Herb growing container
Easy Tips for Growing Herbs in Containers
Herb container gardens are popular for many reasons. Even if you have miles of property and gardens galore, it's convenient to be able to step just out your door and pick a handful of fresh herbs from a beautiful container garden. Plant maintenance is also more convenient with containers, and there are fewer problems with weeds and critters getting into your crops.
You can grow almost any herb in a container. However, if you're mixing herbs in the same pot, you have to be sure you're using plants with similar growing requirements. For example, some herb plants need more water than others, and some are finicky about how much light they get. But as long as you get the conditions right, you should have thriving plants and fresh herbs at your fingertips.
Planning Your Herb Container
You can grow as many types of herbs in one container as you want if they share the same sun, water, and soil preferences. For example, rosemary likes hot and dry conditions while parsley needs steady moisture. Therefore, they would not work well together in the same pot.
Also, don’t forget that herbs can serve as decorative elements in a container garden, adding texture and scent when mixed with annuals or perennials. Again, just be sure to pair them with plants that have similar needs, and make sure they won't choke out any other plants in the same container, as some herbs have vigorous growth habits.
The Spruce / Kara RileyChoosing a Container for Herbs
You can use almost anything for an herb container, as long as it has good drainage. Most herbs don’t have large root systems, so you can get away with relatively small containers. This is especially true of the herbs that don’t mind drying out between waterings. However, the smaller the container, the less soil there is. This means you have a smaller margin of error with too much or too little water.
Some herbs thrive in self-watering containers because they like a constant level of moisture. Plants, such as chives, parsley, marjoram, and mint, are particularly good candidates for growing in self-watering pots.
Other herbs, including oregano, thyme, rosemary, and basil, prefer to dry out between watering, so they wouldn’t be good candidates for self-watering containers.
Planting and Caring for Herbs
Help your container herbs thrive with the right soil, sun exposure, and fertilizer. Use a high-quality potting mix that allows for good drainage. This soil, paired with the drainage holes in your container, will help prevent accidentally drowning your herbs.
Moreover, most herbs need full sun for at least six to eight hours a day. That said, containers can really bake on a hot day. So if you live in a climate where temperatures soar, your container herbs might need to be shaded during the hottest part of the day.
Be careful not to overfertilize your herbs. Most herbs don't need much fertilizer, and some plants will simply die if they are overfed. Plus, certain herbs, such as thyme and oregano, thrive on neglect and often aren't as tasty if they are given too much food or water.
Harvesting Your Herbs
The rule of thumb for harvesting herbs is to snip and pinch back often. Consistent harvesting will encourage the plants to branch and fill out which, in turn, will increase your overall harvest. Always tailor your harvesting to the plant's growth pattern and avoid cutting more than one third of the plant during the growing season. For example, basil leaves should be harvested regularly, and the flower buds should be removed, but basil plants should not be cut back all the way.
The flowers and seeds of some herbs, such as chives and dill, are edible. The leaves of others including oregano and basil will lose flavor and become bitter if allowed to flower. Remember that once a plant flowers and goes to seed, the seasonal growth cycle for that plant will be complete and the plant will no longer put out new growth.
At the end of the growing season, you can bring many of your herb containers inside if you get lots of indoor sunlight.
Some herb plants are easier than others to keep alive indoors during the winter, though it's worth a shot for all your container herbs.
Finally, if you've grown more herbs than you can harvest for yourself, consider giving them as gifts. You can do themed herb container gardens, such as a "pizza" garden or an herbes de Provence container garden. Combine herbs and other edible plants in a pretty basket, or just pick a handful of herbs to put in a nice vase for an herbal bouquet. Many herbs like oregano, sage, rosemary and dill also dry well and can be kept in tightly lidded containers out of direct sunlight for use in cooking all year long.
The Spruce / Kara RileyThe 7 best herbs for container gardening
There are many benefits to growing herbs in containers. For me, it’s all about access. I love having fresh herbs growing in pots just outside my kitchen door. That way, when I’m in the middle of making dinner and realize I forgot to harvest a handful of basil or parsley, it’s only a few steps away.
