March 2010 - The Joy of Growing Herbs in Pots

The Joy of Growing Herbs in Pots

By Sarah Phillips

Indoor window boxes make ideal locations for growing herbs indoors. Hanging baskets allow you to take your indoor herbs outside for some sun on nice days. Even if these are not handy, any empty flowerpot or container can host your herb garden. Growing herbs in pots is just as simple as in your outdoor garden. Herb gardening indoors is subject to the same growing requirement as outdoor gardening.

Of all the things that plants, including herbs, need for strong growth, water, sunlight, and soil are the most important. Sunlight is key to growing any plant, like herbs, whether that is indoors in a container, or outdoors in a garden. Indoors your first location choice should be any room, like the kitchen, with a south or westfacing window when growing herbs in a pot. All herbs need a sunny location although some herbs require differing light requirements than others. If the sunlight is inadequate don't hesitate to use supplemental lighting like fluorescent or grow lamps.

Herb gardening in containers requires more water than an outdoor garden. Herbs like humid conditions. Misting the leaves and moistening the gravel create favorable conditions. Like most plants, herbs will suffer when roots are soaked from too much water. Even though water needs are greater indoors, be careful not to over water.

Herbs thrive in soil that is "not too rich" and is well drained. An ideal soil mixture, for best results, is two parts sterilized potting soil and one part course sand or perlite. Add an inch of gravel in the bottom of the pot before adding soil to allow for good drainage. Most herbs like a sweet soil, which can be achieved with the addition of one teaspoon lime to a 5-inch pot.

One advantage to container gardening is the freedom to move your plants to any location you desire. Annual herbs seem to prefer the indoors all year. However, perennial herbs are healthier when placed outside during the summer. To avoid foliage damage bring all plants, including herbs indoors before the first frost. Chives, tarragon, and mint, however, benefit from exposure to a light frost. This produces fresh firm growth after a short rest period following the frost.

While some herbs do better than others all herbs can be grown in pots. A precaution regarding mint; it should be grown in a container, even outdoors, as it will spread over the entire garden. All things considered you can easily maintain an indoor herb garden. When grown in the kitchen it becomes second nature to snip some nearby fresh herbs for cooking. This will add a whole new dimension to your family meals.

Periodic light feeding and yearly repotting will ensure optimum vitality of your herbs. Also remember to replant annuals each year and move perennial herbs outdoors in late spring until early fall. Use all the herbs you desire in cooking and arrangements or simply harvest occasionally to put on the dehydrator. All plants benefit from pruning and herbs especially so. This will give you plenty for use in recipes or treat your friends by giving them fresh herbs.

Following the simple steps above, and with a little practice, your care and attention to your herbs will guarantee a strong healthy plant.