A Big Plot Garden Not Your Cup of (Herbal) Tea? Try Growing "Kitchen" Herbs in Pots!  

If an big outdoor plot garden is not your cup of tea, herbs can be grown indoors or out in pots or containers and love to be grown in window boxes or hanging baskets. 

It’s the same big three regardless of how you grow your herbs; soil sunlight, and water.  Sunlight is key to growing any type of plant  whether they are grown indoors or in a garden, and growing herbs in pots is not exception.  Grow herbs indoors in a kitchen or other room with a south or west facing window to get the best sunlight.  All plants are different, but most herbs need a sunny location.  You can also supplement the light source with “grow lamps” or full spectrum lighting.

Herbs thrive in well drained, light soil.  Add two parts potting soil with one part coarse sand or perlite to containers.  Don’t forget to add about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot for good drainage. 

 It’s also a good idea to “sweeten” the soil with one teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot.  Misting the plants and dampening the pebbles will help to keep the herbs moist.   Avoid keeping the roots too wet by allowing the soil to dry out a little – to just barely moist - between waterings.

 One advantage of growing herbs in containers is having the freedom to move them around.  Annual herbs thrive indoors, but most perennial herbs love to spend the summer outdoors.  Just remember to bring them inside before the first frost.  However, mint, chives, and tarragon will go into a rest period and then form firmer and fresher growth if they are allowed to sit through a light frost.  Just be sure to not allow the roots to freeze!

 Even though all herbs can be grown in containers, some herbs do better then others.  Mint even needs to be contained or it will take over the garden.  With just a little care it is easy to maintain an indoor herb garden and it’s wonderful to have herbs handy and within reach.  By following the tips listed above, you can have a wonderful herb garden all year long.

 Don’t forget to include periodic light feedings and yearly repotting for the optimum health of the herbs.  Always remember to replant annuals each year and move perennials outdoors after the last frost.  If you wait until it gets too hot, the sun will shock the plants.

 Then, just use your herbs as much as you want and harvest them occasionally.  It is no secret that pruning them encourages new growth.  You will have wonderful fresh herbs to use in all you favorite recipes with plenty to freeze or dry. And really, what friend who cooks wouldn’t love a gift of freshly home grown or kitchen dried herbs?

 Great Growing!