Urban Farming Oz

Have you ever considered the idea of growing herbs in pots or containers?

Some people believe that growing herbs in the garden is just as complicated as growing vegetables. They imagine dealing with the insects, the mud after it rains, the water hose kinking up frequently, and the bees buzzing around their head and think, “Not me! I can barely deal with these issues now for the vegetables! I want plant growing to be easier and with less work.” But herb growing can be incredibly easy. Some herbs actually do grow better in containers, indoors or outdoors, than others. For example, herbs that spread like wildfire throughout the garden, popping up in between rows of other herbs or vegetables, grow better in containers. Mint and comfrey are two examples; if you plant them in an outdoor garden and water them, within the season, you’ll have nothing but mint and comfrey. And it’s difficult to get rid of them. Containers will contain them so you don’t have issues with wild growth later on.   

 Growing Herbs in Pots Outdoors Growing herbs in pots or containers is easy if you follow these simple guidelines: 

1. In the bottom of each pot or container, add about an inch of gravel. What this will do is enhance drainage and prevent the roots from getting root rot if you water them too much. 
2. Water them more often than plants that are planted in a garden. This means that if you can water them two times a day, they may do a lot better than with only one watering. 
3. Don’t put the container on top of cement. For example, don’t line your sidewalk with pots. Cement gets pretty hot when the temperature tops 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and that heat will get transferred to the soil in the pot. It’s easy to burn out the plant if herbs grown in containers are placed on hot cement. 
4. Feel free to move the containers around to better places in your yard. Treat the plant as if it were your little child or pet, and learn to look for signs of stress. One type of stress is not enough sunlight. Are you placing the containers in a location outside in your yard that gets morning sunshine or evening sunshine? The different times of day can affect your plant’s growth. 
5. Bring in all herbs before the first frost. This is most important for tarragon and mint. Chives are another type of herb that really will benefit from this strategy. These herbs go dormant for a period of time and then once the springtime comes, you’ll have rapid, fresh new growth. 
6. Periodically, do add plant food. Talk to your Master Gardener friends to find out what they use and would recommend.
7. At the end of the season, know that the annual plants will be saying goodbye to you forever. They won’t be back next year. So harvest them and thank them for all their goodness. Prune the perennial plants so they will spring back in a few months.   

Growing Herbs in Pots Indoors Growing herbs in pots or containers can also be done inside the comforts of your own home. This is the best of all, because while you’re cooking, you can easily snip off a sprig of fresh parsley for garnishing a tasty entrée, or get a few tablespoons of fresh cilantro for homemade salsa and chips. If you grow herbs in pots indoors, here are a few guidelines that will make it easier: 

1. Before you decide to grow herbs indoors, carefully evaluate your kitchen. Do you have a window that faces south or west? These windows will provide the best sunlight for easy herb growing. Of course, you can always use grow lamps if your windows don’t meet these specifications. 
2.  Knowing what to put the herbs in is also a big decision. You can try window boxes, hanging baskets, or inside pots and containers stacked on a metal rack that is beautifully decorated. 
3. Just as herbs planted in containers outdoors, you will still need about  an inch of gravel lining the pot for excellent drainage. 
4. The type of soil you need for indoor herb plants is not the same as what’s out in the vegetable garden. For example, it wouldn’t work to scoop out garden soil and put it in a pot. The best soil is 2 parts sterilized potting soil: 1 part coarse sand or perlite. This should be used in containers outside the house as well. 
5. Adding a teaspoon lime can “sweeten the soil” for the herbs. That dosage is for a 5-inch pot of soil. 
6. Herbs indoors will need to be watered. Twice daily is best. And remember that if they were growing outdoors, they would experience a misting each and every morning. So do mist them and they’ll love you for it! 
7. Just because an herb is planted inside away from harsh thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding doesn’t mean that it will live forever. Annuals live for only one year. Harvest them from your containers; bundle them and dry them from the ceiling or dehydrate them. Perennials will be back next year but still need pruning. 

Growing herbs – either outside in the ground or in containers or inside in containers – is a joyful experience. The fresh aroma of herbs is always healing to the body, mind and soul. Make herb growing a part of your life forever!