Herb Gardening 101: Growing Herbs in Pots

If you're interested in growing herbs, there are a lot of considerations. Which ones do you want to grow? How much space do you have for them? Will you have the time to devote to your garden? Keeping pests away and protecting tender vegetation are also considerations, and if you live in a big city and/or a tiny apartment, you might not have much room to do anything at all. If you want to get a good start on an herb garden without some of those hassles, you can grow your herbs in pots.

Growing herbs in pots eliminates the need for a big garden plot in the yard, and it's faster and easier than having an outdoor garden. You can also better control how much sunlight and water your herbs get, and if it's cold outside it doesn't matter one bit to your potted herbs. If they're in pots on your patio just carry them in if there's a chill in the air. A lot of people grow their herbs completely inside, since a sunny area on the floor or in a windowsill works fine. If you have a bay window, that's particularly good for growing herbs in pots - just be careful if you have small children or pets. You don't want your plants destroyed, and you don't want to make anyone who shares your household ill.

When planning on growing herbs in pots, soil is very important. Don't just get some dirt out of the yard, because you have no idea what might be in it. It's better to get potting soil that's appropriate for growing herbs, vegetables, and flowers. This soil has the kinds of nutrients that are needed by young plants, and you can be sure that it's the right mixture and the right quality for the herbs you'll be growing.

The plants themselves are equally important. Some herbs grow well from seeds, and others are harder to start. You can certainly get seedling plants to put in pots rather than seeds if you're more comfortable with that. Especially if you're just starting out and this is your first herb garden - or your first endeavor when it comes to growing herbs in pots - starting with small plants rather than seeds can be much easier.

When it comes to tending to your herbs make sure to pay attention to the directions and suggestions for watering and sunlight. All plants need water and light, but some need more than others. You don't want to overwater your herbs, because you can actually drown them. Your pots should have drainage holes in the bottom and saucers underneath them to catch any water that works its way down through the soil. You also don't want to give your herbs too much sunlight, especially since the heat from the sun can be magnified when it comes through the glass of your windows. Since not all plants are the same, you may want to group your herbs together based on how much water and sunlight they need. That will help you take better care of and enjoy the herbs that you've grown.