Self-Sufficient Herbalism. Lucy Jones

      Golden Seal flowering in my garden.

      Climate

      Depending on where you are in the world, you will have certain parameters dictated to you by the climate. You will need to consider the frequency of frost, the volume and distribution of rainfall and the prevailing wind speed and directions. Look at what is growing naturally in your area: those plants will tell you a great deal about what species will be suited to your land. In areas with cold winters, you can extend the range of medicinal species that you are able to grow by using greenhouses, polytunnels or cloches or simply by starting off non-hardy plants indoors on the window sill. I grow Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) by extending the season in this way.

      If your area is prone to drought, you may need to plan for irrigation, although it makes sense to focus first on herbs that will be more drought-tolerant, such as Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Bay (Laurus nobilis) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). If you are planning to grow herbs that do require plenty of water, make sure that you have sufficient unpolluted water available. Peppermint (Mentha piperita), for example, requires 50 mm / 2 in of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation, in order to thrive. Most herbs require around 25 mm / 1 in of water per week.

      High winds can be damaging to young plants. In very sandy soils, high winds can even uproot surface-rooting plants from the soil and blow them away. If root anchorage is not an issue, high winds can strip plants of their moisture, stunting their growth. Cold winds can cause dieback of plants that require warmer growing conditions, and salt-laden winds can cause burning of crops. If your herb-growing area is prone to regular high winds, you would be wise to include some shelter belts. Be aware that shelter belts, as well as buildings and walls, create their own micro-climates. The northern sides of shelter belts are shadier, the southern sides sunnier; the western sides will be exposed to more extremes of temperature, being shadier in the morning but exposed to stronger sun in the afternoon. This is not necessarily a disadvantage. A greater temperature range can encourage higher levels of essential oils in aromatic herbs. Eastern sides of buildings or shelter belts are milder than western sides, being exposed to the morning sun and the afternoon shade.