Rosemary likes poor sandy soil. It is from the med coast, so a dry position in full sun and it will be fine. I personally do not like the taste of it but it makes a nice little hedge plant and they root easily in water. Just take a 4-6inch piece, remove the bottom leaves and put it in water and they will root within 2-3 weeks. Easy.

Parsley shoots too quickly to flower for me - it went lanky and inedible. So I would try and keep cutting it and using it.

Oregano - again poor soil in a dry place, next to a fence/wall is good, in full sun.

Basil is good and one herb I use loads of, but mine attract every greenfly within site! I found if you buy one from a supermarket and break it up into 10 plants (they squeeze to many in a pot to save money as they can sell them when small plants). Replanting makes them less stressed and less susceptible to greenfly.

Sorry what is D & T food?

I believe that basil does need quite a lot of feeding to keep it going - preferably with a high-nitrogen feed throughout the summer.

Design and Technology, Moongrower! The curriculum of a school generally includes DT Food, DT textiles and DT Resistant Materials. There may now be other names and variations. They used to be known as Cookery, Needlework, woodwork and Metalwork, but we have to progress! To be fair, things are more complicated these days and include study of nutrition and working with more modern materials than just wood and metal.

Good grief - no wonder I can't understand grandsons!

The mint will take over all of the space very quickly. It is best to plant it in a separate pot and plant the pot in the space. The pot sides will stop it straying too far. Lovage can be used to give a celery like taste to salads or can be made in to soup.

Thanks every one!

I new about the mint taking over, my plan was to dig some up and to start it off again, then plant in a planter before planting, then I will dig out the rest or kill off with weed killer hopefully, as it has already taken over part of the bed. I will take on board all the info you have given me and hopefully it will be a success.

Moon growe, don't worry I all ways refer to the department as home economics so the pupils think I am ancient.

Jenny you really do not want to be using weed killer anywhere near food plants and the ground they are growing in! Takes Scotsgran's advice and plant the mint in a pot - thug is too polite a term for it! Basil will not overwinter outside you need to grow fresh each spring... I, personally, would not buy a supermarket one to split up and grow on - get some seeds and let the children learn how things actually grow.

Just come in from Gardening Club. Please don't use weedkiller as Mg says. Mint is a nuisance but you will get rid of it if you fork over the area carefully and then pull off any bits that show above ground immediately it will eventually die from lack of access to light. If you have sales of work or fetes at school, herbs packaged in airtight plastic bags sell well. They can be frozen and used as necessary.

OK Scotsgran and Moon grow, I won't use any weed killer I promise (might use it on the year 11s though). Had to cancel putting in the herbs until tomorrow due to the weather.

Thanks again for the advise.

Good luck Jenny and better to hold off on the herb planting until weather decides it is late spring, early summer. If you put basil outside right now it would probably pop its clogs - mind you if you put me outside I would too!

You could plant the year 11's lol. I hope it all goes well.