herbs, we’re thinking of putting a small pond there. That, or we’d be looking into local natives which might be happy there.

All advice appreciated :)

I think that most herbs don’t like to pampered too much, so maybe the soil is too rich? Then again as you suspect it might be a sunlight issues. I just Googled and it seems they need at least 5 or 6 hours of sun per day.

Check out this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4857498_grow-herbs-shade.html

AnneS said:

I think that most herbs don’t like to pampered too much, so maybe the soil is too rich? Then again as you suspect it might be a sunlight issues. I just Googled and it seems they need at least 5 or 6 hours of sun per day.

Check out this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4857498_grow-herbs-shade.html

I don’t think it would be too rich – it’s pretty much just sand, but when we revamped it we bunged in some manure and other things and we mulch it with straw which breaks down well. Actually that stuff probably needs doing again, but that’s another kettle of fish.

That link is great, thanks! Might try some lemon balm and mint in there, as well as perservering with the coriander and parsley. Undecided as to whether to keep mint in pots – I know people say it goes nuts and takes over, but there was mint in there when we moved in and it didn’t last one summer..

Some chives might cope, or garlic chives, but neither will thrive.
Herbs do need a minimum of 6hrs sunlight. The ones that died, like the rosemary, are strictly excellent drainage full sun plants.
Stay with the softer, more succulent herbs, leave the woody ones out.
Maybe a bit of pruning on the jacaranda might help if possible…..

i remember this spot and yes – lack of sunlight will make it improbable for herbs.

spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal are a lot less aggressive than common mint.
eau de cologne and chamomile might be alright?

Longy said:

Some chives might cope, or garlic chives, but neither will thrive.
Herbs do need a minimum of 6hrs sunlight. The ones that died, like the rosemary, are strictly excellent drainage full sun plants.
Stay with the softer, more succulent herbs, leave the woody ones out.
Maybe a bit of pruning on the jacaranda might help if possible…..

Thanks Longy, have never grown chives before so that could be worth a try.

I won’t risk pruning the jacaranda – I don’t want to be have to constantly trimming the regrowth. If the herbs don’t work out I’ll just give up and try something else. We wouldn’t have put them there at all except there was a happy-looking herb patch there when we moved in.

pepe said:

i remember this spot and yes – lack of sunlight will make it improbable for herbs.

spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal are a lot less aggressive than common mint.
eau de cologne and chamomile might be alright?

Thanks pepe :) I drink a lot of peppermint tea so that could work out well!

I’m not sure eau de cologne or chamomile would get much use, but it could be interesting to try to come up with uses…

A large part of your problem is the tree. It isn’t just the shade .. it is also the roots.

I can grow oregano on top of tree roots but I do find that other herbs cannot enjoy the same lifestyle with ease. Mint does less well than oregano.

bon008 said:

Longy said:

Some chives might cope, or garlic chives, but neither will thrive.
Herbs do need a minimum of 6hrs sunlight. The ones that died, like the rosemary, are strictly excellent drainage full sun plants.
Stay with the softer, more succulent herbs, leave the woody ones out.
Maybe a bit of pruning on the jacaranda might help if possible…..

Thanks Longy, have never grown chives before so that could be worth a try.

I won’t risk pruning the jacaranda – I don’t want to be have to constantly trimming the regrowth. If the herbs don’t work out I’ll just give up and try something else. We wouldn’t have put them there at all except there was a happy-looking herb patch there when we moved in.

I’m glad you’re not going to prune the Jac. They can look awful once they have had branches removed.

pomolo said:

bon008 said:

Longy said:

Some chives might cope, or garlic chives, but neither will thrive.
Herbs do need a minimum of 6hrs sunlight. The ones that died, like the rosemary, are strictly excellent drainage full sun plants.
Stay with the softer, more succulent herbs, leave the woody ones out.
Maybe a bit of pruning on the jacaranda might help if possible…..

Thanks Longy, have never grown chives before so that could be worth a try.

I won’t risk pruning the jacaranda – I don’t want to be have to constantly trimming the regrowth. If the herbs don’t work out I’ll just give up and try something else. We wouldn’t have put them there at all except there was a happy-looking herb patch there when we moved in.

