Does anyone know what herbs i can grow here in colorado? I am making a garden in the backyard and most of the herbs i want to grow wont be able to grow here in CO. I already know plenty that i am already going to grow (such as: parsley, basil, lemon balm, mint, things in that category) does anyone have any suggestions?
Rosemary is considered an ever green, sage is a mountainous herb and often can survive in even cooler autumn climates, thyme is also pretty strong in cold climates, but needs to be cut back in spring to encourage new growth. Lavender can be grown, but you have to mulch it and keep it in a more dry area if possible, and is best in direct summer time sunlight. Horsetail can also grow in Colorado, but needs to be well watered. Cilantro likes cooler climates and can be grown there. Oregano, like lavender, prefers dry areas, it often repels bugs and rabbits from the garden, and can be grown in more Colorado summer time temperatures, like lavender.
Hope that gave you some new information.
B.
A basic culinary garden contains garlic, chives, basil, Oregano, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. A tea garden might have spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, chamomile and catnip. A garden for potpourri may have lavender, scented geraniums, santolina and rosemary.
The plant's mature height is very important in deciding its proper placement in the garden. Tallest plants go to the back of a garden, or center if the garden is accessible from all sides. Consider whether the plant is annual, biennial or perennial. Plant perennials at least 18 inches apart to allow for future growth.
Once planted, water herbs well and continue to water them deeply when the soil dries throughout the first growing season. Once established, most herbs require little water, but annual herbs and mints will require a bit more water than other herbs. Watch closely for insects and use an organic pest control, such as soap or garlic sprays, or wash insects off with water if they begin to be a problem.
courtesy of http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1003.html
Keep an eye on the mint it is a thug and will take over a garden in no time. As for what you could grow. Some that will love the cold are, chives, fennel even coriander and oregano will not mind the cold if you plant out established plants.
Don't forget that you can grow almost any herbs in containers and when the really cold you can bring them inside, something like a window box will house a lot of herbs and works on both sides of the window. Container grown plants do need a little more care as easy for them to dry out and in colder areas plants grow a lot slower but I wish you happy gardening and hope your backyard is soon in bloom.
These herbs tolerate desert like conditions and poor soils so they will be good in the dry dirt of the east side of the rockies.
Now since colorado gets amazing ammounts of sun, you are right to plant basil and mints and you could even go for chamomile, catnip, and some echinacea.
Now for the more cold seasons, as I mentioned before, echinacea is a good one to grow as it does like the frost to cover it's roots.
Make sure you water all of your plants well! Especially the mints!!! They will die fairly quickly on you if you do not water them every day maybe twice.
