Planning an apothecary herb garden in a compact space

I love using my Homestead Companion! I wanted to begin planning to use my small garden space efficiently, so I requested:

“I live in Zone 6B. I want to plan an apothecary herb garden in a raised garden bed with dimensions of 72 in. L x 25.28 in. W x 30 in. H (a total of 7.8 cubic feet). The design is shown. It is October 17. Plan the garden for me.” I uploaded a photo of my raised garden bed. Here are the results!

Here’s how to set up a Zone 6B apothecary herb bed in your 72 × 25 × 30 in raised planter (7.8 ft³). The space is small—ideal for compact, high-use medicinals.

1. Goal and Layout

Goal: four-season supply of kitchen + first-aid herbs.
Bed volume: 7.8 ft³ ≈ 58 gal of soil; perfect for a mixed root–leaf–flower design.
Layout: Divide lengthwise into three zones:

ZoneDimensionsFocusExample HerbsA (front, sunny edge)~24 inLow, spreadingThyme, chamomile, oreganoB (center, main)~24 inUpright mid-sizeSage, echinacea, calendulaC (back, partial shade)~24 inTaller or leafyLemon balm, comfrey, mint (contained 2. Soil Mix (for autumn prep)

ComponentRatioNotesScreened compost40 %Adds biologyCoconut coir or peat25 %Moisture balanceTopsoil or garden loam25 %Structure and mineralsPerlite or coarse sand10 %Drainage→ Mix in ½ cup bone meal + ½ cup kelp meal per cubic foot before planting.

3. Planting Schedule (Zone 6B – Oct 17 start)

Now (fall prep):

• Install bed, soil, and mulch 2–3 in deep with straw or shredded leaves.

• Plant hardy perennials now so roots establish:

  • Sage, thyme, oregano, lemon balm, echinacea, comfrey, mint.

  • Water once weekly till ground freezes.

Spring (mid–April onward):

• Direct sow or start indoors:

  • Calendula, chamomile, holy basil (tulsi), cilantro.

• Add borage or yarrow for pollinators if space allows.

Summer:

• Harvest top growth for drying when flower buds form.

• Cut back lemon balm and mint after bloom to regrow tender leaves.

Autumn (next year):

• Divide crowded perennials and refresh compost topdress (2 in).

4. Care & Harvest Checklist

TaskTimingNotesWater deeplyWeeklyMorning bestMulch refreshSpring & mid-summerRetain moisturePinch blooms (culinary herbs)As neededExtends leaf yieldHarvest for dryingWhen dew driesBundle and hang in shadeCompost top-upFall2 in layerLabel & map herbsBefore dormancyKeeps track in winter

5. Suggested Apothecary Starter List (compact cultivars)

TypeCommon UseCultivar HintSage (Salvia officinalis)Antimicrobial, sore throat‘Berggarten’Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)Respiratory aidEnglish thymeLemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)Calm, teaStandard or ‘Citronella’Calendula (Calendula officinalis)Skin healing‘Resina’ or ‘Orange King’Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)Sleep, digestiveGerman chamomileEchinacea (E. purpurea)Immune support‘Magnus’Oregano (Origanum vulgare)Culinary + antisepticGreek oreganoPeppermint (Mentha × piperita)DigestiveContain rootsComfrey (Symphytum officinale)Salve baseKeep trimmed

6. Winterizing

• After frost kills top growth, trim herbs to 3–4 in.

• Mulch deeply (4 in straw or leaf mold).

• In late March, pull mulch back to wake the bed.

Would you like me to give you a planting map sketch for that exact bed layout (with labels and spacing)? It’d show where each herb goes and how to rotate annuals next spring.

I answered “Yes, please!” (There’s no need to be polite to AI, but I am, anyway. It’s good practice!)

Layout by Homestead & Faith Living Assistant

Next I said, “Thank you. Now give me written instructions for planting. All of the instructions, like depth, spacing, when to plant, when to rotate, when to harvest, and any soil amendments I might need.” And the answer was:

Here’s your complete Zone 6B apothecary bed planting guide for the raised 72" × 25" × 30" planter.
Everything here fits that 7.8 ft³ volume and supports perennial structure plus annual rotation.

