Try mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage. These can be sown indoors as with the tender herbs, or sow them outdoors in May in containers. Delay buying herb plants from garden centres until the weather warms up in late spring. Winter planted herbs are vulnerable to root damage in the cold wet potting media.
Choose containers which give herbs a deep root run where they can be left undisturbed. Some herbs die back in winter, for example French tarragon and mint. These and most herbs will look after themselves if placed where they cannot be frozen, saturated by rain or allowed to become too dry.
Suitable places include in the rain shadow of walls, in a coldframe or even in an open fronted shed. A sheet of glass or plywood can keep off heavy rain in wet regions. If very cold weather is forecast, protect containers from freezing by wrapping in bubble polythene. Some tender herbs such as basil can only be grown if brought indoors into a warm, bright frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or a sunny windowsill.
Although herbs are largely trouble-free look out for rosemary beetle , sage leafhopper, slugs , snails and grey mould. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. Take action Why take action? Support us Donate Careers Commercial opportunities Leave a legacy. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work Join now. Hot links Browse inspiration articles Buy plants online.
Buy tickets. RHS members get reduced ticket prices Join now. Harlow Carr North Yorkshire. Hyde Hall Essex. Rosemoor Devon. Wisley Surrey. Use a lightweight and porous potting mix when planting herb--like this rosemary--in containers.
Soil essentials Garden soil is too heavy for use in containers and lacks the porosity needed to grow healthy potted herbs. Using a lightweight and porous commercial potting mix is essential to growing any plant in a container.
The potting mix needs to retain moisture, yet drain easily--otherwise the roots become deprived of oxygen, causing the plant's demise. You can use a high-quality commercial potting mix straight from the bag.
But if you really want to get your herbs off to a great start, create a custom blend by mixing together the following: three parts potting mix; one part compost, earthworm castings or aged manure for added nutrients; and one part perlite, pumice or coarse sand for added aeration and drainage. Pair the right herb with the right size pot As a general rule, pots as small as 10 inches in diameter and larger can be used for single herb plantings; a minimum of 18 inches in diameter is needed when growing large specimens, multiple herbs in one pot, or culinary herbs that you wish to cultivate frequently for kitchen use.
Also make sure that pots are deep enough to accommodate growing roots--remember that bigger pots equals bigger plants. Pairing up plants When creating multiple plant displays, make sure to pair herbs with similar light requirements and water needs in the same pots. Allow enough space between plants so they all have room to grow and thrive. Remember to space according to the plant's mature size: smaller plants like dwarf basil can be spaced closer together than, say, rosemary or comfrey.
Get creative on pot placement Potted plants are quite portable and can do more than dress up your patio or deck. Use potted herbs to border a path, enliven an outdoor dining area, create movement when staggered on steps, or to fill the seasonal gaps in beds and borders.
Add sensory appeal right outside your door by grouping containers of culinary herbs arranged at various heights. For example, you can place some pots on bricks, some on decorative pots turned upside-down, and some on a bench, chair or table. Water wisely Water needs vary according to the plant's need for moisture as well as the pot's size, type, location and time of year.
Let the potting soil dry slightly between waterings for Mediterranean and other drought-tolerant herbs; keep the mix slightly moist at all times--like a wrung-out sponge--for basil, chives and other herbs with moderate to average moisture needs. The best way to tell when it's time to water is to let your finger be your guide. The flowers and seeds of some herbs, such as chives and dill, are edible. The leaves of others including oregano and basil will lose flavor and become bitter if allowed to flower.
Remember that once a plant flowers and goes to seed, the seasonal growth cycle for that plant will be complete and the plant will no longer put out new growth. At the end of the growing season, you can bring many of your herb containers inside if you get lots of indoor sunlight. Some herb plants are easier than others to keep alive indoors during the winter, though it's worth a shot for all your container herbs.
Finally, if you've grown more herbs than you can harvest for yourself, consider giving them as gifts. You can do themed herb container gardens, such as a "pizza" garden or an herbes de Provence container garden.
Combine herbs and other edible plants in a pretty basket, or just pick a handful of herbs to put in a nice vase for an herbal bouquet. Many herbs like oregano, sage, rosemary and dill also dry well and can be kept in tightly lidded containers out of direct sunlight for use in cooking all year long. Growing Herbs at Home. Missouri University Extension. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.
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