Growing Herbs in Pots

You can grow herbs in pots or containers indoors.  They can also be grown in window boxes or hanging baskets.  Growing herbs in pots is easy, just like they growing them in an outdoor garden.  Maintaining outdoor herb gardens is just the same as maintaining indoor herb gardens.

All plants need three main things in order to grow successfully; sunlight, soil and water.  And this includes herbs.

Herbs grown indoors or outdoors need sunlight to grow.  To grow herbs in pots, you should place herbs grown in a kitchen or any other room in a south or west facing window to get the best kind of sunlight.  Different types of herbs have different light requirements but, for the most part, all need a sunny location.  Some indoor herb growers improve their light source with “grow lamps” or fluorescent lamps.

Herbs also need a well drained, not too rich soil to grow in.  Add two parts of sterilized potting soil with one part coarse sand or perlite for herbs that are grown in containers.  An inch thick of gravel placed at the bottom of each pot is needed to ensure good drainage.  Herbs grown in pots indoors can also be fertilized with one teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to ensure that the soil is sweet enough for the herbs.

Herbs grown in pots also need water.  Misting the plants and moistening the pebbles will help to keep the herbs within humid conditions.  Since they are being grown in containers they do need to have more water than herbs that are grown in a garden but, you should avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy.

The freedom to move the herb is one advantage in growing herbs in pots.  Annual herbs can spend all of their time indoors but, perennial herbs do better if they were to be placed outside during the summer.  In order to avoid the loss of their foliage however, all herbs should be placed indoors before the first snow.

Mint, chives and tarragon are not governed by this rule.  These types of herbs will go into a rest period then form firmer and fresher growth after it is introduced to a light frost.

All herbs can be grown in containers but some herbs do better then others.  Mint is an herb that needs to be contained or it will take over the garden.

Growing herbs in pots in an indoor garden is fairly easy to maintain.  Anytime you need them for cooking, an indoor garden makes the herbs handy and just within reach.

With these tips listed above, you will be able to care for your herbs and ensure a healthy plant.

You should also include periodic light feeding and yearly repotting for optimum health of the herbs.  You will also have to remember to replant annuals each year and move perennials outdoors when needed.  You can harvest your herbs occasionally and use them as much as you want to.  Pruning plants does encourage new growth.  This is also true for herbs.  So grow herbs in pots, use them in your recipes, store them and give them away to friends.