green city toolkit herb spiral
TRANSCRIPT
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8/6/2019 Green City Toolkit Herb Spiral
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An hb sia is a batif, aomati an fntiona
addition to any garden, big or small. Twenty to thirty
linear eet o herb plants can be condensed into an
elegant circle only fve to six eet across. Because o
their spiral design, herb spirals create microclimates
that suit the various needs o your herbs and allow or
a wide array o herbs to be planted in close proximity.
Matias
4570 rocks, 820 inches in diameter.
Organic soil/compost mixture. Work your soil well by loosening with a
garden spade/ork, and mix in some fnished compost beore planting).
Your choice o herbs or transplanting (approximately 14 plants).
Insttions
1) Make a pyramid-shaped pile o base layer rocks in the centre o
your herb spiral location, using about hal o your mid-to-large-sized
rocks. These rocks help conserve soil and improve drainage.
2) Pile the soil/compost mixture over the base layer, creating a mound
that is about three eet high and fve eet across.
3) Place the remaining rocks side by side (touching, or very close
together) in a spiral pattern. The line o rocks should wind rom the
bottom o the mound inward towards the top. Leave about a oot o
soil between the tiers o the rock spiral.
4) Plant your herbs into the soil o the spiral. Plan the spacing
according to the types o herbs youre planting and approximate
size at maturity.
Saing Tis
Plants suited to hot, dry conditions (like rosemary, oregano and
thyme) do best on the south side o the spiral at the top, with
sun-lovers (such as lavender and yarrow) below them.
Plants such as parsley and chives (which like cooler, moisture-rich
environments) will thrive on the north side, near the bottom o the
spiral where it stays wetter longer into the day.
Cilantro, which oten bolts, (goes straight to seed without producing
much oliage) can be placed on the east side, protected rom the hot
aternoon sun.
Ti:
Think about how youd like the fnal
design to look. Use uniorm rocks or
bricks to create a ormal, harmonized
aesthetic or choose a variety o shapes,
colors and sizes to achieve a more
eclectic look.
BuIld A BAckyArd HerB SpIrAlA Guide to Green City Living
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comanion panting Tis
Members o the carrot amily, such as celery, parsley, and cilantro,
do well with rosemary and with members o the onion amily,
such as garlic or chives.
Rosemary, yarrow, chamomile and lavender are good companions,
as they have similar water needs. Yarrow and chamomile also
increase the amount o essential oils produced by nearby rosemary
and lavender.
Chickweed, mint and lemon balm are known to spread quickly in
a garden. Plant them in a pot or planter to keep them rom taking over.
Want to know Mo?
1) Gaias Garden: A Guide to Home-scale Permaculture. Toby Hemenway.
Chelsea Green Publishing. 2001.
2) New Book of Herbs. Jekka McVicar. DK Publishing Inc. 2002.
3) Culinary Herb Guide: www.culinaryherbguide.com
4) Garden Guides Herb Collection:
www.gardenguides.com/4075-herbs-collection.html
5) Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs:www.omara.gov.on.ca/english/crops/acts/02-049.htm
comanion anting is a way
o matching up mutually-benefcialplants to help attract pollinators,
improve soil, and protect your crops
rom pests and disease.
Lead PartnerNational Lead Partner Major Partners
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Additional support or this resource was provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation
Evergreen is a national charity that makes cities more livable.
Evergreens Common Grounds program protects and restores natural and cultural landscapesin urban and urbanizing communities across Canada.
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