Question by betty: A shelter that I volunteer at, asked me to start up a herb/flower garden?
The space is very small (3 feet by 15 feet), but I would like to have herbs / flowers that will grow at different times so it will always be populated. What herbs and flowers go together and won’t overrun the small area? The shelter is located in Southern California (Los Angeles)
Best answer:
Answer by Rocky
Here’s a list of herbs/flowers that are good for small areas and probably good for your climate, too: lavender, rosemary, aloe, catnip, basil, thyme, violet, oregano, poppies and mint. Mint and violet do have a tendency to spread though, but they look and smell nice, so you might want to put them in anyway.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
You can grow herbs in an Aerogarden. They are really cool hydroponic systems that take up little space. They even come with an itallian herb pack to get you started. Add more Aerogardens as you want more space to grow!
Hello, 3 feet by 15 feet is a very decent size! Growing herbs for a shelter is a great idea because herbs in general are very easy to grow and maintain, and you can use them!
To answer your questions:
1. Plants that will make the plot looks populated at all times. Most herbs have foliage of distinct texture so they look pretty and interesting even without flowers. And some do have beautiful flowers,e.g. Rosemary (needle-like leaves with purplish-blue flowers), Lavender, Oregano, Sage.
2. Easy to grow and maintain. Most herbs are very, very easy to grow as long as the plot has (1) a sunny location; (2) well-drained soil (you can work on that). Fertilizers are rarely needed. It’s also great that LA should be warm enough for most herbs to survive the winter.
3. Won’t overrun a small area. Most herbs are pretty, eh, “well-behaved” except Mint… they are SO easy to grow that they tend to overrun our gardens (but there are solutions).
Other points you may consider: since it is a shelter, won’t it be wonderful if you can grow some culinary herbs (e.g. basil, parsley, chives, dill)… or aromatic herbs (e.g. Lavender). They can be eaten, or made into potpourri for gifts or even for sale.
Enjoy your volunteering work, and happy gardening!
Cheers, Megan
The aerogardens are amazin. Homegrown Hydroponics has them cheap…