Growing Herbs in Containers
Now you don’t need to be a purist and just use one herb in each pot like some people. I like to mix it up a little and put multiple herbs in the same pot. It looks nicer and brings a little texture to my garden.
To try this, you would pick herbs that have similar earth and watering needs and then get those that will look good together or have similar purposes—like planting all your culinary herb plants together.
Plant these herbs that will do well in your containers:
- Sage: With nearly 750 types, hopefully you find at least 1 sage herb for your garden that you will like, because sage comes in a number of colors and sizes. Sage is one herb that you can start from seeds inside in your pot in the early spring and then move outdoors with the onset of warmer weather. Cultivate your sage in nice, big container that has nice drainage and put it where it can get lots of natural light. This is one of those that I grow for the leaves, so I clip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the plant concentrate on the leaves, which I then snip off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.
- Scented geraniums: I enjoy the bright, vibrant colors and smells of the scented geranium. I have an unnatural attachment to red geraniums, so I’m not the right person to ask, but I’m sure that the other kinds are good too. Although they look very similar to floral (non-herbal) variety, these also grow well in containers that you can pick up at any nursery, home improvement or discount store. They can take full sun and well-drained dirt. You can harvest the stems and foliage for cakes and teas. The petals are beautiful in pressings.
- Cardamom: Cardamom is a nice herb for you if bad breath is an issue for you. This large houseplant-like plant will get big in the summer and will need to be brought indoors during winter months to thrive, so use a large pot. You can harvest the seeds to add a little flavor of India to your rice and chicken meals, soups and stews. There are many other uses for cardamom, including easing issues with flatulence (if you have them).
- Lemon verbena: This is one of those necessary herbs to have in your garden because you can utilize it in so many ways. Do not even think about starting with seeds. Go out and buy a young herb and get it started in a wide container that will support the plant’s height. Lemon verbena can tolerate the full sun and does well if the earth has good drainage. Don’t let your plant get too dry. The foliage are usually the first part of the plant to suffer and these are the parts that you will use.
There are plenty of other herbs that you can plant in your container plant garden, such as thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.
Good luck with your plant gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
