Interested in starting an herb garden in SE Louisiana. Any suggestions?

Question

I would like to start growing an Italian herb garden in my backyard. (Basil, oregeno, parsley, arugula, etc.) How do I decide which area to plant? Is is best to do this by container gardening or plant directly into the ground. I've NEVER done any gardening - just really like to cook with Italian seasonings.

Additionally, I would like to grow tomatoes. Any recomendations on delicious varieties?

Answer 1

All herbs prefer full sun. They do better in the ground than in containers. Oregano is a perennial, basil, parsley, arugula are annuals - save their seeds for next year. Jiffy makes great Mini greenhouses (4" x 10") that sit nicely in window sills - preferably south facing - for starting seeds. http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/77-494-trays-and-peat-pots/jiffy-peat-pot-strips-631448.aspx see " Jiffy-7"

Super Fantastic tomatoes are exactly that. http://www.reimerseeds.com/super-fantastic-tomato.aspx

I lived in Lafayette for many years. You should be able to grow just about anything. Have fun!

Answer 2

I was at a hotel at Disney in Orlando and as you can imagine they take a dim view of mouse haters, much less rabbits and stuff. Just walking around I saw several rabbits and a snapping turtle just wandering about during the day. The restaurant did however offer fresh herbs grown on the grounds in the same place I was watching the rabbits. The only thing that kept the rabbits out of the herbs was a two foot high hardware cloth fence all around, high enough to discourage the rabbits, but low enough that the chef could step over. The rest of the vegetation was quite lush so I don't imagine the rabbits got very hungry (and they were southern rabbits, so quite small compared to northern varieties). So I would guess that would be a first attempt to try at any rate, I would bury the fence six or more inches underground and use rebar to stiffen it so they could not push it over, mice might climb over the fence but it will at least make them work. Another tack is to use Coyote urine (they actually sell it at garden supply stores[ I can't imagine the folk who gather and bottle it]) All prey species are put off by it, suspecting a coyote to be nearby. Garden supply stores also have wooden owls, that often have a similar effect.