Herb Gardens
Growing these versatile plants in our Southern climate can be a challenge. The keys to success with herbs are plant selection and site preparation.
Don't expect to harvest armloads of English lavender blooms or great handfuls of French tarragon. Sage and thyme can also be difficult to grow, disappearing mysteriously after a few years. Don't blame yourself. These perennial herbs should be considered as short-lived plants in our hot, humid climate. Count yourself among the lucky ones if you can get 3 or 4 productive years from these herbs before they pass on.
Although our climate makes it difficult to grow some herbs, there are many that we can grow very successfully. We just have to select the right ones! You can harvest armloads of basil, lemon balm, Texas tarragon, (Tagetes lucida), catnip, German chamomile, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), chives, mints, and many others. These herbs thrive in our part of the South.
A major cause of failure with herbs in the South (other than climate) is poor drainage of the soil. Planting your herbs in a well-drained bed area, a container or raised bed, will more likely result in success. This is of particular importance for the following herbs that cannot tolerate wet feet: sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, rosemary, French tarragon, and scented geraniums.
Uses of Herbs
Publications
News
Autumn is officially here! It’s not hard to love this time of year. Temperatures are cooling, leaves are changing, and there will be more branches than foliage soon. It’s hard not to love this time of year! As we close out this calendar year, it’s easy to convince yourself there’s not much to do in the yard. Take a break, but also take time to check off these tasks
The 2021 Fall Flower & Garden Fest will return to an in-person event but will be modified because of the persistently high number of COVID-19 cases. The fest will be held 9 a.m. to noon daily Oct. 4-8 at the Mississippi State University Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs.
The 2020 Fall Flower & Garden Fest will be a virtual, educational event this year.
In the late summer and into the fall, some of my favorite garden plants are the annual herbs.
On top of my list of annual herbs are basil and dill. These herbs are aromatic and really easy to grow. And have I said they’re delicious?
As we continue to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve read that our eating habits are changing. The options for eating out have been limited as we practice social distancing.
This is the perfect opportunity for gardeners of all abilities to grow vegetable gardens.
Success Stories
As Jimmy Henry’s health began to decline, his wife, Shirley, wanted him to remain comfortable, safe, and happy. When the time came for Jimmy to enter a nursing home, Shirley was determined to stay right by his side, so she went with him.
See what's new in Extension: a new monarch garden, a storytelling series will begin, the Garden Expo highlights Extension education, and Keep America Beautiful recognizes MSU Extension.
After a tragic car accident in 2017 led to the deaths of two Central Elementary School students, school leaders raised money to support their funerals. Their efforts inspired many South Mississippi residents in Lucedale and across George County.
John Monroe has been familiar with the Mississippi State University Extension Service since he was a child.
“I grew up on a small farm in George County,” says Monroe. “My dad took gardening seriously, and we weren’t blessed with the best soil. So my dad worked very closely with the county agent. He’d come out to our place on a regular basis.”
