Throughout the spring and summer, an herb garden has probably been the area of a garden most consistently humming with bees and other insects. Even if you don’t have a lot of space, you can still grow a wide range of herbs by building a “herb spiral”. The technique was illustrated nicely on a leaflet we picked up at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth 20 years ago.
Step 1
You’ll need an area about 2m in diameter in which you can create a series of different habitats to suit a wide range of herbs.
Step 2
Mark your spiral on the ground and then build your rising spiral from stone, bricks or wooden stakes, climbing to a peak in the centre.
Step 3
Fill it in with soil or compost as you go, and then you’re ready to plant. The dry, sunny top will be ideal for oil-rich herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage; the more sheltered, northern side will be better suited to fleshier-le…
