Container herbs are the answer for those determined to have garden space but lack the space for a real garden. They are great for those with limited space for a garden — they can “glass house” plants, growing in a glass container.
But what about those of us who don’t have a green thumb? Why not consider planting in a container, herb garden, on a balcony, patio or just about anywhere that you have a space for it?
Consider these tips to help you get started.
— Make your choices with care. Some herbs are harder to grow than others and may be best contained in pots. Consider the growing requirements of the herbs you want to grow and put together a plan that will work.
— Most herbs need at least five hours of sunlight, so situate your containers so that they will get that sun bath daily.
— Container size will matter. If you only have a small amount of space, you can still grow plenty of herbs. If you’re blessed with a larger area, you might want to consider a group of larger containers.
— Cheap plants are available everywhere. You can find them in mass quantities in many stores. — Cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Mexican oregano, chives, and basil are just several of what you can easily grow.
— Plants that grow slowly are available almost anywhere. Some herbs will grow this way naturally.
— The soil that you use either needs to be fortified or enriched with nutrients. People often use soil conditioner and compost to improve the quality of soil.
— Plants often need to be watered. You can find out when a plant needs to be watered by digging down into the dirt. A finger test can be used to determine if water is in the dirt or not.
— Another tip for beginners is to start out with small plants. You can add several plants to a gallon sized container, which will save you space.
— Plants from seed need to be covered or flushed occasionally to prevent the soil from becoming dry.
— If you are growing herbs from seeds, be aware that they may take anywhere from three to six months to germinate.
— Growing herbs indoors on windowsills or in small pots will let you enjoy the beauty of the herbs.
— Try your hand at planting several herbs in one pot. It is easier than what most people think.
— Place individual herbs in a group of pots to have a pot that is always flowering or evergreen. You will be able to rotate them easily so that you always have fresh herbs.
— If you have an shady terrace, you can devise some covers for your potted herbs with some lattice or tree branches. It is also a good idea to add a tray that holds only a few plants.
— Above all, it should be remembered that herbs need light. If you are growing herbs in a garden, they should be placed under a sunlight or polyethylene light.
— Heliopsis (brown leaves) and thymes (the leaves of the herb) are the ones that are used when cooking.
— Another very easy way to get plants is to buy a few gardening pieces, which are generally available in any gardening store. You can put them in a bag and just throw them in the shed or the garage. Remember that it is wrong to remove the plant from its pot while you are removing it. The leaves and stalks may be bitter.
— To harvest herbs, snip off the leaves as you need them. You can use them right away.
— If you grow several plants of the same herb, place them in a pile in your sun room. You will always have a fresh supply of that particular herb.
— Dried herbs are good for your table. However, herbs should be stored in a cool, dry place. They should be completely dry prior to using.
— Herbs can be preserved through drying, freezing, and using salt or vinegar.
— Some herbs can be bought as plants in gardening stores. You do not have to buy the whole plant, just the main stem or growing part. This way you can have some of the herbs that you normally would lose during the winter.
— If you have no garden space, I do recommend you trying container gardening. You can find lots of herbs in these containers at reasonable prices.
— If you cannot afford to buy fresh herbs all year round, try to find a way to preserve them so that they will be available all year. I cannot stress enough that the flavor is definitely not the same as fresh.
— Container gardening tends to be much more successful if you have a friend who can “borrow” some plants for you. This is an economical way to raise a large quantity of herbs.
