Herbs in raised beds

Herbs are a staple in most Danish kitchens, whether in a stew, on an egg sandwich or to top off a salad.

Perhaps you are used to grabbing a pot of dill or a bunch of fresh thyme from the chiller cabinet in the supermarket because you know you need it for tonight's dinner. And once the herb has done its job, it is left to wilt on the kitchen counter, so you have to buy a new one the next time you need it.

But you don't need to keep buying new herbs again and again when you can grow them in the garden, on the patio or on the balcony – and it is much easier than you think. Many herbs thrive in raised beds, because the soil is approx. 8 degrees warmer than if you plant them in another bed in the garden. At Grönfeld we sell all kinds of raised beds where your herbs can grow well, and you can choose different sizes depending on how much space you have. That way you can easily snip a little chives and pick a few leaves of fresh basil just when you find yourself in need of them.

Which herbs for a raised bed?

Herbs is a broad term, and it is important to find out what can survive in your raised beds before you start sowing seeds. First and foremost, it is of course important that you grow herbs that you like and use often. However, not all herbs work equally well outdoors in a raised bed, but we will go through that in more detail here:

Perennial herbs for the raised bed:

  • Chives
    • Chives grow back quickly as soon as they are cut down. They are incredibly easy to look after.
  • Parsley
    • Parsley is only biennial, and then it has to be planted anew. In the meantime, you can get plenty of enjoyment from parsley in Danish cooking.
  • Lovage
    • If the parsley has not come up yet, lovage is an excellent alternative in the early spring months.
  • French tarragon
    • French tarragon is a little delicate to grow, and it can be a good idea to cover it over the winter if it is to shoot up again the following spring.
  • Thyme (all varieties)
    • Thyme can be used and cut all year round. It is also well suited to many casseroles, soups and meat dishes.
  • Sage
    • Sage is perennial and goes well with many other common herbs.
  • Oregano
    • Oregano is a hardy herb. That is why it is also easy to look after, and it can thrive in most places.
  • Mint
    • Mint thrives practically anywhere and spreads very readily – at times too much.

Annual herbs for the raised bed:

  • Dill
    • Fresh dill is a big summer favourite, but if you want to use dill out of season, it needs to be frozen.
  • Chervil
    • Chervil is not as widely used a herb, but it is still a great flavour enhancer in soups, sauces or fish dishes.
  • Coriander
    • Coriander is often divisive. It is commonly used in Asian cooking and it is easy to collect seeds from.

Heat-loving herbs for the raised bed (spring and summer):

  • Basil
    • Basil needs warmth and does best in a greenhouse. However, you can certainly plant it at the beginning of June and enjoy it throughout the summer.
  • Rosemary
    • With rosemary, it is important that it is sheltered from the wind and warm enough.

Which fertiliser for herbs?

You can get fertiliser formulated specifically for your herbs, but most herbs are actually fairly easy to look after. Even so, it is a good idea to give your herbs in raised beds some fertiliser now and then, so that they thrive and grow better. It is important, however, not to fertilise too often, as this can change the flavour of your herbs – once a month should be sufficient.