Want to have your own fresh herbs to pick from a garden, but live high up in a downtown apartment or in a townhome with a pocket sized yard? We have just the solution for you… start growing your herbs in pots! Yup, with a sunny window or balcony, you can have fresh, organic herbs right at hand to clip and use for all your gourmet cooking and refreshing herbal teas.

Just imagine… it’s close to dinner, and the pasta is cooking. You step out on the balcony and clip a few fresh basil sprigs for your special recipe pesto. Blended with a little extra virgin olive oil, some fresh garlic and parmesan cheese – yum!

All you need is a little imagination, a few containers, and your carefully selected seedlings from a reputable nursery, herb farm or farmers market grower. Then just supply the 3 necessary requirements:  a well-draining soil, a few hours of sunlight and water. It is really easy to control all these essential elements when you use containers for planting. All plants need light for photosynthesis (remember that term from school?), so place your potted-up herbs on a sunny windowsill or a south or west facing balcony. If you face east or north, don’t despair You can always supplement the light with a high-intensity grow light and still have those fresh herbs to enjoy.

So the soil in your containers drains well (herbs hate soggy soil, and will die on you), put an inch of gravel in the bottom of the pot before you add the soil. Use a sterilized potting soil, mixed with some perlite to keep it loose and light. After you have potted up the starter seedlings, get a plastic or metal tray, and put a shallow bed of gravel in it. Place your plants on the gravel, and add water to the tray. Your plants will now have their own instant humidifier. A weekly misting with clean water will make them grow even better.

As far as knowing when your herbs need watering, it is really simple. Just poke your finger about an inch into the soil. If it is dry, water the plant. But… never overwater. If you check them frequently, you will soon know just how often they need watering. Occasionally, you may want to add a little liquid fertilizer to the water(something natural, like a seaweed extract), but most herbs don’t need a lot of feeding.

The advantage you have if you are growing herbs in pots is the freedom to move them around, indoors or outdoors. They can be placed close to the kitchen, or right on the kitchen windowsill, where they are handy for cooking. You can move them to get the best light, or be near the water faucet. You can keep your herbs indoors all year, but many of them will definitely do better in an outdoor location. Give them a summer outside, and bring them inside in fall.

Soon, you will have pots of fresh herbs you have carefully chosen and cared for. Use them frequently so they keep a compact shape and stay lush and green. Use your branching herbs, like basil and oregano, by pinching back the growing tips. This encourages even more growth. Use outer leaves of parsley and coriander. If you find you have more than you can use, freeze or dry the excess. Enjoy!

When growing a potted herb garden outdoors, many believe the plants should be in a pot to get best results. Such plants as rosemary, chives and mint are said to be best planted in pots in order to keep them from taking over the rest of the garden. If you decide you need to plant any herbs in a pot, there are some things you should keep in mind to get the best possible results. Growing herbs is only as hard as you allow it to be. In this article you will find information that should make it easier for you.

Choose the herbs you are going to plant in pots rather than in the regular garden. The choice can be dues to either the kind of herb it is, or because of ornamental purposes. As stated above, the most popular plants to put into pots are the ones that have a tendency to take over a garden. This does not mean they are the only ones, which can be planted in a pot. Other good herbs to plant in a pot include lavender because of the height at which they grow. The other reason is because the flowers tend to be attractive when separated and will end up flavoring the rest of the plants around it.

When planting a potted herb garden, take into consideration the soil you are planting in. Many people have a tendency to try and plant in all potting soil because they are planting in a pot. The problem with this is planting soil, is too high in nutrients. Herbs prefer soil that is low in nutrients and in order to create the right mixture of nutrients, acidity and draining ability, you will need to mix a few things together. Mix together equal parts of potting soil, loose dirt and sand together. The angular quality of the sand will help to create a soil, which does not retain excessive water. Make sure the mixture gets about one tablespoon of lime depending on the size of the pot.

Because the herbs are in a pot, you can move them as needed. This may become necessary in different parts of the season in order to make sure they are still getting all the sunlight they need in order to grow properly. Most herbs require at least 8 hours of sunlight a day in order to grow properly. As the summer gives way to fall, the days get shorter and plants become unhealthy. This is due as much to the temperature as it is due to the amount of sun plants are getting.

Temperature is very important to a potted herb garden. A great way you can protect your potted herbs as the nights get colder is to use netting bags. These bags attach to the rim of the pot and billow over the top of the plant. It will trap in heat from the soil so that the cool night air will not harm it. As the days get colder, you can leave the bag on during the day also. When the first frost comes, you will need to pull in your last harvest and make cuttings for next year.

Join American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) SVP and Master Gardener Erika Yigzaw as she discusses how easy it is to grow your own organic herbs in containers. This is Part 1 of 2. Various downloads are available from the College store, the Apothecary Shoppe at www.apothecary-shoppe.com, where books and organic seeds are also available. Growing herbs is one of the topics covered in the curriculum at ACHS, along with aromatherapy, herbal medicine, nutrition, and more.

