Tomato Facts

It’s simple to grow one herb in one pot. You can let your imagination go and try several herbs in the same pot. It looks prettier and adds more texture to my herb garden.

If you do want to get started in container gardening, make sure that you’re picking herb plants that have similar water, dirt and sunshine needs as well as similar purposes.

These are some herb plants that I’ve worked with that will do well in pots:

• Sage: There are so many varieties of sage that you could grow only sage in your garden and still have an abundant array of colors, textures and sizes. Sage does well from seeds, which can give you a head start on the growing season if you start early indoors. Grow your sage in nice, large pot that has nice drainage and put it where it can get lots of sunshine. This is one of those that I plant for the foliage, so I snip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the herb focus on the leaves, which I then cut off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.

• Scented geraniums: Just like sage, there are a lot of varieties of scented geraniums to select from. I hope you enjoy scented geraniums as much as I do. Even though they look very like floral (non-herbal) variety, these also grow well in containers that you can purchase at any nursery, home improvement or discount store. They can take full sun and well-drained sod. You can harvest the stems and leaves for cakes and teas. You can even harvest the blooms for use in floral pressings.

• Cardamom: Cardamom is a great plant for you if bad breath is an issue for you. This large houseplant-like plant will get big in the summer and will need to be brought indoors during winter months to thrive, so use a large container. You can harvest the seeds to add a little hint of India to your rice and chicken dishes, soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can help with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell better.

• Lemon verbena: This is one of those indispensable herbs to have in your herb garden because you can utilize it in so many ways. Don’t worry with seeds. I recommend that you buy your lemon verbena and get it established in a container with a wide brim that will support its stem development. This herb likes full sun and well-drained dirt. Do not let your plant get too dry. The leaves are often the first part of the herb to suffer and these are the parts that you will use.

Some other herb plants that I’d suggest for you to start with in your pot combinations are: thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your plant garden grows.

Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.