How To Plant Herbs In Containers

Any container is suitable for growing herbs as long as there is proper drainage holes for water to escape and the materials that it is made of are safe.  In other words you would not want to grow herbs for consumption in a lead painted container. Decide ahead of time how many plants you want to plant in each container. You can fit about 6 plants into a 12" pot. This will vary according to the variety of herbs you choose. Try to pick plants that compliment each other not only in appearance but in the type of care they need.

The smaller and slow growing herbs are better suited for growing in containers. Here is a list of some of the herbs that do well in containers:

If larger containers such as window boxes are used then you may plant a variety of several herbs and dress it up with some flowers. Split large clumps of the plants into more than one plant and space them out in your pot. Cover the drainage holes in the bottom of your pot with small rocks or broken chards of clay pots (for good drainage).

Caring for Your Herbs

To promote growth and keep the plant from getting spindly pinch new growth off the ends periodically. Be sure and save this growth for drying for future use in cooking or potpourri. Don't forget that fresh herb clippings can be used in whatever you are presently cooking.

Water your herbs when the top 1 inch of the soil is dry and remember that container plants kept outside will require more water, so check them frequently. Water requirements will of course vary from plant to plant.

Herbs do not require much in the way of fertilization. In fact you should be frugal with the fertilizer when it comes to growing herbs. You will have healthier and tastier results if you do not over fertilize.

When the time comes to move your container grown herbs indoors for the winter, you should follow this process to acclimate them to the indoors. In the early fall start by moving your plants indoors for a few hours at a time everyday for a few weeks. This will help the plants adjust to the differences in lighting and temperature.

Plants grown indoors have different care requirements than when they were outdoors. First of all they do not need as much water so water only when the soil is dry. Light is another issue for indoor plants. To keep them from getting spindly or dying they need to be in the sunniest location possible. Another option to provide light for plants is to put them under fluorescent lights or use grow lights. I use grow light instead of fluorescent over my kitchen sink and keep a small garden in a pass through window there.

Perennial herbs, when left outside, will die back in the winter but reappear in the spring in most locations. Some of these are mint, thyme, oregano, and chives. Some of your annual herbs are basil and coriander. Annuals, such as parsley and basil, do seed well if you wish to collect the seeds for next years crop.