Herbs can be grown in all regions of Texas. Herbs can be planted in their own area—an herb garden either formal or natural—or intermingled in the vegetable garden, grown in containers, or mixed with landscape plants. Herbs offer the gardener a fragrant respite and just the right enhancement for cooking or a calming tea.
Herbs with a Mediterranean, Mexican, or Latin American heritage grow well in Texas. They like heat and are fairly drought tolerant. Delicate herbs, like the fragrant and subtly pungent French tarragon do not grow well in Texas and are confined to spring gardens. If a Texas gardener craves tarragon, he might try growing Mexican Mint Marigold. It has a licorice or anise scent reminiscent of tarragon, but grows well in Texas and rewards gardeners with yellow flowers in the fall.
Herbs that a Texas gardener can enjoy in abundance include:
A gardener can easily integrate herbs into his vegetable garden and some herbs will act as good companion plants to vegetables by repelling bad insects and attracting good ones.
Formal herb gardens are lovely and sophisticated. They require creating an area that is a geometric form divided by stone or brick paths. Formal herb gardens may include a fountain or bench. Formal herb gardens are planted in sections that include low growing plants on the borders and taller herbs in the center of the sections. Herb gardeners use color and texture differences to enhance the geometric effect.
Natural herb gardens are areas separated from the landscape or vegetable garden by borders usually constructed of metal edging or wood. In a natural herb garden the plants are allowed to pursue their normal growing habits and will be intermingled with no discernible pattern. However, the gardener will still need to consider plant spacing, shade heights, and using pleasing contrasts in color and texture.
A gardener may also enjoy creating a special herb garden that is dedicated to aromatic herbs, specific colors, or medicinal herbs.
Herbs plants adapted to Texas will not require special care beyond that normally showered on plants. They like well drained soil that is rich in organic material. Most herbs require less water that vegetables, but a gardener should not allow them to dry out completely. A basic, well-balanced fertilizer is all that’s needed to encourage growth.
Harvesting herbs from the home garden and immediately using them to season food and drink provides a feeling of accomplishment and independence. Every aspect of the process from the aroma released when the herb is cut to the tantalizing smells when the bread, meat, or vegetables are cooking is a reward for the gardener.
Two excellent books that provide a wealth of information about herb gardening in Texas are: Southern Herb Growing by Madalene Hill & Gwen Barclay and Herbs for Texas by Howard Garrett.
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