An indoor herb garden takes many forms, and growing herbs in pots is just one of many options available to a natural herb enthusiast. Potted herbs are easy to maintain and typically require less maintenance than herb gardens grown outdoors. A decorative hanging basket or window box can also be an attractive addition to your indoor environments. Let’s take a closer look at some of the aspects involved with growing potted herbs.

Potted plants, or all plants for that matter, require three basic ingredients to thrive – controlled sunlight, good soil, and an adequate water supply. Fresh herb gardens are no exception. Proper placement and regular care will ensure your plants thrive and produce regularly. The amount and variety of the herbs you grow will allow determine how they should be lit.

Where would you place potted herbs to offer the best sunlight? Find a room with a window that faces south or west. These directions give the most favorable light. Some people utilize supplemental lights like fluorescent grow lamps that offer more consistent, even lighting for potted plants. These lights work well in isolated, temperature-controlled areas, if there is indoor space to set them up properly.

In terms of soil quality and chemistry, fresh herb gardens thrive in soil that isn’t too rich and has adequate drainage. This is achieved by combining sterilized potting soil with a mixture of perlite and coarse sand, in a two-to-one ratio. There should also be a base amount of gravel in the bottom of each pot to allow water to drain easily from the soil.

Adding a small amount of lime to potting soil also helps balance the pH level for optimum growing conditions. A teaspoon of lime in a five-inch pot is a good rule of thumb.

 How you water your herb plants also makes a differencein how well they thrive. Some people utilize a spray bottle to mist the leaves of herbs and keep the surface soil damp without drowning the soil with water. This helps avoid over-watering the plant or drenching the roots of the plant with too much water. Consider how water is distributed to herbs in outdoor gardens through rainfall.

 Growing herbs in pots indoors also gives you the opportunity to move perennials outdoors in the summer, while keeping the more delicate annuals mostly inside. With only a few exceptions, as in the case of herbs like tarragon, chive, and mint, all of which can tolerate an early mild frost, most herbs should be taken indoors before the first frost in winter.

Some herbs do better in pots or containers than others, and the variety you choose to grow will determine the strategy you use to bring the best results. Some of the more popular choices for container herbs are things like marjoram, lemon balm, chamomile, basil, oregano, and rosemary. Mint can be a little tricky, since it tends to dominate the soil and reproduces quickly. In these cases, a little extra maintenance may be required to isolate certain plants and keep your containers under control.

With proper pruning and regular maintenance, growing herbs in pots yields wonderful results. Some trial and error is necessary to learn the best techniques, and most herbs do best when they are repotted and harvested regularly. Herb gardening is a rewarding experience that offers fresh ingredients for your favorite meals and provides a long-lasting hobby for years to come.

 

Growing herbs in pots allows you to have your favorite herbs close at hand. With the proper care, you will be able to enjoy these herbs year round. An early frost will not damage your plants, as they will be inside. Having the ability to control climate and humidity allows your herbs to thrive. Following some very simple steps will help your herbs to fulfill their true potential. No matter what skill level gardener you are, herbs are a very forgiving plant. There is no reason you should not be able to grow the herbs you use most often.

Soil is an important factor for any plant. When growing herbs in pots, you are allowed complete control over the soil. Not being at the mercy of weather conditions allows you to make sure your plants grow easily. One thing to keep a close eye on is what kind of soil you are using. Using pure potting soil is a mistake. This is because potting soil has too many nutrients for herbs. You can control this by mixing potting soil with sand. The added benefit of the sand in the soil is it retains more moisture. Layering the bottom of your pot with pebbles will also help the soil not to become water logged.

Water is a key factor to any plant. Herbs benefit from having the right amount of moisture. By misting your plants, you will help the leaves to soak in more water. This is important as plants are designed to absorb water through leaves as well as from roots. Plants, which have to absorb all their water from the soil, will struggle to survive. Make sure you check the soil before adding any water to a pot, as it should only be moist to the touch. If a puddle forms where you press down, your plant is drowning and needs to have water drained from the pot.

Sunlight is another of the highly important elements to growing herbs in pots. Picking the right place for your herb to grow is highly important. The best place for your pot is in a windowsill that faces either west or south. This allows your plant to have the right amount of sun. If this is not possible, you can buy a lamp designed to give plants artificial sunlight. Another option is to allow your herbs to spend some time outside every day. Perennials especially benefit from time outside. Make sure you do not give your herbs more sun than they need or the leaves will turn brown.

Wind is taken for granted when planting outside. When growing herbs in pots inside, plants are usually robbed of wind. Putting the pots outside will give them the wind they desire. Another way to give your plant some wind is to simulate it with a fan. Set your fan on low and direct it towards the pots. You will notice an improvement in plants that get a light wind.

Pruning is very important to the health of your plants. The added benefit of pruning herbs is you get to use what you cut. Growing herbs in pots is popular among those who use them the most. Proper pruning practices cause your plant to produce more. Do not be deterred from pruning for fear of wasting herbs. These can be dried, frozen, or given away to friends. Herbs can also be used in recipes for future dates. Freezing pesto is a great way to use an overabundance of basil.