Container Gardening

It is possible to have fresh herbs all year. Most herbs are simple to grow in a sunny south facing window. And a fluorescent grow light is a must for extra brightness it will prevent the plants from getting spindly.

Whether to start from seeds or plants is a decision you will have to make. I personally grow all my herbs from seed. When starting from seeds the soil you use should be loose and well drained. I recommend a mix of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite.

Herbs do not require high fertility and you should not fertilize them as much as your house plants. As well, avoid over-watering when growing herbs indoors because the roots will rot.

Parsley is my number #1 herb. Parsley is a nutritious herb, high in vitamins A and C and good for many things, as well as being a nice garnish. I use parsley in salads, soups, and herb mixtures. It comes in either curly or flat leaf varieties.

Basil is another must have. It is ideal for making pesto, or for use in pasta sauces and it will go well with any dish that contains tomatoes.

Oregano is another herb that goes well with tomatoes. Oregano has a strong flavour. When using fresh leaves make sure to strip the leaves from the stem.

Mint is delicious in tea and it can be used in desserts. Mint should stay in a container even outside because it will spread everywhere if not contained.

Sage is another herb that I use frequently. The leaves are perfect with poultry.

Herbs require little care and space and have very few insect and disease problems. These traits, in addition to being tasty makes them ideal plants for the beginner gardener.

Tip: When reusing pots make sure to wash them thoroughly and rinse in a bleach solution before use.

Lori

Gardening is a simple activity that can bring so much joy to enthusiasts. It gives people the opportunity to nurture life. Gardening also has so many benefits including creating a light ambiance around the house, filtering the air, and having fruits and vegetables to harvest.

Many people think that to be able to engage in such a hobby, they need a big yard to grow vegetables in. This is not the case. You can create a wonderful garden in whatever little patch of land you have around your home. If you live in an apartment building, you can even create a small garden in your terrace and even put small potted plots on your window sill.

If you are new to gardening, you can start by growing herbs in plastic containers. This should give you some experience in gardening. You can also use the herbs you will grow as accents for your home or as ingredients of a great recipe.

Using containers for your gardening will also help you move your plants around the house when the weather calls for it. You can move the plants indoors or outdoors, even transferring them on different window sills depending on the plants need. Container gardening also offers more success for those who are just getting into gardening as it will help you focus on individual herbs on different containers. You can easily pay attention or replace plants that are not doing well. Gardening on containers also requires a lot less time to maintain and nurture than full yard gardens. Unlike yard gardens, container gardens are not prone to pests and weeds. There will be some of course but not too much that will require too much of your time eliminating.

If you are already set on starting your own herb container garden then consider growing ones that are easy to take care of. Mints can grow prolifically and do not require as much care. Even if you decide not to use the mint leaves, you will see that having containers with mint growing in actually look good around the house.

If you are planting herbs for aesthetic reasons, to create refreshing nooks around your home consider planting herbs with different texture and colors into one container. Having a plant box with a mix of Rosemary, Geraniums and other herbs would look great in your patio. You can also choose to have a little iron rack made so that you can plant different herbs in different containers and then place them on the iron racks to create a beautiful clustered look in your home. Group similar or even clashing colors together and see what a visual treat container gardens can be.

Another advantage of container gardening is that you don’t have to but any of those plant containers available in the stores. You can re-use other water containers and other plastic bottles for your plants. By reusing plastic bottles, you actually help save the earth.

There is plenty of potting mixes and seedlings available commercially so you can easily start your own container garden anytime.

Chamomile is great for herbal teas as well as healing, I will show you how to grow it, you can figure out how to use it! Chamomile is easy to grow in containers or in small herb gardens so it should be suitable for growing in your garden however big or small it is.

There are 3 main different plants sold under the name ‘Chamomile’.

Double Chamomile – This is often solid as a small plant by garden centers. They are harder to grow from seeds so are often divisions from other plants

German Strain – This is an annual chamomile which is quick to grow. They produce an abundance of flowers over the summer months.

Roman Chamomile – This is the perennial version, these plants are generally a little larger with less flowers.

