Parsley

I am no gardener, but I have always grown herbs.
Parsley plants last 2 years. I always have a few on the go, but make sure that I plant some every year (and yes, those cheap supermarket ones do often grow well).
About now, the older ones go 'off'. I harvest & freeze what I can (frozen parsley is fine in stuffing, and stalks go for stock) then chuck the remains in the compost.
Basil is temperamental, really suited to a warmer climate, I grow some in a pot to enjoy if it thrives, but it doesn't always.
But mint? Just get some more!

Cut it back or it will make seeds. It should grow back.

Mint? More like how to stop the flipping stuff.

I think it is biennial, Fennel.
Mine has done the same, it was fine for two years but has gone to seed now.
I should have planted fresh this year.

And chives? Why won't they grow in a pot when they thrive in the paving cracks?

I usually cut back the flower stems and start off a new plant to take over should it fail.
Parsley, thyme, sage and coriander all need good regular garden soil and moderate watering (coriander is prone to bolting), rosemary likes drier soil so dig in some fine grit to help drainage, basil likes loads of water and mint, marjoram and oregano should be kept in large pots of regular soil as they quickly become invasive.
Using supermarket potted herbs is a great way to save money.

Thanks all - I didn't really expect the basil to survive as I know it likes a warmer climate. But was surprised to lose the mint, which I don't think is a biennial?
I would love a rosemary bush but didn't plant that because I thought it needs a warm dry climate. And a certain type of soil.

ps we live on Tyneside now and the climate and soil are so different from our last garden in SW France. Where we had solid clay soil which is very fertile.
The soil here is nearly black but many flowers and veg. etc flourish in it.

Rosemary grows well here in the Midlands (not warm and dry!) but we have very sandy well-draining soil, and it flowers very early when nothing else is out.

The basil will only survive in summer here if kept constantly watered.
Rosemary is similar to lavender and survives even here in Scotland.
Mint is usually difficult to kill, quite the contrary, it spreads like crazy.

I bought a herb planter last year that's divided into 6 sections; one for each herb. The chives, mint, rosemary and oregano have done very well but the parsley and basil never did well and after a couple of tries, I've given up on those now.

I much prefer flat leafed parsley which has a stronger flavour than curly. Ours is doing very well and I use some almost every day.

It isn’t too late if you get a move on to sow parsley for your winter supplies.

Parsley shouldn’t be allowed to dry out it doesn’t mind a bit of shade.

MrsEggy - maybe there are different varities of rosemary adapted to different growing conditions.
I'll have to try to find one that will grow here. Apart from using it in cooking I find its perfume very calming. Like lavendar.

ps and @Esspee
same message about rosemary.
So interesting -I always thought that lavendar, rosemary, santolina etc are plants which only thrive in a Med. climate.

Lavender and rosemary both thrive in our garden. They don't seem to mind whether it's wet or dry.

Fennel

Thanks all - I didn't really expect the basil to survive as I know it likes a warmer climate. But was surprised to lose the mint, which I don't think is a biennial?
I would love a rosemary bush but didn't plant that because I thought it needs a warm dry climate. And a certain type of soil.

The mint may well come up again next year. Mine looks a bit sad now.

Our lavender is doing well; we have very poor soil and the bees are enjoying it at the moment. The rosemary looks ok, rescued from Tesco a couple of years ago and the oregano is invasive as Esspee says. It is growing in the lawn, the rose bed, the other herb pots. Everywhere!

Rosemary thrives in a strong woman's garden. Apparently.

Rosemary thrives in a strong woman's garden. Apparently.

Drat! Maybe that's why only mint and chives are thriving in mine!

Mine are ok.
Just
Holding on

If you want mint in the garden, plant it in a piece of plastic drain-pipe buried in the soil.

I do the same with horse-raddish and other herbs that spread like wild-fire.

Tear some rosemary off a bush next time you see it.It will soon root and can be kept in a pot.

If you let the parsley go to seed, the seeds may germinate where they fall, if they like the conditions. I’ve got new plants that way, but will also buy a new supermarket pot every year. I separate the individual plants in pot and have lots of parsley.

Mint is easy to grow but likes room to spread. Some people recommend keeping it confined, like grandtante suggests, but I found it would die off after a while in those conditions.

I've given the seed heads a shake in the hope, Farmor

I just cut the flowering heads off the parsley plant & it continues to grow from the base of the plant.
Mine was from a supermarket pot & it’s lived for several years.

Flat leaf Parsley bought from Tesco some years ago is in a bucket and grows back each year, Rosemary plants go mad in the garden, I just break a sprig off stick it in the ground and there we have another plant to give away.
Have never been successful with Lavender though, mint is everywhere, I’m trying to get it to smother the ground elder.
I’ve planted some outdoor Basil, not sure if it will survive the Winter though.