Have you ever wanted to grow your own herbs but have thought you didn’t have the space to do so? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people think they must have a large amount of space to grow herbs, but really, you can grow them right on your kitchen counter if you need! Even better, growing a container herb garden is not hard to do at all with this list of herbs that grow well in containers.
Growing a container herb garden can be done in almost any container provided you give them the attention they need. You can grow herbs in mason jars, in terra cotta flower pots and even tin cans. The biggest thing with growing herbs in containers is to remember that they are small plants that need lots of loving care to bloom to their full potential.
Before you plant your herbs, take some time to research where you will buy your seed or plant starters. High quality plants are important when you’re growing anywhere, but quality is especially important when you’re growing in pots. If you are unsure about the quality of a nursery or website, it is best to move on to some place you are more comfortable ordering from.
Herbs that Grow Well in Containers
Lavender – Lavender is known to be a very useful herb medicinally and luckily it grows very well in containers. Since it is native to a very warm, sandy climate, most of us do not have the correct environment to grow lavender in a full garden. In pots, however, it can be grown quite successfully from seed or from the cutting of another plant. If you’re going to grow lavender in pots, be sure it stays warm enough with full sun and that you bring it inside when the temperature starts to cool down. You will also want to use a sandy potting soil.
Thyme – Thyme is a staple culinary herb and one that grows very well in containers. Because it is so hardy, it is perfect for those who are busy and may not have a lot of spare time to tend to their plants. Thyme is considered a drought-hardy plant which means it can tolerate slight neglect if you forget to water it for a day or two. This actually means that you will want to be mindful not to overwater it and that you give it full sun to grow.
Mint – Mint should be considered an aggressive plant which means that grown in your garden it can grow hard, fast and take over. However, grown in pots, mint is the perfect plant! Grow whatever variety of mint you choose in a big pot and be sure to mix your potting soil with compost to give your mint a good place to plant its roots.
Basil – Basil can be hard to grow in an actual garden for a lot of people, but plant basil in a pot and it suddenly becomes far easier. Basil prefers soil that is well drained and it loves sunlight. As it starts to grow, be sure you pinch off any flowers that bloom on your plant. You may want to keep them there but they will cause a decline in the strength in leaf flavor. Prune your basil plant often and use it in recipes to keep it growing well for a long time.
Chives – If you like chives with your baked potato, you will love the fact that chives grow very well in containers! For best results, start with seed starters and transplant them immediately into a pot that is 6-8” in diameter and at least 8” deep. Chives need a well watered soil that has plenty of drainage so be sure the containers you use have plenty of drain holes to keep the soil from being overwatered. When you plant, use a very high quality potting mix for best results.
Parsley – Did you know that chewing on parsley can freshen bad breath? Just one more reason to grow parsley in pots, right? To grow a strong parsley plant, start from seed in a high quality seed starting mix. Plant each seed 1-2” apart from each other and ¼” deep for best results. Sit your pot where it will get plenty of bright light but won’t be at risk for getting overheated.
This list of herbs to grow in a container garden is by far the end all be all of herbs that grow well in containers. If you’re wanting to start a bigger container garden, most herbs can be safely grown this way. The ability to grow the herbs you want indoors is perfect for those who may live in cooler climates or who simply don’t have the space to put plants in the ground. No matter what your reasons for a container garden are, you are sure to get a lot of enjoyment from growing them in pots. It is a form of gardening like no other.
I'm Tammy, a Canadian zone 3 gardener, harvester, preserver and homesteader. Welcome to my blog!
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