Germination of the seeds is not high and you should expect a germination rate of about 50%. Sow the seeds in March and a temperature of around 55-65F being careful not to cover the seeds as they do require a small amount of light for germination.

Once the seedlings are a few inches tall you can transplant them into larger pots. Chamomile seedlings don’t mind being transplanted but the larger plants hate being moved.

Harden the plants off to outdoor temperatures and once all risk of frost has gone you can plant them outdoors or just keep them outdoors in pots.

Soon after the plants will start to produce flowers which can be harvested, if you are growing a double flowered variety the plants may produce another set of flowers later in the year.

I thought I would share a few tips with you about growing basil. As I am sure you are aware basil is a key ingredient in many Italian and Indian dishes meaning it should be something you grow.

Basil is a small, easy to grow plant meaning it is quick and easy to grow it in containers.

It is almost impossible to buy fresh asparagus anywhere in the UK or US.

Basil originates from India where it is a sacred herb.

Basil loves hot weather.

Sweet Basil is the top variety to grow and one you should try.

When harvesting always take the top leaves first, this will ensure more leaves form quickly.

It is best to feed your basil twice a month.

Anyway, it’s getting late here so I am off to bed. Speak soon!

Coriander is a fantastic herb for the kitchen, it has so many uses and tastes amazing. This superb little herb is ideal for growing in containers or on the windowsill, however you will have to use a pot which is at least 12 inches deep to allow for the long taproot.

Below I have provided you with a few simple steps to follow which will ensure you have no problems growing your own coriander.

1). Sow seeds half an inch deep after all danger of winter frosts has passed. It will not be long before the seeds begin to grow, once they are large enough to handle thin the seeds to 4 inches apart.

2). Keep a close eye on the young seedlings as the soil needs to be continually damp however once the plants establish they will need little water.

3). If you want to harvest the leaves harvest the entire plants once they are 6-7 inches tall.

4). If you are looking to save the seeds you will have to wait a while longer, the seeds will ripen at the end of the summer. Cut the whole plants down and hang them upside down to dry.

Let’s get growing!

There are many reasons one would desire to start an herb garden Along with many reasons there should also be a lot of thought put into starting an herb garden. The first thing that you should do is decide what your purpose is for having an herb garden. Herb gardens can be used for natural remedies, cooking, making natural oils, or insecticide. Whatever your reason is for starting an herb garden will determine how many seeds and plants you will need.

You will want to decide on what type of herbs you want to use. Do a little research on each herb to see what can grow in your region. Become educated on what type of soil, how much sun exposure and water each herb needs. It would also be advisable to know what kind of animals and insects cause harm to the plants. The more you know the better your chances are of having a successful herb garden.

In making your decisions you can visit the local nursery. The nursery might already have some herbs started as plants. If you can’t find plants anywhere, you can start your own garden out by using seeds and transplant into the garden at the proper time. Leave enough room for each plant to grow and expand.

Think of where you would like your herb garden to be. Herb gardens can be indoors or outdoors. An indoor herb garden will require containers for planting. There are many different styles of planters that you can use. You can purchase clay, ceramic, plastic, or even wood pots. You can also find containers that have room for multiple plants in it. Just make sure that the pots that you chose allow good drainage. Many smaller pots are best for growing herbs. You can keep the plants separated and avoid cross pollination in smaller posts.

The herbs will need water, fertilizer and pruning as they grow. Remove dead leaves and flowers from the plants as they appear. Herbs will need water when they are planted, but it is said that herbs are able to withstand droughts. You will need to fertilize your herbs at least once a month during their growing season. If your plants are looking unhealthy and you do fertilize them, it’s possible that the plants are receiving too much fertilizer.

When it is time to harvest your plants, use a sharp blade to cut off the healthiest branches. You will want to pick the leaves before the plants produce flowers. This is the peak time for the flavor of each plant. Wash all leaves in cold water before you dry them. To dry the plants, hang them upside down in the sun until all the moisture is gone. They will need to be dried completely before storage to prevent molding. Herbs can also be stored by freezing. You will first have to blanch the herb before freezing. Look in a cookbook to find the complete instructions for freezing herbs.