In this video, Tricia shows you how to build an attractive and functional herb spiral for your garden.
Why Build an Herb Spiral?
An herb spiral is an efficient, space-saving garden design developed by permaculturists. It creates different microclimates within a small area, making it perfect for growing a variety of herbs with different sunlight and moisture needs.
Materials You’ll Need
- Cardboard, newspaper, or weed fabric
- 1.5 cubic meters of rocks, bricks, or cinderblock
- Gravel or sand
- 0.5 cubic yard of soil, compost, or organic matter like wood, straw, and leaves
- Organic mulch such as straw, leaves, or bark
- Twine and two stakes
Steps to Build Your Herb Spiral
- Choose the location: Find a spot with at least 5 hours of sunlight, close to your kitchen for easy access.
- Prepare the base: Lay down cardboard, newspaper, or weed fabric to suppress weeds. Mark the spiral’s footprint using twine and stakes.
- Build the spiral: Use rocks, bricks, or cinderblocks to create the spiral structure. The spiral should rise gradually to about 3 feet tall in the center.
- Fill with layers: Add gravel and organic matter for stability and drainage as you build. Top with soil and compost for planting areas.
- Allow settling: Let the spiral settle for a couple of months before planting.
Planting Your Herb Spiral
Once the herb spiral has settled, it’s time to plant! Arrange your herbs based on their sunlight and moisture preferences:
- Top (driest): Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and basil.
- Middle: Chives, parsley, coriander, chamomile, and marigolds.
- Bottom (wettest): Mint and watercress.
Watering Your Herb Spiral
An herb spiral is easy to water. Use a sprinkler at the top or install a soaker hose or emitters that follow the spiral structure for efficient watering.
Add an herb spiral to your garden and enjoy fresh, organic herbs year-round. Shop organic herb seeds and grow organic for life!
