People who do not have garden but want to plant some herbs might consider starting herb gardens in pots. Actually, there are many herbs which are suitable to be planted in pots. You will not face any difficulty to plant and grow those herbs in containers. It allows people who do not have garden to grow some herbs for cooking or people who already have full garden to grow herbs with limited amount of space. If you want to add variation, you are recommended to get some cement blocks to put the pots on different levels. When you are planting herb gardens in pots, you need to remember that those pots should be in the sun for about six or eight hours every day.
Before planting herb gardens in pots, you need to prepare some things including herb seedlings, plant pots or containers, and soil mixture. The soil mixture consists of peat moss, potting soil, sand, and perlite. The first thing to do is choosing the plant pots or containers which are suitable with the natural shape or size of the herbs to grow.
In choosing the pots, you need to pick the pots which have the height of one-third to one-half the height of the plants at maturity. It needs to be done to offer the balance and improve the natural beauty of the plant. You need to make small holes in the bottom of the pot if it does not have those. In making the holes, you can use the drill. These holes are important to provide proper drainage for your plants.
Next, you need to fill the pot with lightweight growing medium. The potting soil should be dense and drains slowly. Make sure you amend the soil before using the pot. To create the lightweight soil, you can combine peat moss, potting soil, and perlite with equal parts. This combination is very useful for drainage and aeration. It is recommended for you to add one part builder’s sand for herbs which need sandy soil. When you are planning herb gardens in pots, you need to choose a short and wide container to grow certain herbs in one pot. You can use whiskey barrel.
In placing the herbs, you should put the tallest herbs such as oregano, tansy, or a mound of chives in the center of the pot. You can surround that plant with three or four medium-size herbs such as sage, basil, lemon balm, or lavender. After that, you should add small herbs like delicate lemon thyme around the perimeter. It is also good option for you to add edible flowers to your herb gardens in pots. Some edible flowers which you can add to your garden are including nasturtiums. These flowers are able to add color and interest to your collection. You might want to choose the bright colored flowers starting from pale yellow to reds or orange. The bright colors will add interest in your herb gardens in pots.
If your herb gardens in pots are ready, you need to place the pot in sunny location which receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. When you see the soil gets dry, you need to water it but do not overwater it. It is important for you to check the soil frequently and watch out for any signs of wilting in plants.
There are some aspects to remember for herb gardens in pots. When you are planting some herbs like oregano, you need to prepare a pot which is 8 to 12 inch in depth since it can grow to heights of 2 feet or more. According to the Utah State University Extension Service, each herb plant requires 1 gallon of soil to supply enough room for roots to grow. Your herb gardens in pots will thrive in full sun and develop intense flavor and scent when these are grown in all day sun. It is recommended for you not to apply fertilizer hers since it can inhibit the production of essential soils which offer the flavor and fragrance.