As well, different herbs have different moisture needs and growing them in pots is an easy way to control soil moisture. Of course, growing herbs in containers will also keep aggressive spreaders, like mint and lemon balm, under control and away from garden beds. Here are seven of the best herbs for container gardening.
The 7 Best Herbs for Container Gardening:
Growing herbs in containers is a great way for beginners to learn how to grow some of their favorite kitchen herbs. If you’ve been dreaming of having your own herb garden on your patio or balcony, get ready to learn how to make that dream a reality! It’s true that many herbs like dill, chives, and cilantro can be grown in pots, but the 7 herbs below make fantastic low-care potted plants. You can buy kits for container herb gardening but I suggest selecting a pot or windowbox and buying healthy herb seedlings from your local garden centre.
1) Basil:
Basil is my go to herb in summer and my gardens are full of different varieties like Genovese, Nufar, Dolce Fresca, or Spicy Globe, but I also love growing basil on my sunny back deck.
Basil is a warm weather annual herb and thrives when grown in pots and window-boxes. Many gardeners struggle to grow great basil, but give it well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine and it’s usually smooth sailing. Like most herbs, basil responds well to frequent harvesting, and will continue to push out fresh growth when trimmed back. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best herbs for container gardening. Also be sure to pinch off any flower buds that appear. Once basil begins to flower, the leaf flavor declines. For more advice on growing basil, check out this article.
2) Greek Oregano:
Oregano is an enthusiastic grower in the garden and putting it in a pot is an easy and beautiful way to control its growth. The small leaves are packed with flavor, perfect for topping homemade pizza and bruschetta, as well as adding to vinaigrettes and marinades. Greek oregano offers the best flavor for culinary use, but my family also loves Syrian Oregano, a tender perennial, (zone 7) often called Zaatar, which has pretty silvery leaves.
3) Rosemary:
Rosemary is a woody shrub with aromatic, needle-like foliage that adds a welcome depth of flavor to roasted potatoes and chicken dishes. In my zone 5 garden, rosemary is an annual, but growing it in pots makes it easy to bring indoors to a sunny windowsill once the days start to cool down in mid-autumn. There are many cultivars of rosemary, with most growing upright, but a few do cascade down, making them perfect for the edges of pots and planters. I really like Gorizia, an upright cultivar with large leaves and Arp, which is a slightly more cold tolerant variety. The quickest way to kill container-grown rosemary is by watering it too much; it needs consistent moisture, not wet feet.
Herbs can be grown in a variety of containers, from plastic or clay pots to fun items like old wheelbarrows. Just make sure your containers have adequate drainage.4) Thyme:
Thyme is one of the best herbs for container gardening; it’s low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and can take a bit of neglect.
Plus, it looks fantastic when planted at the front of a container where the tiny leaves can mound over the edge of the pot. Give it full sun and don’t overwater; it’s drought-resistant and prefers its soil on the dry side. For culinary use, try English thyme or Lemon thyme, which has variegated yellow and green leaves and a bold lemon scent and flavor.
5) Mint:
If you’re looking for perennial herbs in pots, consider mint. I was first introduced to mint when I planted a few sprigs in my mothers perennial garden. It quickly took over and we’re still pulling it out – twenty years later! Sorry mom. Now, I grow mint in pots, where its aggressive growth can be contained. There are so many awesome types of mint; peppermint, chocolate mint, mojito mint, strawberry mint, and spearmint, for example, and I like to plant several different varieties of mint in a big pot. We add the leaves to summer drinks, fruit salad, and also dry plenty for winter tea. Mint appreciates ample moisture and rich soil.
I use a two-thirds potting mix to one-third compost mixture in my mint containers.
6) Parsley
Basil may be my number one culinary herb, but parsley is a close second. I grow the two main types; curly and flat-leaved parsley, in both garden beds and containers, both of which are definitely on the list of the best herbs for container gardening. In fact, the unique leaf texture of curly parsley makes it a nice planting partner for ornamental plants like million bells, geraniums, petunias, and other summer bloomers. Parsley is very easy to grow and should be started from seeds sown indoors under a grow light. You can also buy seedlings from a local garden centre. It grows best with regular moisture and feeding. I incorporate a slow-release organic fertilizer at planting time to keep the plants happy from spring through late autumn. Parsley also appreciates full sun, but can take some light shading.
