Most of our culinary flavors are ideal to be grown in container gardens especially when growing herbs indoors. They are very well suited for indoor pots to sit on the window sill, and outside to be grown in tubs, window boxes, and hanging baskets. This actually serves as two great purposes, one being elegant and decorative for the house and the other is it makes the herbs readily available for the chef in the house to cook with.
The containers used to plant and grow herbs can be conveniently placed near the kitchen on a windowsill at arms reach from the cook, or near the back door terrace or balcony. Having access to a well lit window is ideal for any new or old chef, and the herbs will get cut and used almost everyday.
By growing herbs indoors in large tubs or containers, you can add multiple different kinds of plants to one pot. But it is best to know which ones love the sun and keep them together and ones that do not need as much sun should be kept together in a lower light area. Herbs like sage, marjoram, rosemary, and thyme absolutely love the full sun, and should be planted together and placed in a spot where they will thrive. Plants like chives, mint, and chervil prefer more filtered sunlight as well as a moist atmosphere. It is best to grow really fussy herbs inside close to the sink where they can be watched closely. Herbs like tarragon and mint should be grown alone in separate pots because they can quickly crowd other herbs.
Planning a well thought out garden will enhance your landscape as well as enhance your salad and food plate. With the overwhelming number of color choices of leaves and herbs, there is no limit for the home gardener and cook. Design your garden with tricolor sage, gold-green lemon thyme, blue-green narrow-leaved rosemary, silver-leaved purple or green herbs. There are unlimited opportunities to design with color and flavor to keep in mind. There are herbs with beautiful flowers and very flavorful leaves like rosemary, thyme, mint, chive, sage, and borage for example. In the kitchen, herbs can be used as garnishes, in salads, or to bring a ton of flavor to your dishes. In the garden, although the flowers are very beautiful, they can take away the herbs flavors, so be careful.
How To Plant Herbs
If you only want one plant, it is best to purchase the plant from a specialist nursery, garden center, or even a nice trusted grocery store. Then transplant them into the container you want them in. For multiple plants or ones that are best started from seed like tarragon, chives, basil, and parsley, they are best sown directly into the soil in containers you intend to grow them in. Herbs started from seed should be placed in a very warm area until germination, and then placed on the window sill until they reach maturity.
For any herbs being grown, always remember the larger and deeper the container is, the more leaves the plant will be able to produce.
Growing Herbs Indoors
Growing herbs indoors will thrive in the warm moist atmospheres. To add more humidity if you live in a dry climate, place the container on a gravel bed in a saucer plate with water in it not quite covering the gravel. The one exception to the rule is basil. Basil loves a dry environment.
Herbs thrive in a comfortable stable temperature around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit and kept free from draught. Keep the plant watered regularly, but err on the drier side, do not over water. If in doubt, touch the soil with your finger. If the soil feels dry, it needs watering. Never use cold or hot water when watering your herbs, and always try to use lukewarm water. It is recommended to turn your plants if they sit in a windowsill, to ensure your plants overall well-being and health. Turning the plant with help expose sun to all the leaves for healthy growth. Herbs like thyme, basil, oregano, and marjoram do require full sun. Herbs like parsley, chives, and mint do much better in less direct sunlight and slightly cooler spots to grow. As the plant grows, pinch the growing tips of the herb yo encourage a bushier plant. Also, using the plant is pruning the plant, and if done so regularly for cooking, this will help the plant stay healthy longer.
Growing Herbs Outdoors
Some of the best outdoor containers are chimney pot, terra-cotta or clay pots, wooden half-barrels and old basins. The choice depends on your personal like, and the given space available. Although, in my experience, wood and clay containers seem to help the herbs grow to their fullest the best.
Planting several types together in a large tub does do better than planting single plants in pots by themselves. This also helps with really small places like balconies or patios, and helps to decorate beautifully. Planting a combination of sweet basil, rosemary, dill or bay, and fill in the the gaps around the larger plants with lemon thyme, sage or marjoram. But remember, some plants are not compatible with other herbs. Fennel should never be planted with caraway, dill, or cilantro. Mint and parsley should not be planted together as well.
A strawberry pot is a great way to have multiple plants in one spot if space is limited. plant different herbs in each opening, and place it on your balcony or terrace. This container does need to be watched a little closer because the water is absorbed into the clay, and your herbs could dry out very fast.
Remember, the bigger and deeper the pot, the more leaves and bush will be produced. Keeping the pots off the ground tends to help the drainage holes and prevents waterlogging. If planting in smaller containers, keeping them close to each other will help the environment become more humid and your herbs will do a lot better and they will thrive.
Hanging baskets are a very attractive way to display low growing and compact herbs. But keep them out of a windy place, as this will damage the plant by being blown all over the place.
Care and Maintenance for Your Herbs
Any way you go with container planting, you need to pay attention to and monitor. Checking the top soil daily will help you determine how much to water. Keep in mind smaller containers dry out quicker, as well as the types of material used to make the container will play a role. When watering, maintain an even moistness throughout, and do not dump water in one spot, as this will not be healthy for the plant and it might not live. Pinch the tips to encourage full bushy plants.
When growing anything, be prepared for pests in your pots and gardens. Aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and slugs can decimate a healthy plant almost overnight. There are many solutions to keep pests away from your herbs and plants. Be sure to look at howtogro.com pest section for suggestions to eradicate these pests.
Growing herbs indoors is fun and will create beautiful decor and taste good too. After some practice, you will develop confidence and skills to keep a herb garden all year long. Good luck, and happy growing.