Practical Herb Gardening: Planting, Care, Harvesting, and Preservation

Practical herb gardening involves smart planting, consistent care, harvesting that encourages more growth, and preservation that turns summer abundance into year-round use. The gardeners who keep herbs producing share habits of regular pinching, smart watering, and willingness to harvest aggressively. This course walks through that practical work. You will work through written exercises that mirror how a thoughtful herb gardener would plan and execute care across seasons. The emphasis is on producing abundant herbs you actually use rather than admiring plants that go to seed. What you'll learn: - Plant herbs at appropriate times for each species and climate - Apply ongoing care including watering, fertilization, and pruning for continued growth - Harvest aggressively including pinching back to encourage branching and prevent bolting - Preserve herbs through drying, freezing in oil, salt curing, and fresh-frozen options - Manage common challenges including pests, mildew, and herbs that take over the garden - Plan succession planting for annual herbs that produce briefly The course progresses from planting through ongoing care, harvesting, preservation, common challenges, and succession planting. A capstone written exercise asks you to plan a year-round herb supply grounded in your space and cooking habits. This course is designed for committed beginners with some growing experience and absolute beginners with strong interest. No specific space is required and the course speaks across in-ground, raised bed, and container gardening. The course treats herb gardening as a craft you can develop through structured practice and respects the genuine pleasure of fresh herbs in daily cooking.