I’m glad you’re not going to prune the Jac. They can look awful once they have had branches removed.

Yep, it’s already got some of those yucky regrowth bits from when someone else has pruned it. Don’t want any more of them.

roughbarked said:

A large part of your problem is the tree. It isn’t just the shade .. it is also the roots.

I can grow oregano on top of tree roots but I do find that other herbs cannot enjoy the same lifestyle with ease. Mint does less well than oregano.

OK, thanks RB, that’s definitely worth knowing! Maybe it would be a good spot for a pong then.. if I can trust myself to scoop out all the little jacaranda leaves on a regular enough basis.

bon008 said:

roughbarked said:

A large part of your problem is the tree. It isn’t just the shade .. it is also the roots.

I can grow oregano on top of tree roots but I do find that other herbs cannot enjoy the same lifestyle with ease. Mint does less well than oregano.

OK, thanks RB, that’s definitely worth knowing! Maybe it would be a good spot for a pong then.. if I can trust myself to scoop out all the little jacaranda leaves on a regular enough basis.

Oops – by pong I meant pond. Better finish my morning cuppa before I do any more typing!! :D

bon008 said:

bon008 said:

roughbarked said:

A large part of your problem is the tree. It isn’t just the shade .. it is also the roots.

I can grow oregano on top of tree roots but I do find that other herbs cannot enjoy the same lifestyle with ease. Mint does less well than oregano.

OK, thanks RB, that’s definitely worth knowing! Maybe it would be a good spot for a pong then.. if I can trust myself to scoop out all the little jacaranda leaves on a regular enough basis.

Oops – by pong I meant pond. Better finish my morning cuppa before I do any more typing!! :D

Well it might be pongy if you forget to scoop out the leaves LOL

AnneS said:

bon008 said:

bon008 said:

OK, thanks RB, that’s definitely worth knowing! Maybe it would be a good spot for a pong then.. if I can trust myself to scoop out all the little jacaranda leaves on a regular enough basis.

Oops – by pong I meant pond. Better finish my morning cuppa before I do any more typing!! :D

Well it might be pongy if you forget to scoop out the leaves LOL

ROFL. Too true :D

bon008 said:

AnneS said:

bon008 said:

Oops – by pong I meant pond. Better finish my morning cuppa before I do any more typing!! :D

Well it might be pongy if you forget to scoop out the leaves LOL

ROFL. Too true :D

It might be a good place to plant native violets

AnneS said:

bon008 said:

AnneS said:

Well it might be pongy if you forget to scoop out the leaves LOL

ROFL. Too true :D

It might be a good place to plant native violets

I’ll keep that in mind, thanks :)

AnneS said:

bon008 said:

AnneS said:

Well it might be pongy if you forget to scoop out the leaves LOL

ROFL. Too true :D

It might be a good place to plant native violets

watercress is a food that likes watery, shady environs i think.

They can look awful once they have had branches removed.
——————————————————————————————-
Yep, it’s already got some of those yucky regrowth bits from when someone else has pruned it.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s just bad pruning.

it would be a good spot for a pong then
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah. I am going to have to leave this typo alone….

Longy said:

it would be a good spot for a pong then
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah. I am going to have to leave this typo alone….

Nah go for it, you know we love it :D

Nah go for it, you know we love it :D

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Crikey Bon. I’m in enough strife here already ATM.

Longy said:

Nah go for it, you know we love it :D

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Crikey Bon. I’m in enough strife here already ATM.

Well this one would only be at my expense, so far you’re not in trouble with me… :D

Well this one would only be at my expense, so far you’re not in trouble with me… :D

++++++++++
No. Trouble is trouble. I think the moment is lost anyway..

Fairy nuff :)

bon008 said:

Longy said:

Nah go for it, you know we love it :D

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Crikey Bon. I’m in enough strife here already ATM.

Well this one would only be at my expense, so far you’re not in trouble with me… :D

It won’t take him long Bon.

A pongy pond ? ;)

mosquitoes are a good reason, I try not to leave any water laying about.

A pond that recycles its own water viia a trickling fountain can be quite a restful sound as well as keeping itself clean.

If you have a cold, then it would be a pong.

lol