help me start a herb garden / planter

[amidaiwish]

hi,
i am completely clueless about gardening, but intend to educate myself this year

the first thing i would like to do is build a herb garden, maybe in pots outside?

what herbs would you recommend and any top tips? our back garden is south facing but with shady areas

the herbs i use a lot of are: basil, coriander, parsley, thyme, rosemary, dill, chives

grateful for your advice

If you want planters/containers for a patio/south facing garden, then I recommend growing individual but grouped herbs, thyme, rosemary & chives, all are hardy and low mainentance. You can leave them with very little to do, for 2-3 years. Basil, dill (soft herbs) need a bit more effort as they need to be established each year from seed or transplanting a plant in warm weather. Sow seed according to instructions. The same with coriander, supposedly difficult but in fact has surprised me in being quite hardy and has self sown, as in, it is coming up again in the same pot. Have a Bay tree, hardy and wonderful to pick your own leaves for the kitchen. I recommend Dr. Hessayon's series of books that will really inform you.

thank you driftwood99

Don't plant mint in with anything else or in the ground!
Don't get a curry plant.
Rosemary is my favourite , smells lovely.
Chives v easy & good to use

Chives are so beautiful as well, they make very pretty edging plants. If you cut them down 3 or 4 times a year, they resprout and are invigorated. I never have any luck with basil outdoors, so keep it inside now, but never need to sow dill or coriander as it self seeds everywhere so by April/May we have a ready supply.

Rosemary can grwo very big, so either grow in a pot or where you've space. I picked rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, sage and bay all winter, so these are really useful and no maintenance.

I also heartily recommend the stuff thats harder to get in the shops, like sorrel, savory, chervil etc.

All my herbs grow in full sun, the Med ones rosemary, thyme etc need it.