Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: dougens on April 19, 2024, 10:40

Title: Herbs dying help!
Post by: dougens on April 19, 2024, 10:40

I have the below in my bed:
rosemary, bay, chives, mint - no issues, year on year

However, my thyme (common and lemon), oregano, marjoram and sage all struggle year on year.

They are planted in a raised bed.  Images attached.

Mint in a pot (to stop spread) - not yet back up, but usually does with no issue
All other herbs were lightly trimmed back pre winter.  This is what I did pre winter 2022 and they came back through for 2023, to be honest they didn't really go away, leaves through the 2022 winter to 2023.

Previous to 2022 I pruned back really hard and they always died.  Meaning rebuying and replanting, a pain!

2023 winter I did the same as 2022 - light pruning Sep 2023 hoping they would come back again. 
They haven't and look pretty sad. 

Can anyone advise on what best to do now? 

I'm thinking now it's a bit warmer I will trim right back and hope to see green stems, and when it becomes warmer, they will grow?

It has been very wet this year and the bed is quite sodden. 
When I planted these I added a lot of sand and grit as read best grown in poor soil,not heavy.

P.s. even this year the sage looks poor, always been fine before!

I live in Plymouth, SW England.

Any help most appreciated!

Thanks

Title: Re: Herbs dying help!
Post by: Hampshire Hog on April 19, 2024, 11:34

Don’t wish to be gloomy but I suspect they may have just drowned given this year’s weather. Best option is to wait for better weather (!!!) and if they still look like at present you’ll have to restock. Good luck HH

Title: Re: Herbs dying help!
Post by: Yorkie on April 19, 2024, 19:12

Most Mediterranean herbs will tolerate cold but the wet will really challenge them. If you can improve drainage (add grit?) before replanting, that might help

Title: Re: Herbs dying help!
Post by: KalisDad on April 23, 2024, 20:23

you could wait to see if there is any green in the stems and trim back to there now the weather is getting better

Title: Re: Herbs dying help!
Post by: dougens on April 28, 2024, 11:25

Thanks all.
Only one (oregano) still has green when trimmed back.
I’m making another raised bed this year so will dog this herb bed out and use soil in that, then remake the soil mix for the herb bed with more drainage.

Any advice on a good mix for herb bed?

I was going to do compost, coco, perlite, sharp salt mix!

Should I add some gravel?

Thanks for help. Great site. 

Title: Re: Herbs dying help!
Post by: Goosegirl on April 29, 2024, 09:44

Not sure what sharp salt is, but definitely gravel or sharp grit should help with drainage.

Title: Re: Herbs dying help!
Post by: dougens on April 29, 2024, 09:46

Quote from: Goosegirl on April 29, 2024, 09:44

Not sure what sharp salt is, but definitely gravel or sharp grit should help with drainage.

Thanks Goosegirl

I meant sharp sand!