The herb spiral is not only an attractive and effective way to always have fresh and tasty herbs at hand, but also a wonderful example of the application of permaculture principles. The spiral shape makes optimal use of the vertical and horizontal surfaces. This makes it possible to have a variety of things in a small spaceto cultivate plantsto create a stable and healthy ecosystem. Today we will show you how to properly plant a herb spiral so that it provides pleasure for the nose and palate.
The spiral motif from nature can be found in art and architecturemany cultures– in the form of rolled up leaves, tendrils, as a representation of flowering plants, snail shells, etc. Forms of movement can also often be represented in the form of a spiral: air and water vortices but also spiral galaxies, which are among the most beautiful structures in the cosmos. This is perhaps why herbal spirals fascinate people in some way.
Herbal spirals create auniqueMicroclimate
The herb snail in the garden creates its own microclimate. The tip of the spiral usually faces south. This is the sunniest and driest place, regardless of soil type. He gets it during the daylots of sunshineand rainwater drains away quickly. The summit is also the most exposed to negative weather influences, i.e. wind and frost.
Below the top the plants are a little more protected. The ground is also wetter here. The microclimate at the foot of the herbal spiral can be compared to the conditions at the base of a dry stone wall, or even on a house wall. The wall protects the plants from drying out, wind and other bad weather conditions while retaining heat and moisture. In order to plant a herb spiral correctly, you should get to know the needs of the herbs and choose the right location for each plant.
Advantages at a glance
- is easy to care for - the only care is to harvest the herbs
- attracts beneficial insects to your garden
- The kitchen is supplied daily with fresh, seasonal herbs
- Herbs are always at hand and fresh
- It is easily accessible and you can also involve children in gardening
- You can easily experiment with new types of herbs
- is nice to look at
- is space-saving - you can plant several types of plants in a small space
How big should it be?Herbal spiralbe?
Herbal spirals can of course be useddifferent sizesand designs are built. Of course, the larger and the higher the spiral, the more pronounced the differences in the climatic conditions of the individual micro-levels. While a 1-meter spiral has only minimal differences between shady and sunny places, a two-meter-long herb spiral already offers more different habitats.
The optimal diameter for a herb snail is 2 meters and the height is approx. 60-100 cm. This ensures seamless access to all parts of the spiral. Of course, you also need to consider how big your garden is. But don't worry, herbs are usually grown in small quantities, so even in a smaller spiral you'll come across all the types you use.
The most popular herbal spirals are built in the drywall style. It looks like a drywall curved in a spiral and increasing in the middle, which is then gradually filled with earth. It is easier to build a sturdy wall with square stones than with rounded ones.
What is the optimal location?
If you have your herbs somewherecreate in a corner of the garden, where they can only rarely be achieved, then far too often the rule is: “out of sight, out of mind”. The best solution would be to build the herb spiral close to the house, preferably next to the kitchen door. A location on the south side of the house would be optimal.
Thanks to its design, the herb spiral provides habitat for a wide variety of plants with different needs and applications. The spiral usually begins with a small pond facing north at the base of the spiral. This is a moist andshady location, where moisture-loving plants such as cress, coriander, parsley, nasturtium or mint thrive. You have to be careful with mint because it forms strong runners and can therefore colonize large areas in a short time. It is therefore not recommended for a herbal spiral.
A spot in partial shade is ideal for herbs such as parsley and chives. At the top of the spiral is the driest and warmest place suitable for Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, hyssop and lavender.
To really use every space effectively, you can plant seedlings in the cracks in the wall. Find gaps between the stones in which you can place wild strawberries or creeping thyme, for example.
Below we give you some suggestions for herbs that can be used when planting a herb spiral.
Planting planNr. 1
From top to bottom:
1. Rosemary
2. Sage
3. Rue
4. Common thyme
5. Winter savory
6. Oregano
7. Sand-Thymian (Thymus serpyllum)
8. Real chamomile
9. Pointed-lobed lady's mantle
10. Chives
11. St. John's wort
12. Real motherwort
13. Lemon balm
14. Dill
15. Marigold
16. Common lamb's lettuce
17. Wild garlic
18. Nasturtium
19. Real watercress
20. Pond
Planting plan forHerbal spiral– Example #2
1. Basil mint
2. Nasturtium
3. Lemon balm
4. Dill
5. Parsley
6. Basil
7. Chives
8. Sage
9. Marjoram
10. Oregano
11. Savory
12. Sand-Thymian (Thymus serpyllum L.)
13. Thymian
14. Lavender
15. Rosemary
ExampleNr. 3
1 – Real watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
2 – Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
3 -Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum)
4 – Creeping Celery (Apium repens)
5 – Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
6 – Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
7 – Chervil (Anthriscus)
8 – Large nasturtium ( Tropaeolum majus)
9 – Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
10 – However Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
11 – Echter Kümmel (Dear Carvi)
12 – Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
13 – Sage (Salvia officinalis)
14 – Thymian (Thymus)
15 – Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
16 – Ysop (Hyssopus officinalis)
17 – Rosmarin (Rosmarinus officinalis)
18 – Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
19 – Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
20 – Spoonwort (Cochlearia officinalis)
21 – Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
