Time is ripe to grow herbs

As the temperatures glide upward and the days lend themselves to outdoor feasts, what better to serve guests than caprese salad using fresh basil from your backyard garden?

Growing culinary herbs is a gardening pastime that continues to gain in popularity, in part because people like to show off their own herbs, Roger’s Gardens horticulturalist Gail Rose Lam said.

“It’s like bragging rights; it’s a source of pride for people,” Lam said.

The lettuce and spinach recall late last year also seemed to prompt more people to try their hand at growing their own, Lam said. But the herb gardener doesn’t necessarily have to have a green thumb in order to be successful.

“You have to have a light thumb,” Lam said. “The number one cause of herb death is having a heavy watering thumb.”

Generally speaking, herbs that grow well in warmer weather — basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, oregano, chives, lemon verbena and others — do not require a lot of water, and they love direct sunlight, Daniel Truong, manager of Costa Mesa’s Armstrong Garden Centers said.

“The sun enhances the flavor,” he said.

It’s best to start with plants that are already grown in small pots that can be purchased from nurseries relatively cheaply. Buying the plants already starting to grow makes life easier for the gardener than planting seeds. Lam suggested buying a plant that is about 4 inches tall.

For people who have ample room, planting in the ground is generally better, Truong said. But if there’s not room, Lam said she prefers clay pots to plastic.

If planting in the ground, it may be a good idea to amend the soil with compost and sand could even be added since herbs like to be well drained.

“Plus adding compost material over the long term would improve the soil,” Truong said.

Getting rid of bugs can be tricky in this situation. There is no perfect solution, Truong said, but before buying any pesticide, keep in mind the herbs will be making their way into your favorite dishes later. Lam suggested organic sprays made with lavender, rosemary and cloves that repel bugs and suffocates them when sprayed on plants. Planting marigolds around basil can be a clever and beautiful way to dissuade bugs from invading basil, Truong said. Ladybugs are always a healthy option, too.