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Growing Herbs in Containers

It is easy to cultivate one herb in a pot. I like to mix it up a bit and put several herbs in the same pot. It looks nicer and adds more texture to my garden.

If you do want to get started with container gardening, make sure that you are selecting herbs that have similar water, earth and sunshine needs as well as similar purposes.

These are some herbs that I’ve found that will grow well in containers:

• Sage: There are so many types of sage that you could cultivate only sage in your garden and still have an abundant array of colors, textures and sizes. This is one plant that you can start from seeds indoors in your pot in the early spring and then move outside with the onset of warmer weather. It prefers well-drained dirt and lots of direct sunlight. If you’re growing sage for the leaves, you’ll want to clip off any buds that appear on the plant, which will force the herb to focus on growing more foliage rather than flowers.

• Scented geraniums: I love the bright, vibrant colors and smells of the scented geranium. I have an unnatural fixation on red geraniums, so I’m not the right one to ask, but I am sure that the other ones are good too. They grow nice in containers, so drop by your nursery or home improvement store to buy these. Put your plants in a pot that has great drainage and put it in a place that will give your scented geranium a lot of light. You can harvest the stems and leaves for cakes and teas. The blooms are beautiful in pressings.

• Cardamom: Cardamom is a nice plant 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 inside during winter months to survive, so use a big container. You can harvest the seeds to add a little hint of India to your rice and chicken dishes, soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can assist with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell better.

• Lemon verbena: There are so many wonderful ways to use lemon verbena that I would call it necessary in my herb garden. Don’t even think about beginning with seeds. I suggest that you buy your lemon verbena and get it established in a container with a wide rim that will support its stem development. Lemon verbena can take the full sun and does well if the earth has nice drainage. Watch your foliage for signs of drought because the leaves are the best part of the plant.

Some other herbs that I’d suggest for you to start with in your pot combinations are: thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.

Good luck with your [plant|herb] gardening. Be sure to let me know how your [plant|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.