Container Garden 411

How will you feed your herbs? What are your herb container garden soil needs? Soaking wet soil is not the same as soil that is moist. Do a touch test of the soil in each in your herb container garden pot with your thumb. If it feels damp, like towel-dried hair that’s moist while dry soil will feel hard to the touch. That was the touch method. Of course, a more accurate way to test the moisture level under the surface is with a moisture gauge or I’ve even stuck a toothpick into the soil. Pull out the moisture gauge or toothpick to see if you have dry or moist. If so, feed it some water.

When you water, your plants do it with care. Root rot due too much moisture is the most regular issue with container plants. While some plants are fine if they remain wet at all times, not herbs. They are more comfortable if things are kept slightly dryer. Sage much prefers a drier soil, while peppermint likes feeling moist.

Your herb container garden will thrive in well-drained soil.  For example, basil grows well in warm soil and dry air, but is stunted in the cold.   So make sure that your herbs have the right growing and soil conditions and of course, drainage.

Proper preparation and maintenance of the moisture content of the soil is very important for the herb container garden. For example, you can use a mix of both sandy and clay soil. Clay chips are good for holding moisture or retaining it, but in a container, they can suck up and hold water for long periods, maybe too long. So, test out this combination in one or two containers before you incorporate it as a practice.  Finally, if you use compost or potting soil it must be specifically suited to the herbs you are planting in your herb container garden.

See Also: 3 Tips For A Successful Herb Container Garden

If you are like me, I absolutely love the smell of fresh herbs. However, buying fresh herbs at the grocery store would often make my wallet cry, so I would pass them up. Often times I didn’t buy enough or they would spoil before I used them all.  So like me, Container Herb Gardening can give you an abundant, readily available supply of fresh herbs. It doesn’t matter if your living quarters are small because you can put the containers inside in the kitchen within reach.  Even next to the coffee pot.

Growing herbs in containers is the perfect gift for gardening friends, as well as for cooking. Take into account these 3 tips for the successful container herb garden, for some flavorful and or smelly results.

Tip #1.  Select the herbs you want to grow. Choose from basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, thymes, parsley, mints and dill. All are easy to grow in containers, require very little maintenance, and are adaptable for a wide variety of dishes. Plants such as lavender and yarrow spread quickly and can take up all your space, so these are ideal for container herb gardening in small batches.

You will want to grow herbs that you will actually cook with. Because your fresh herbs are full of flavor and not diluted, you only need to use half the amount of fresh herbs as store bought herbs in recipes. In fact, when substituting dried herbs for fresh herbs, one tablespoon of fresh herbs equals about one teaspoon of dried herbs. You might even consider growing a container full of organically grown herbs. It’s safer for you and less expensive because you aren’t using pesticides. Organic pest control is a comprehensive approach instead of a chemical approach.

Tip #2.  Seeds or budding plantings’ are viable options. Growing herbs in a small garden is quite affordable especially if you start from seeds. Don’t skimp on seeds of good quality, go ahead and spend a little more. Remember seeds can spoil just like other natural food products.  I typically don’t get my seeds from plants, but it’s your choice. In doing that, you just need to understand how to properly dry out and store the seed. Remember to check the dates on the package, to ensure your seeds are fresh.

If you are using plants to start your container garden, plant the plants at the same height.  If you plant them too shallow, some hair roots may be exposed. If you plant them too deep, they may choke or suffocate due the all the soil overhead. Also, check to see if your plants have become root bound. If roots start coming out of the drainage holes, replant them in a larger container. Roots have feelings too. Have you ever worn a pair of pants and have gotten a wedge. Ouch. !

Tip #3.  Where are you placing the containers (pots, etc.)? Mother Nature will not provide the right amount of water and sunshine. Container herb gardening provides the mobility necessary to protect your herbs from bad weather and seasonal conditions, as well as hungry animals and insects. Inside, you can place your containers in the right location for the herbs they contain. Most herb plants require similar growing conditions: a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day. Plants may need full sun, partial sun or partial shade. For example, parsley and thyme like to be in a sunny spot. Plants will only receive what you give them; therefore, you will be able to regulate the pH, nutrients, nutrient strength, water amount, and light amount. This makes it important that you research the plants you will be growing so you know what they need to survive.

Now that your vision has been expanded, you can see that the possibility of creating that special herb container garden that can happen now. You will be able to incorporate all of your 5 senses; touch, taste, smell, feel. What you will hear is everyone applauding the wonderful flavor or smell you create. Using these 3 tips for a successful container herb garden will have you well on your way to herb heaven.

See also: Herb Container Garden Soil Needs

Establishing  a herb container garden for your home not only gives  you the chance of growing fresh herbs year-round for a assortment of uses, in addition it provides an eco-friendly method of decorating your patio, sunroom or balcony. Using ornamental ceramic pots, clay urns, wooden window boxes or any distinctive item that can serve as a plant holder for your herb container garden will add color and fragrance wherever you decide to place them.  

Benefits Of A Herb Container Garden 

There are plenty of reasons for having a herb container garden versus a traditional herb garden in your yard. Besides having the ability of growing fresh herbs throughout the year right at your fingertips, the herb container garden, once set up with the proper supplies, requires little care. With proper light, soil, drainage and water, the plants tend to take care of themselves. Additionally, herb plants tend to be mostly pest free. A herb container garden can be a convenient way of growing fresh herbs without all of the work a traditional garden requires. The containers should be portable so they can be moved inside during cold weather, they’re decorative and fragrant, they take up little space and they’re good for the environment. 

Creating A Herb Container Garden 

Creating a herb container garden for your home can be easily achieved with just a few supplies. Basically, the main item to be concerned with is the container itself. It must be large enough to accommodate the plants, stones and soil but it must also be a size that is easily moved from the outside to the inside during cold weather. If you plan to have a herb container garden only during the warmer months that are conducive to gardening, then how large and how portable the container is will not be an issue. Regardless of the portability of the container, it must provide excellent drainage for the plants.  

Putting Together A Herb Container Garden 

Once you’ve selected the type of herbs you want for your herb container garden, depending on the size of the container used, place several small rocks or stones inside the container which will help with water drainage. Fill the container with an appropriate amount of soil, place the herb plants inside, add a little water if the potting soil is very dry and then add more potting soil. Place the container in a location that will provide full sunlight and water only as necessary.