Growing Herbs In Pots

Many of us, whether we have access to an outdoor garden or not, will enjoy the beauty and convenience of growing herbs in pots or other types of containers. We can grow these herbs indoors or out, as we choose. Neither is harder to do than the other and both approaches have the same basic requirements to encourage the herbs to healthily grow. Water, proper soil and the correct sunlight is what any plant requires, and herb plants are no exception. If you live in the northern hemisphere, and if it is at all practicable, you should place your herbs so that they will have a southern or western exposure to benefit by the best light. Of course there are some herbs that will require a different light, but for the most part you will find they all require a good and sunny placement. The use of “plant lights” which can be fluorescent lamps is also used by some growers with success.

The soil you choose should be a healthy potting soil with good drainage, usually one part perlite or a course sand to 5 or 6 parts soil for those herbs which are grown in containers. Drainage is especially important and you can help that by having about an inch of gravel in the bottom of each pot. To ensure that the soil remains sufficiently “sweet” for the herbs, you can add some lime, usually about a teaspoonful for each 5” of pot.

Watering your herbs is also, as you would expect, a requirement that must be properly done. Misting regularly will help to keep them damp, but never soggy. Overwatering is just as bad as under. You must avoid letting the roots get drenched and bloated. Being raised in pots or containers, the herbs will require more watering than they would outdoors, but be careful not to overdo it!

A nice thing about growing herbs in containers or pots is that they are portable; you can move them around. If you are growing annual herbs you will find them happy indoors all of the time. But if the herbs are perennials, they will prefer to be placed outdoors during summer months. It is a good idea to bring all herbs, except mint, chives and tarragon, back indoors before irst frost so that they don’t lose their foliage. The exceptions
listed will enjoy a hibernation during which time they will develop fresher and more firm rebirth after being exposed to a light frost.

You can grow any herb in a pot or a container. Some will outshine others. You have to be careful with mint and it really needs to be contained since it could easily dominate your entire garden. But for the most part, keeping an indoor herb garden in good health is a pleasurable and easy task. Enjoying the convenience of having fresh herbs available whenever you cook adds to the pleasure of seeing and smelling them when you’re not.

Following the preceding tips will ensure that you are successful, but remember not all herbs are equal and some will inevitably do better than others..  Remember to also be aware of the amount of light your herbs are getting and, if necessary, provide periodic exposure to “grow lights” as well as an annual repotting. Add to that list replanting your annuals each year and shifting the perennials when required.

Harvest your herbs occasionally, even if not using them, to keep them healthy and encourage growth. Usually don’t remove more than a third of the leaves at a time. Pruning is healthy for all plants, and herbs are no exception. Store the leaves you prune, preserve them, use them, give them as gifts. You will find them a wonderful joy to have and to share. Growing herbs in pots is simple, fun, and very rewarding in ways you will truly enjoy.