Herbs are easy to grow and add incredible flavor to dishes. Even without an expansive garden space, herbs can thrive in containers or old bathtubs!
Use a balanced all-purpose organic or natural fertilizer, specifically tailored to container plants. Since there’s less soil mass to absorb nutrients from, container plants often need extra feedings of vitality every few weeks.
Indoors
Herbs make an aromatic addition to any meal and it can be exciting and fulfilling to grow them yourself in your own kitchen from seed. The key to successful herb cultivation is starting seeds indoors in early spring. Once planted, herbs must be kept warm, moist but not too wet; light exposure should also be provided; unfortunately this may be difficult during the winter.
Park Seed’s high-quality herb seeds are easy to plant at home, with multiple options for starting them in various containers ranging from yogurt containers that you decorate and cover (an adult should punch holes for drainage), plastic milk or juice boxes (adults can simply cut the top off and leave open a straw hole), pots, or seedling trays – as long as each has an excellent seed starting mix that contains loose particles without any weeds and can retain moisture effectively.
When planting seedlings of different herbs, it’s helpful to separate the different varieties so you can tailor their care specifically. Basil requires warm temperatures with plenty of sunshine while thyme thrives under cooler temperatures with reduced lighting. Furthermore, using low-speed fans or misting to increase humidity keeps soil moist for greater success.
After several weeks have passed, it’s time to transplant your herbs outside. Help them adjust by moving them from indoors on mild days back outside during the night – this will allow their roots to adapt to outdoor temperatures while giving them time to strengthen before being transplanted into their permanent gardens.
Once your herbs have reached full size and been harvested, either plant them again from seeds or add them to a larger herb garden in your yard. When harvesting time comes around again, enjoy their flavorful fresh taste in everything from salads and soups to sauces and seasoning. Don’t forget to use them in cocktails, too – or create mint tea from them!
Outdoors
Herbs are among the easiest garden plants to care for and produce throughout summertime, making them an excellent addition to pollinator gardens as they attract many beneficial insects.
When starting herb seeds indoors, select a seed-starting flat or small containers filled with quality potting or seed-starting soil and keep it slightly damp for optimal germination results. Most herbs will germinate between two to three weeks from when their seeds were first planted; once their seedling has emerged it can either be transplanted into larger containers or directly into the garden outside once all risk of frost has passed.
At early spring’s mildest temperature, many herbs may be direct-seeded outdoors directly. When seeding a garden, work the surface soil into an even texture, wet it well, loosen it a bit, then apply an even layer of seeds approximately quarter size over it all – covering sparingly to cover sparsely as seed spread out across it all. To maximize results, space seeds 12″ apart while firming in firm layers around each one (most herb seeds tend to be fairly forgiving, however follow directions printed on seed packet). Most herb seeds tend to adapt easily.
Perennial herbs that will overwinter in the garden, like rosemary and thyme, should be planted between February-March in an area with ample shelter against cold weather conditions – these varieties do not thrive well under hot or dry conditions.
People looking for year-round herb production without the space or time commitment of gardening should consider cultivating them in decorative pots, window boxes, wash tubs or wheelbarrows. Such containers can easily be moved from indoor to outdoor conditions as the seasons change, enabling year-round production if desired. Chervil, dill and cilantro (cilantro) seeds do well when directly planted outdoors but should later be transplanted to bigger containers once established; Stinging Nettle seeds also do well outdoors when planted when there is no risk of frost; planting will ensure success no matter the gardener can grow it year-round!
Patio Containers
Herbs thrive in small containers and are easy to grow, making them the ideal addition to vegetable planters with trellises or supports for vining vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. When planting herbs in containers, ensure they feature drainage holes for proper drainage before mixing potting soil or compost-based mix into the topsoil – optimal mixes include equal parts coarse sand, topsoil and organic matter so as to maintain proper drainage while helping retain moisture in the soil.
When choosing herbs for containers, it is important to take into account both their height and needs. Basil grows quickly and may need a tall container in order to prevent its foliage from overgrowing the sides; on the other hand, low-growing herbs like thyme or parsley may work just as well in smaller pots.
Some herb species, like mint and dill, can become invasive when grown outdoors; so growing them in containers helps control their spread. In general, more light reaching an herb in its container means greater success.
When planting multiple herbs together in one pot, consider selecting species with similar water and sun requirements so as to prevent one overpowering another and needing frequent irrigation. Doing so will prevent one from dominating another while also decreasing watering needs over time.
Be sure to monitor the water levels in herb containers more carefully than for full garden beds, since herbs tend to dry out faster in pots and will require daily watering if the weather becomes particularly warm or windy.
Once your herbs are ready to be harvested, take care to harvest close to their base so as to promote continued growth and ensure fresh and flavorful leaves. Furthermore, propagate them by cutting off flower heads and saving seeds for next year.
Harvesting herbs at their peak performance requires waiting until their leaves begin to fade or just before the first frost of the season, when production slows significantly. Some herbs such as chives and dill will continue producing throughout the fall and winter with minimal care, while cilantro and sage may die back as soon as temperatures dip; it will need to be brought indoors until spring returns.
Full Garden Beds
Herbs add color and flavor to vegetable gardens while drawing pollinators into them, drawing away bugs, and providing tasty ways to add fresh herbs to meals. Many herb varieties are easy to grow in full garden beds as long as their soil drains well; planting in appropriate locations may even help control unwanted plants like mint that can be difficult to cultivate from seed and become invasive.
If planting from seed, read your seed packet carefully for guidance on spacing and depth. Herb seeds need to be planted deep enough so they can develop strong roots; shallow planting could result in their roots rotting away or becoming exposed and overgrown.
Some herbs can be propagated from stem cuttings, though for best results it is essential that sharp, disinfected shears or knives be used to make these cuts and that the bottom third of each stem be dipped into rooting powder or solution prior to planting.
Most herbs do not need high levels of fertilizer – too much nitrogen may diminish their oils that contribute to their distinctive scents and flavors. Instead, apply organic liquid fertilizers or fish emulsion (similar to that used on vegetables ) lightly for best results.
Watering herb plants is essential to their success, particularly perennials and those grown in containers. When the top inch of soil feels dry, water deeply as soon as it feels necessary; less frequent but deeper irrigations are preferable than light sprinkles every week or two.
Herbs do not do well in temperatures exceeding 45o F; so when temperatures begin to drop in the fall, move potted herb plants indoors for safe storage until nighttime temperatures dip into the low forties. Once brought inside, potted herb plants require bright light; it would be ideal to place them near either a south or west window if possible; otherwise fluorescent “cool white” lighting such as cool white fluorescent bulbs can provide adequate illumination.
