The South African Herb Growers Guide

As the word ‘guide’ suggests, this is a practical, step by step approach to planting your own herb garden and harvesting the fruits of your labour. Because herbs are grown for cooking or for health, or both, how the herbs are grown is very important.

The organic approach that we take does not rely on harmful pesticides or commercial granular fertilizers. Besides being the safest way to grow any edible plant, it is in tune with the ethos of herb growing that has been practiced for hundreds of years.

This guide is also your ideas bank – with loads of suggestions on where and how to grow herbs, herb garden designs, companion planting advice, how to make your own organic pesticides and how to get herbs for free (legally and not holding up the local garden centre!).

We hope this guide will not just remain next to your bed, but will become a daily guide, both dog eared and mud stained. Above all we hope it leads to your enjoyment and use of herbs in every aspect of your life.

The South African Herb Growers Guide is the prescribed textbook for participants in the Food Gardening for Beginners learning program and an electronic version is included with the course material, free of charge.

Contents

Introduction ---- 1

Acknowledgements ---- 1

Where To Grow Herbs ---- 2

Herb Garden Design Ideas ---- 5

Planting Tips ---- 9

Growing Herbs in Containers ---- 14

Propagating Herbs ---- 16

Care and Maintenance ---- 20

Companion Planting ---- 26

Harvesting and Processing Herbs ---- 31

Tips For Selecting Herbs ---- 36

Bouquet Garni Herb Catalog ---- 47

Useful Herb Resources ---- 72

Available as a hard copy or as an e-book.

The electronic version is a big file, 3.7 MB. But at only R75 it is well worth the effort.

Printed copies are available at approximately R100. Your local garden centre may stock them. If not, call Bouquet Garni on 012 808 1044 during office hours.

To order directly online and download the e-book right now click here.