Growing Herbs in Containers

 

If you want to start food gardening, herbs are the best way to begin. They tend to be less picky than vegetables, and there are a wide range of choices depending on your moisture and sun conditions. Many of them also do well in containers. 

All herbs should do well in a garden bed except mint, which should only be planted in containers. Why? Mint is rather invasive and takes over the entire garden if not contained. That said, mint tolerates more conditions than most herbs, including some shade.

Rosemary, on the other hand, can be started in a container, but will eventually need to be planted in-ground. Most forms become large bushes if planted in a sunny place.  

Mint and rosemary are perennials which will come up year after year. Other herbal perennials that do well both in containers and planted in a garden bed are chives, sage, and thyme. Sage and thyme both like drier conditions and work well together as the filler and spiller in a container. Chives like more water.  

When planting your containers:

Select an appropriately-sized planter for the amount of herbs you'll be planting.

Try to keep a container near the kitchen door so it's easy just to go out and snip whatever you need. 

Fill your containers with good potting soil.

Start with small plants rather than seeds.

Water appropriately for the herbs in your container. It's a good idea to keep the tags they come with as a reminder for how to care for them.

Harvest throughout the growing season and before they flower. They'll lose their flavor when they flower. 

You can mix herbs with other vegetables, shrubs and even flowers to make decorative containers. Make sure that the water and light requirements of everything in the container are the same, though. 

 

 Gardening tip:  Use coffee grounds to fertilize plants that like acidic soil. (Azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries.) Coffee grounds contain nitrogen and phosphorus which plants need, plus the grounds help deter pests. For best results mix with dried leaves. 

I didn't see last month's IWSG question, but since I've been visiting your blogs, I have it. What is my biggest fear as a writer?  Hmmm. Spending more on marketing than I make on royalties and never seeing the results of all my marketing efforts. What about you? What's your biggest fear as a writer?