| Today it is becoming increasingly popular to grow
herbs either for decoration or for cooking. Herbs can be grown in
the garden or in a container. Container planting comes into its own
if there is lack of garden space, to ensure the survival and confine
a plant or just for easy access. Container planting enables you to
position herbs where they can delight the sense of smell, prolong
their growing season and create a visually appealing environment
that is a constant source of interest.
Herbs do thrive more vigorously in the ground but with a certain
amount of care and common sense they can be grown in pots either
outside or indoors.
If placing a container on a balcony or free standing structure be
sure to make sure that it is sturdy enough to support the weighty
combination of soil and water.
Herbs in a group of pots can provide a focal point and look more
pleasing to the eye than one lonely specimen. They also seem to
enjoy each other's company and benefit from the microclimate that
grouping creates. By changing the position of the pots seasonal gaps
can be filled or the appearance of the garden can be changed.
Herbs in pots are an excellent way to create different colour
schemes in large or small areas. For a silver or moonlight garden,
plant Artemisia's, santolinas and curry plants. To create a golden
garden, use lemon thyme, variegated lemon balm, calendula, lady's
bedstraw, nasturtiums and variegated sage. For a blue garden choose
hyssop, borage, catmint, rosemary and sage.
The space needed by particular species will dictate how many
plants can be put in a planter. A container 1 meter long can hold
four or five low-growing herbs that will benefit from being kept
well trimmed, such as sage, thyme, marjoram and salad burnet. A tub
or barrel filled with culinary herbs; such as rosemary, chives,
sage, mint (in its own container), or lemon balm make a delightful
addition to a barbecue area.
These plants, though, are dependant on care and are more
vulnerable than plants in open ground.
If general guidelines are followed you can grow herbs in a
container quite successfully.
First of all always start with a clean container and make sure
that the plants will have good drainage. Make sure that the soil is
friable and porous. It is best not to use ordinary garden soil but
use a good commercial potting mix.
It is important to ensure that the container size and the plants
are compatible. Small plants flounder in large pots and large plants
will be stifled in a small pot.
Check indoor herbs regularly to see if they need watering. They
should never be allowed to become bone dry. For instance rosemary
never fully recovers if left to dry out completely. By contrast,
though, sage will collapse if watered too frequently.
To aid vigorous growth keep the pot weed free, remove deadheads
and trim the leaves back.
Herbs should be fed through their leaves or the soil every two
weeks during the growing season, easing off as their growth rate
slows.
If a herb looks sorry for itself, check if it needs water, or
feeding and whether it is standing in a draught or not receiving the
correct amount of light.
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