Rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano like full sun, sharp drainage and lean soil
As recorded: Rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano are Mediterranean plants that want full sun and sharp, well-drained soil and tolerate drought once established. They are intolerant of wet, heavy or poorly drained soil and are easily over-watered, which invites root and stem rot. They also do better in lean soil than rich, because over-feeding grows lush, low-flavor foliage and encourages disease. So water sparingly and keep feeding light.
Promising A person has checked it against its sources. If you skip this, it still grows, just less well. The planner suggests it.
How it works
These species are adapted to dry-climate Mediterranean conditions, with gritty, fast-draining soils and low summer water. In wet or heavy, poorly drained soil the root zone stays waterlogged, starving the roots of oxygen and rotting them; excess water and rich fertility compound the rot risk and, in these aromatic herbs, thin the essential oils that carry the flavor.
What to do about it
Site in full sun with excellent drainage. Plant in well-drained ground, a raised or gritty bed, or open up heavy clay with coarse material before planting. Let the soil dry between waterings and water sparingly once the plant is established, and keep the soil lean. Don't feed it heavily.
How much it matters: No figure is stated. Wet feet drive root and stem rot and decline; sharp drainage, restraint on water, and lean soil let the plant thrive. Because siting, watering and feeding are all the gardener's to control, the rule only advises.
The evidence
Evidence: checked against 3 sources in the research-based literature.
The 3 sources
Many common herbs are from the Mediterranean region. They grow well in full sun, well-drained soil, and dry summers
Drainage is probably the most important single factor in successful herb growing
Common sage prefers full sun and well-drained, medium to dry soils that mimic those of its Mediterranean homeland
Plants it applies to
Plant teams that rest on it
How this rule has changed
Every change is dated, newest first. The full record, with each reason, is in the data download.
- Wording made clearer
- Wording made clearer
- Added to the rules
Cite this page
Milpa Gardens. "Rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano like full sun, sharp drainage and lean soil." Evidence grade: Promising. https://milpa.garden/rules/rosemary-sage-thyme-oregano-mediterranean-plants-that/
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How we grade evidence
- Well established
- The rule names its mechanism and is settled, by sources a person has read and checked or by plain arithmetic and geometry.
- Promising
- The mechanism is named and the literature backs it. A few questions are still open.
- A good hunch
- Plausible by its mechanism, but field studies are thin, so treat it as a lean.
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- The evidence points both ways, or no study has tested it, so the planner does not enforce it.
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- The claim did not survive its sources. It is kept so the folklore can be answered.