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Growing Herbs in Containers
- By Jackie Hardin
- Published 09/14/2008
- Home & Garden
- Unrated
Jackie Hardin
I am an advocate for women and children, a wife, a mother and a grandmother. I have a passion for learning new things and sharing with others. I am a writer, an herbalist, a foodie, a crafter, an artist, and a teacher.
View all articles by Jackie Hardin
Recently, at a meeting in the library, I over heard the young librarian telling someone that her herb garden was located ten miles from her home. Asked why it was so far away, she replied,"I haven't room at my place for an herb garden." That's dedication,,,or foolishness. Any herb lover would agree that half the pleasure comes from seeing, smelling, touching and using the herbs daily.
There is no absolute, prescribed design in which herbs have to be grown.One need not have a yard at all to enjoy these fragrant, useful plants.They can be grown in window boxes or on a patio in clay pots, wooden tubs, "strawberry jars", or hanging baskets.
Most herbs need five to six hours of sunlight a day.If this is a problem, try planting them in movable containers, either on wheels or in small pots.This way they can be easily transported to the sun.
The soil used should be very porous to allow fast drainage and good air circulation. It is best not to use ordinary garden as it may harbor insect eggs and weed seed.Also it is generally too heavy with clay.It is easiest to buy a good grade of commerical potting mix.If the purchased soil is not porous enough, it may be lightened with one part sand or perlite to three parts of potting soil.
Drainage should be allowed, with one or more holes in the bottom of the container...or place a half-inch of pebbles inside the bottom of a small or medium container. A one-inch layer should be added if the pot is six inches or more in
diameter.
Many herbs are adaptable to container gardening. The most popular are chives, garlic chives, oregano, parsley(curly or Italian), rosemary, sage, scented geraniums, savory ( winter or summer), sweet marjoram, tarragon, thymes (I love the lemons) nasturtiums, basil (try spicy bush) and bay.
Select small plants, although given less room in a container they will not get as large as those grown in the garden. Even spreading herbs such as mint can be grown indoors if given its own pot in which to grow. Herbs with long tap roots can be grown if the pot is deep enough.
In the garden, most herbs are drought-tolerant once their roots are established. This is not so in container gardening. It is best to water in the morning so the plant can use the moisture and nutrients from the soil during the daylight hours.Any excess moisture can evaporate easily.During the hottest days of summer, this may mean everyday. To be sure not to overwater, stick your finger a half inch into the soil; if the dirt is dry and crumbling, water.
Herbs in containers are also unable to reach out for nutrients, so they must be fed regulary. Read the package
of commerical potting soil...most provide enough food for three to five months. Herbs don't need a lot of fertilizer to grow and their essential oils are more concentrated if the plant is fed sparingly.If you over feed, the herb will still be useable, but the fragrance and flavor will be less concentrated.I use a diluted fertilizer once every three or four weeks, trying not to get any on the leaves.
There is no absolute, prescribed design in which herbs have to be grown.One need not have a yard at all to enjoy these fragrant, useful plants.They can be grown in window boxes or on a patio in clay pots, wooden tubs, "strawberry jars", or hanging baskets.
Most herbs need five to six hours of sunlight a day.If this is a problem, try planting them in movable containers, either on wheels or in small pots.This way they can be easily transported to the sun.
The soil used should be very porous to allow fast drainage and good air circulation. It is best not to use ordinary garden as it may harbor insect eggs and weed seed.Also it is generally too heavy with clay.It is easiest to buy a good grade of commerical potting mix.If the purchased soil is not porous enough, it may be lightened with one part sand or perlite to three parts of potting soil.
Drainage should be allowed, with one or more holes in the bottom of the container...or place a half-inch of pebbles inside the bottom of a small or medium container. A one-inch layer should be added if the pot is six inches or more in
Many herbs are adaptable to container gardening. The most popular are chives, garlic chives, oregano, parsley(curly or Italian), rosemary, sage, scented geraniums, savory ( winter or summer), sweet marjoram, tarragon, thymes (I love the lemons) nasturtiums, basil (try spicy bush) and bay.
Select small plants, although given less room in a container they will not get as large as those grown in the garden. Even spreading herbs such as mint can be grown indoors if given its own pot in which to grow. Herbs with long tap roots can be grown if the pot is deep enough.
In the garden, most herbs are drought-tolerant once their roots are established. This is not so in container gardening. It is best to water in the morning so the plant can use the moisture and nutrients from the soil during the daylight hours.Any excess moisture can evaporate easily.During the hottest days of summer, this may mean everyday. To be sure not to overwater, stick your finger a half inch into the soil; if the dirt is dry and crumbling, water.
Herbs in containers are also unable to reach out for nutrients, so they must be fed regulary. Read the package
of commerical potting soil...most provide enough food for three to five months. Herbs don't need a lot of fertilizer to grow and their essential oils are more concentrated if the plant is fed sparingly.If you over feed, the herb will still be useable, but the fragrance and flavor will be less concentrated.I use a diluted fertilizer once every three or four weeks, trying not to get any on the leaves.