Herbs have always played a large part in traditional English borders, but keeping your herbs for cooking in a separate area, ideally near the house, makes it easy for you to gather them and linger over.

The ideal site for a herb garden would be facing south so it got plenty of sun, well drained soil and some protection from the prevailing wind. Remember that all herbs are best eaten fresh.

Basil – Ocimum basilicum - a tender annual that grows to 18 inches or 45 cm - needs a sunny spot.

Bay – Laurus nobilis – an evergreen bush or tree, if left unpruned grows to 23 feet or 7 metres, likes a sunny sheltered spot.

Borage –Borago officinalis is a hardy annual that grows to 2 foot or 60cm. Likes a sunny spot, much beloved by bees.

Chives – Allium schenprasum – a hardy perennial that grows to between 8 inches to 30 inches, 20cm to 85cm, enjoys a sunny spot, both the leaves and the flowers are edible.

Dill – Anethum graveolens – a hardy annual that reaches 2 foot or 60 cm, prefers a sunny spot.

Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare – a giant for your garden reaching 7 foot or 2.1 metres. Again likes a sunny spot.

Lemon balm – Melissa officinalis – is a hardy perennial growing to 3 foot or 1 metre, prefers a sunny spot or part shade.
For more info on Lemon balm click here

Lovage – Levisticum officinale – is a hardy perennial that can grow to 7 foot or2.1 metres, plant it at the back of your garden!

Mints – Mentha species are hardy perennials growing up to 3 foot or 1 metre Click here for more info on mints.

Oregano – Origanum species a hardy perennial that loves a sunny spot and grows from 6 inches to 2 foot 15 cm to 60cm.

Parsley – Petroselinum crispin – an essential herb, a hardy biennial that prefers part shade and grows to 15 inches or 38 cm.

Rosemary – Rosarinus occicinalis is a hardy evergreen perennial that can grow into a small bush 3 to 6 foot or 1 to 2 metres. It likes a sunny spot and shelter from strong winds.

Sage – Salvia officinalis another hardy evergreen perennial that likes a sunny spot with shelter from cold winds. Grows to 2 foot or 60cm.

Thyme– the thymus species – is an evergreen very aromatic shrub, varies between 3 -15 inches or 8 – 38cm.

Enjoy your garden!