Pot Herb Gardens
If you’re reading this article, it’s a good bet that you’re already sold – at least in theory – on the idea of growing your own herbs. You already understand that herbs – Mother Nature’s hardest working plants – are not only extremely versatile, but they are also easy to grow and require very little TLC.
That’s why I’ve chosen to talk about another aspect of herb gardening – one very near and dear to my heart… that is, “pot herb gardening” (also known as container herb gardening). Although the phrase itself may sound a bit awkward (there simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all “catchy” term for it!), the concept is very straightforward. However, the word “garden” conjures up pictures of outdoor plantings in the ground, the idea of “pot herb gardens” may be something you haven’t considered… until now.
And here’s why…
Pot herb gardens simply make way too much sense – even if you live on a farm with hundreds of acres of land! So there you go. I’ve finally put my “stake in the ground” (excuse the feeble pun :>).
Here are the obvious reasons…
1. Anyone – and I mean, anyone – can have an herb garden if they’re confined to pots. So, all you city dwellers, apartment residents, and small homeowners, listen up! You too can have beautiful, bountiful, and aromatic herb gardens right at your finger tips – all you need is a bit of water and sunshine, a few pots (even coffee cans will do), soil, and seeds or plants. That’s it!
2. Pots allow for great flexibility and longevity. Simply put: The vast majority of herbs are perennials, which means they “come back” each year (as opposed to annuals that live one season and die off). So, they’re like the gifts that keep on giving! However, if planted outside (in a garden) your herbs would “fade” (not die, but go dormant) during the winter months and come back again in spring. What does that mean? You guessed it… you’d be without fresh herbs for many months! (And if you’ve ever had fresh herb stuffing at Thanksgiving, you recognize why this is such a tragedy :>). But if you bring your potted herbs indoors, that problem is solved! Not only will you enjoy fresh herbs for cooking (assuming of course, that you grow kitchen herbs) but your home will be more beautiful and smell better to boot!
Now for some of the less obvious reasons…
1. Some herbs just plain need to be “contained.” Herbs grow like weeds; as a matter of fact, some botanists still consider them weeds (a bit insulting, if you ask me). And although herbs are wonderful “garden mates” there are several – mint comes to mind – that will simply grow out of control if left to their own devices! Therefore, pots serve as natural “containment” for herbs – a good thing, as long as you’ve given your herbs enough room to grow and “stretch out” comfortably (tip: your pot should be 1.5 times the size of your herb plant). And if your plants seriously outgrow your containers, simply transplant them into something larger!
2. Pots allow you to move your herb plants to spots less tempting to critters. Why, just this year I inadvertently placed two of my herb pots (containing my favorites – dill and sage) on my deck’s railing (usually I have them sitting further way from the perimeter). One fine morning, as I was sipping my coffee and enjoying the beautiful day I noticed that one very determined squirrel had his little head buried in one of my pots and was chomping down on my precious dill! He/She had eaten my plant down to the very nub – and oh by the way, he/she had already decimated the sage! Lesson learned? Move your pots close to your home; close to your dog or cat; close to your broom… away from “easy access” critter areas. (What’s even worse is that there’s plenty of food on our deck for birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and the entire animal kingdom. They need to leave my herbs alone).
So, grow those herbs! But please, put them in pots so you too, can enjoy their bounties all year long! Here’s to your happy and healthy pot herb garden!
