Growing Herbs in Containers

Now you don’t have to be a purist and just use one herb in one pot like some people. I love to mix things up a bit and put several herbs in the same pot. It looks nicer and brings more texture to my garden.

To try this, you should choose herb plants that have similar sod and watering needs and then purchase those that will look good together or have similar purposes—like putting all your cooking herbs together.

These are a few herb plants that I have found that will grow well in pots:

• Sage: With nearly 750 kinds, hopefully you find at least one sage plant for your herb garden that you’ll like, because sage comes in a number of colors and sizes. Sage does well from seeds, which can give you a head start on the growing season if you start early indoors. It prefers well-drained sod and lots of direct sunshine. This is one of those that I plant for the foliage, so I clip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the herb concentrate on the foliage, which I then cut off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.

• Scented geraniums: Just like sage, there are a lot of varieties of scented geraniums to choose from. I hope you enjoy scented geraniums as much as I do. Although they look very like floral (non-herbal) variety, these also grow well in containers that you can pick up at any nursery, home improvement or discount store. Put your plants in a pot that has good drainage and put it in a location that will give your scented geranium a lot of sunlight. You can harvest the stems and leaves for cakes and teas. You can even harvest the blooms for use in floral pressings.

• Cardamom: Cardamom is a good herb 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 to thrive, so use a big container. Not only will the seeds add a taste of India to your rice and chicken dishes, you can also add it to soups and stews. There are many other ways to use for cardamom, including easing issues with flatulence (if you have them).

• Lemon verbena: This is one of those essential herb plants to have in your garden because you can utilize it in so many ways. Do not worry about seeds. Go out and pick up a young herb and get it started in a wide container that will support the herb’s height. This plant likes full sun and well-drained sod. Check out your leaves for signs of drought because the foliage is the best part of the plant.

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

Good luck with your plant gardening. Be sure to let me know how your plant garden grows.

Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.