PDC LESSON 2.8 DESIGN – CREATE AN HERB SPIRAL

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 2.8 DESIGN – CREATE AN HERB SPIRAL

Create an herb spiral for the garden

An herb spiral not only offers a great opportunity to plant different herbs in your own garden but is also a very special feast for the eyes. It is practical that there is always a large selection of fresh herbs available. An herb spiral works with a very simple trick: thanks to the spiral shape, different humid and climate zones can be simulated in a very small space - including a pond.

A herb spiral offers different plants enough space in a small space. Several zones ensure optimal growth. The Mediterranean herbs grow at the top.

Herb spiral has four zones

With a slight ascent to the highest point, the herb spiral is divided into four zones: At the bottom is the wet area. Water-loving plants such as watercress or water mint find their place here. Adjacent to the wet zone is the wet zone, where chervil, parsley, basil and wild garlic grow well. Plant chives, coriander and mint in the normal area. The highest point of the spiral is the warmest and driest: this is the Mediterranean zone. Sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, oregano, lavender and laurel thrive here.

The materials needed:

pegs, cord; spade; Clinkers, coarse gravel; garden soil, sand, compost; Prefabricated pond, construction vat; Stones to build up the spiral wall; Find and mark out a suitable place

As a first step, the selection of the location is crucial. The pitch should have a diameter of at least three meters and be as sunny as possible. Each herb spiral can be designed individually. It is only important that the plants have enough space to develop. Once you have found the right location, simply mark out a floor plan with the help of pegs and cord. This should remind of a snail shell. Important: The pond should be placed at the end of the spiral facing south. This is the only way to guarantee that each plant gets the right climate zone.

Form the basis with gravel and build a wall

Next, a spade is required: In total, the soil for the spiral should be dug about 30 centimetres deep. Only the pond at the foot of the spiral should be dug about 10 centimetres deeper. To prevent waterlogging and to lay a stable foundation, the hole in the ground is filled with a 10-centimetre-thick layer of coarse gravel. However, the spot where the pond will later find its place should remain without gravel. To erect the wall, the stones are laid out in a spiral, increasing in height from the outside to the inside. The wall should reach 80 centimetres at the highest point. In order to make it look particularly natural, no mortar should be used if possible. This also has the advantage that thyme and dost can be planted in the crevices and useful animals such as lizards can find a home there.

Adjust and paste soil mixes

The herb spiral offers different plants enough space in a small space.

Once the wall is up, the gravel can be added. It is important to fill in the gravel from the height in a spiral, so that the highest point is 50 centimetres, and the layer is almost level at the lower end. To fill the spiral with soil, you must consider the different climate zones. At the top of the spiral, half of the garden soil should be mixed with sand to match dry zone plants. Towards the lower, outflowing end, less and less sand should be used, and compost should be added instead until the pond has a mixed ratio of half garden soil and half compost. In the end, the spiral should resemble a snail shell, with a flat start at the outer end of the spiral and a raised point in the middle.

Creation of the pond

The last step is to create the pond. Either a ready-made pond from the hardware store or a simple construction vat is suitable for this. The container should sit about 30 to 40 centimetres deep. So it can be easily inserted into the pre-made hole. Then fill the container with sand and pour water into it. The edge can be decorated with field stones.

It takes patience to plant

Do not put the herbs in the bed immediately but wait for a good shower and then add some soil if necessary. But then the season of delicious and fragrant herbs can begin.

These herbs are suitable for planting

4 watercress; 1 chervil; 1 leaf parsley; 1 basil (perennial); 1 wild garlic; 2 chives; 1 coriander; 1 pineapple mint; 1 pineapple sage; 1 lemon thyme; 1 ball thyme; 1 perennial marjoram; 1 rosemary; 1 oregano (spicy); 1 hanging oregano; 1 lavender; 1 laurel

Text from the roots, Elisabeth Ferkonia (Aus.) PDC studied with Bill Mollison,