1. Layout Recap (Front → Back)

RowHerbsNotesFront (south-facing)Thyme • Chamomile • OreganoLow growers, love sun & drainageMiddleSage • Calendula • EchinaceaUpright, mid-size anchorsBack (north side)Lemon Balm • Mint (in pot) • ComfreyTaller shade-tolerant perennials

2. Soil & Bed Prep

Timing: any mild fall day before hard freeze (or spring once soil is workable)

Soil Mix per cubic foot (roughly 60 lb total for full bed):

• 40 % finished compost

• 25 % topsoil or loam

• 25 % coconut coir or peat

• 10 % perlite or coarse sand

• Amendments per cubic foot:

  • ½ cup kelp meal (micronutrients)

  • ½ cup bone meal or rock phosphate

  • ¼ cup garden lime (if compost is acidic)

  • Optional spring boost: worm castings (2 cups sq ft)

Mix thoroughly, water until evenly moist, then top with 2–3 in of mulch.

3. Planting Schedule by Herb

HerbTypeWhen to Plant (Zone 6B)Plant DepthSpacing in BedNotesSage (Salvia officinalis)PerennialTransplant Apr–May or OctCrown level with soil12 in betweenNeeds full sun and good drainageThyme (Thymus vulgaris)PerennialApr–May or OctBarely cover root ball8 inTrim after bloom to keep compactOregano (Origanum vulgare)PerennialApr–May or OctCrown level10–12 inPinch tips for dense growthChamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)AnnualDirect sow AprLight cover (⅛ in)6 inThin when 2 in tall; self-seedsCalendula (Calendula officinalis)AnnualDirect sow Apr–May or Aug (fall succession)½ in8–10 inRotate annually for soil healthEchinacea (E. purpurea)PerennialTransplant Apr–May or OctCrown level12–15 inPrefers lean soil; don’t over-fertilizeLemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)PerennialTransplant Apr–May or OctCrown level12 inSpreads easily; trim hard after bloomPeppermint (Mentha × piperita)PerennialApr–May or Oct (in pot sunk in bed)Root ball flush with soilpot diameter 10–12 inContain roots; divide every 2 yrComfrey (Symphytum officinale)PerennialRoot cutting Apr–May or Oct2–3 in12 in (mini var.)Heavy feeder; cut 3× yr for mulch or salve

4. Rotation & Renewal

• Calendula & Chamomile: reseed each spring; alternate locations to avoid soil fatigue.

• Every 2 years: divide mint and lemon balm; trim comfrey roots to limit spread.

• Every 3–4 years: top-dress 2 in compost + light bone meal.

5. Harvest Windows

HerbFirst HarvestMethodFrequencySageLate MaySnip top 4 in before bloomEvery 3 wkThymeJuneCut stems just before floweringEvery 2 wkOreganoMid-JuneHarvest top third of growth2–3 × per seasonChamomileEarly JunePick flower heads dailyContinuousCalendulaEarly JuneHarvest open bloomsContinuousEchinaceaYear 2+ roots in fall / flowers mid-summerDig portion of root or snip blooms1 × year (fall)Lemon BalmJuneCut stems before bloom for tea2 × per seasonPeppermintJuneCut just before flowering2–3 × per seasonComfreyJuneCut leaves 6 in above crown3 × per season

Dry in shade below 95°F; store airtight.

6. Care Routine

TaskFrequencyNotesDeep wateringWeekly (1 in total)Adjust for rain / container drainageMulch refreshSpring & mid-summerStraw or shredded leaves 2–3 inPinch spent flowersAs neededEncourages leaf growthCompost feedSpring (½ in layer)Keeps microbes activePrune woody herbsLate winter (Zone 6B Feb–Mar)Stimulates new growthClean upFallCut back to 3–4 in, mulch 4 in deep

7. Notes on Organic Health

• Avoid chemical fertilizers; they mute aromatic oils.

• If leaves yellow mid-season → feed diluted fish emulsion (1 Tbsp per gallon water).

• Use comfrey leaves to make “comfrey tea” fertilizer for itself and neighbors.

• Rotate calendula/chamomile to different pockets each year.

Would you like me to make this into a printable seasonal log sheet (like your other “Printables Pack” style) so you can track planting and harvest dates right beside the bed?

So I answered, “Of course! That's a wonderful idea!”

Here’s the response:

And that’s all there is to it! The whole thing took me less than 5 minutes. Want the Companion for yourself? It’s absolutely FREE!