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Growing herbs in containers isn't difficult. You've seen those fresh, growing herbs in the Produce section of the supermarket. Maybe you've even purchased a few favorite herbs in pots to sit on your kitchen windowsill so you could snip them as needed to add the wonderful flavor of fresh herbs to your meals. Did you realize that you were actually growing herbs in containers?
Growing a few herbs in containers on a windowsill is probably the simplest way to ease into container gardening without even realizing it. Have you ever wondered what it would take to keep that plant a little longer or get it to grow a little bigger? Nothing could be easier. You can grow herbs in almost any container that will hold soil, so long as it has good drainage. Actually, it's best to grow some herbs in containers. Although herbs are among the least demanding of our edible plants, sometimes they can turn into garden thugs when planted in the garden. Many of them are considered weeds by the uninformed and can be found growing wild in some pretty rough areas. Thus, when they find themselves in a well-tended garden, they become rampant and try to take over. Modern plant breeders have refined herbs to make them more beautiful but most started out simply as weeds. This lowly origin is one of the reasons most of them are so easy to grow and many actually thrive on neglect. They don't require constant pampering or loads of fertilizer and many are actually more pungent and flavorful when they have to struggle a bit. Now, this doesn't mean you can completely neglect them and expect them to survive. Herbs still need the basics of soil, water and sun in order to grow. However, drying out a bit once in a while isn't going to kill them. When you grow herbs in containers, you can provide them with the kind of growing conditions they prefer.
A traditional strawberry pot is somewhat less than ideal for growing strawberries. However, it is perfect for growing herbs. This container with its little pockets on the side is perfect for herbs planted one to a pocket. You can have something different in each pocket and thus end up with an entire herb garden in a very small space. Do you perhaps have an old tea kettle that has long since been discarded from the kitchen? Drill a few drainage holes in the bottom and plant it with a bit of basil or rosemary. You will have recycled an otherwise useless piece of trash into something unique for growing your herbs in a container. There are a few tips to remember when you grow herbs in containers. If you want deeper flavor in your herbs, avoid using a self-watering type of planter and be sure to let them dry out a bit before drenching them with water. A traditional clay pot is the perfect way to grow your herbs in containers and without a saucer is even better, assuming this plant is in a place where the drainage won't cause any problems with stains. This way of growing herbs in containers is absolutely critical for some herb plants. For instance, dill and cilantro will drop their leaves and then rot if kept too wet. Edible gem marigolds also rot when grown in a self-watering container. And nasturtiums, also edible, will simply turn into garden gorillas that take over the the garden when grown in self-watering containers. Keep those potential monsters under control by subjecting them to a bit of dry soil stress. Grow herbs in simple containers with good drainage for the best results.
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