Raised Herb Garden

DampGardenMan

OH would like a raised bed for growing herbs and things like garlic. It will sit in a warm sunny spot atop some gravel which is underlain by a permeable weed membrane. I'll probably scrape the gravel out of the way but will leave the membrane in case there's a good reason for it (previous owner laid it all down).

What sort of depth would you recommend for the bed? 6"? 9"? 12"? More?

What would you fill it with? I'm guessing garlic might like a rich soil, but herbs not?

wild edges

I made a triangular oneoutside the kitchen door last year and filled the base and corners with soil out of old pots and all the broken crocks I needed to get rid of etc then planted things like thyme there that would like the poor soil and good drainage, then used better soil in the middle and worked inwards with plants that like better conditions. Thyme and chives seem to be thriving in there so far.

DampGardenMan

Yes, I was thinking about "rich" at one end and less so (and grittier) at the far end. Chives is a good one, must remind OH to grow some.

Still not sure how deep to make the bed???

Borderline

I think around 9 inches would be more than enough. My prostrate Rosemary has been flowering 11 months of the year. 

DampGardenMan

Borderline said:

I think around 9 inches would be more than enough.

That'll work nicely with two 6" planks for the sides. Thanks.

wild edges

Mine is probably 12" soil with 6" drainage under that but that was more to do with circumstance than plan and I chucked some spare bulbs in there too so the depth was handy for those.