If the soil is lacking in organic matter, compost is incorporated before the area is cultivated. The majority of this compost comes from the rotted herb garden debris in the bins to the south-east of the Herb Garden. Prior to planting the soil is lightly consolidated by heeling and the surface raked to a fine state. Planting distances depend on the size of the plants, their rate of growth and the length of time the plants will be in their positions. Planting holes made with a trowel or spade are wide and deep enough to take the roots of the clump comfortably so that the crown of the plant is just showing through the soil surface when planting is complete.
Many herbs are either annual or biennial and are therefore grown from seed each year.
As some seedlings do not transplant well they are sown directly into the garden with specific areas provided each year for these. The areas are cultivated to a depth of approximately 150 mm and compost incorporated if organic matter is lacking. The soil is lightly consolidated and the surface raked to a fine state. Most of the annual and biennial seed planted is sown in drills with seed sown to a depth of twice its diameter. Once seed has germinated the young seedlings are thinned out to appropriate distances.