Introduction to Growing Herbs in Pots
Article by Julie brown
One of the best ways to manage your herb garden is by planting in pots. There are probably more people growing herbs in pots than there are growing them in the ground. Whether you live in an apartment or on a farm, you may want to consider doing so yourself.
When you have your herbs in pots, you can place them where they will be used most often. For instance, if you have herbs for salad, you might want them near the dining room table so anyone can readily pick them when they sit down to eat. The same thing will be true for herbs used in cooking. They can be located on a counter or windowsill in the kitchen.
Container grown herbs are less susceptible to diseases and pests. If a location does not prove to be the best, you can simply move them to another one. Weeds and other invasive plants are better managed when your herbs are in pots.
The biggest disadvantage to container grown herbs is they require more watering. If clay pots are used, they tend to suck the moisture out of the soil. When the pots are inside, they have to sit in some type of tray to catch any excess water that comes out of the pot. If you have your plants on the outside, one way to lessen the number of times to water is by partially submerging the pots in the ground. This keeps the pots more moist and, at the same time, keeps the herbs in them from spreading.
A plant stand is a good way to arrange container plants. Herbs can be grouped as you want them, and this eliminates some of the stooping over to get to them. This works just as well inside as it does outside. If the stand is built in a tiered fashion, it serves to better utilize your space.
Just because the weather turns cold doesn’t mean your garden is finished for the year. When you use pots, simply move the herbs inside for the winter. Some perennials can live several years in this manner and provide for your needs the whole time. In warm climates in the summer months, if it is so hot outside that your plants wilt, you can bring them into the air conditioned inside for relief.
Plants are like people in that they don’t like sudden changes to their environment and surroundings. When moving container plants, a large change in temperature can have adverse affects on them. Changing their habitat should be done slowly to give them time to acclimate to the move.
If the season is changing and frost is imminent, you should move your plants indoors at the time of day when the inside and outside temperatures are nearly the same. This reduces the shock of a tremendous change all at once.
Container planting gives you versatility and better control of your plants. Growing herbs in pots is a great way to keep your plants healthy and to extend your growing season.