7) Lemon Balm
A mint cousin, lemon balm also shares the aggressive growth habit of mint, which can quickly take over small garden spaces. Because of this, I plant lemon balm in containers. It’s a hardy perennial in zone 5, even overwintering in pots. Give it the same soil mixture (potting soil-compost) as mint, and water often. It needs ample moisture for the best flavor. And what flavor! The glossy green leaves both smell and taste like lemons. It’s great in fruit salads, tea, lemonade, and marinades.
6 Tips for Growing Herbs in Containers:1) Pick the right containers. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, or herbs in pots, you’ll find the greatest success when you use containers with adequate drainage. Most pots come with drainage holes, but they can easily be added to wooden or plastic pots. I also love Smart Pots, fabric planters that come in a wide range of sizes. Small pots can hold individual herb plants, while the larger sizes are perfect for an instant herb garden on decks and patios.
2) Fill pots with a good quality potting mix. It may be tempting to fill your containers with garden soil, but garden soil quickly compacts in pots, reducing soil drainage and porosity. Herbs need good drainage. Fill your pots with potting soil or a combination of potting soil and aged compost. Worm castings are also an easy way to boost soil nutrients and moisture retention and you only need to add a handful to containers as a little goes a long way.
3) Look for the light. Make sure your container herb garden receives enough light by placing the pots in a space that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day.
4) Harvest regularly. Frequent harvesting with pruners or herb snips encourages fresh growth, so don’t be shy about pinching and clipping your homegrown herbs.
5) Water consistently. If you’re new to herb gardening do a little research. Certain herbs prefer very well-drained soil (thyme, oregano, rosemary), while others like more moisture (mint, coriander, lemon balm)
6) Feed occasionally.
To promote healthy growth, feed your herbs with a fertilizer suitable for edibles. A liquid organic fertilizer can be used every 3 to 4 weeks while a slow release organic product can be added to the potting mix at planting time.
More posts on growing great vegetables and herbs in containers:
- Container gardening tip list: Advice to help you succeed
- The best vegetable varieties for container gardening
- Crops in pots
- Organic fertilizers for container gardening
What herbs do you like to grow in containers?
Herbs and herbs in containers
Herbs and herbs in containers Herbs and Herbs in Containers Herbs vary greatly in color, shape and texture, so they can be combined to create attractive flower beds in containers. Ornamental forms of shrub herbs such as rosemary and laurel are extremely spectacular. Laurel, when pruned, takes various conical or pyramidal forms, and can even be grown as a miniature standard tree with a bare trunk and a globular crown.
Remember: large containers will become very heavy once you fill them with earth and plants, so move them to the right place in the garden before planting. Wooden containers, such as rectangular tubs or low barrels, can be fitted with wheels on the outside to make them a little easier to transport.
Plant a bushy herb in a large pot with variegated sage and thyme around it to cascade and soften the edges of the pot. Another valuable herb to grow in a large container is lemon verbena, which has a wonderfully tart flavor and aroma.
Potted peppers look beautiful in containers, especially if they are surrounded by a large number of plants with thin and juicy green leaves.
Keep grass growing well
Most sun-loving herbs are drought tolerant and need less frequent watering than other container plants, so if you already have a few containers, plant your herbs for minimal maintenance. Such plants do not require a large amount of nutrients. For indoor plants, a half-dose fertilizer will be sufficient once a month during the growing season.
Grasses will look good and grow new shoots and shoots more actively if they are cut regularly with scissors or secateurs. If they start to stretch, cut them off at the root, this will speed up the formation of new foliage.
Reuse bags for growing plants
Recycle bags used to grow tomatoes or peppers with parsley, chives or mint. Check that there are many drainage holes in the bag at a distance of about 1 cm from the base of the earth. Water moderately and fertilize the soil with a half dose of houseplant fertilizer every two weeks.
You can also plant early strawberries in old bags - up to ten bushes in one bag. Plant new bushes in a pot and keep outside until cold weather. Then transplant them into a bag and transfer them to a cool greenhouse or greenhouse.
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Type of container
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