How to Grow a Potted Herb Garden: Practical Guide and Tips



How to Grow a Potted Herb Garden

Aromatic herbs enhance both the flavour of your dishes and the aesthetics of your terrace or balcony gardens. Whether annual or perennial, most herbs can easily grow together in pots. By understanding each plant’s needs and making suitable combinations, you can enjoy a lush herb garden!

Tips for Successfully Growing Herbs in Pots

The key to a thriving potted herb garden lies in choosing the right soil and pots, preparing the containers before planting, and selecting the right herbs.

The Right Soil

To successfully grow herbs in pots, choosing the right soil is essential. Quality soil should be light and well aerated to allow the roots to breathe easily. The soil must also be capable of retaining moisture so that your herbs can stay hydrated while ensuring efficient drainage to avoid waterlogging. Look for soil that contains components such as sphagnum peat, coconut fibre, or compost, which promote good structure and aeration. For example, Botanix’s vegetable and flower container soil or PRO-MIX’s vegetable and herb soil are excellent choices. The key is to opt for soil specifically formulated for potted plants to boost your garden’s success.

The Right Pot

Herbs generally have shallow root systems, so a pot that is 15 to 20 cm deep is usually sufficient. For individual planting, a pot with a diameter of 15 to 20 works well. If planting several herbs in one pot, choose a pot at least 30 cm in diameter to leave enough space for each plant. Respecting the recommended spacing between plants on the plant label is essential for healthy growth and to prevent competition for resources such as water, nutrients, and light.

 

Ensure your pots provide good stability, high weather resistance, and efficient drainage to avoid water excess. Garant’s modular gardens are perfect for growing herbs, with 2 or 3 bins of good dimensions and removable legs for various configurations. These terrace garden pots can accommodate several herbs while respecting each plant’s sunlight needs, while the integrated drip trays prevent spills during watering.

 

Garant’s hanging gardens are also perfect for growing herbs in vertical spaces. Their straps adapt to different railings, so you can grow herbs on any balcony or limited space.

The Right Herbs

Choose herbs with similar growing requirements to ensure they thrive together. Consider their needs for water, sunlight, and nutrient.




Best Herbs to Grow in Pots

The most successful herbs for growing in pots are basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, summer and winter savoury, curry plant, burnet, chives, coriander, marjoram, oregano, bay leaf, sage, and lemon verbena.

 

Which Herbs Grow Well Together?

Here are some harmonious combinations:

• Sage, lemon verbena, savoury
• Thyme, rosemary, curry plant, bay leaf
• Oregano, parsley, coriander, burnet, marjoram
• Basil, parsley, chives
  
  

Pay close attention to mint, which is very invasive, so it should be planted alone.



Which Flowers to Plant with Herbs?

Enhance your herb garden with edible flowers such as nasturtium, garden marigold, tagetes, pansies, garden begonia, and chamomile. These add beauty and you can simply integrate them into the combinations of herbs with the same growing conditions.




Steps for Planting a Potted Herb Garden

Follow these steps to ensure the optimal growth of your potted herb garden:

1. Plant your herbs as soon as possible after purchase. If you cannot plant your herbs immediately, you can leave them outside in a sheltered place for a few days. Make sure they get enough light and water but avoid exposure to extreme conditions such as strong winds or intense sunlight.
   
   
2. Water each herb plant the day before planting to limit soil loss around the roots during transplantation.
   
   
3. Mix potting soil specifically designed for containers with marine or plant compost (2/3 soil to 1/3 compost). To ensure abundant growth, add natural fertilizer at planting.
   
   
4. Moisten the soil mixture lightly, avoiding over-wetting it. A waterlogged soil that lets water flow when pressed in the hand can lead to root rot.
   
   
5. Completely fill your pots with the soil mixture (without compacting), making sure to leave a 3 cm space between the edge of the pot and the soil.
   
   
6. Plant the carefully selected herbs respecting the planting distance on the label, otherwise, it is generally best to keep a 15 to 30 cm distance between plants. This distance ensures that each plant has enough space to develop, receive enough light, and access the necessary nutrients without excessive competition. Larger herbs or those with an extensive root system like basil or rosemary need 30 cm, while smaller herbs like thyme or chives, can be spaced 15 cm apart.
   
   
7. Gently compact the soil around each plant.
   
   
8. Give each plant a thorough watering.




Maintaining Your Potted Herb Garden

Herbs are relatively low-maintenance but require consistent, deep and regular watering when grown in pots. Trim herb flowers to concentrate the essential oils in the consumed parts. Harvest your herbs frequently to promote dense growth. Regularly remove dead or diseased parts quickly to keep your herbs healthy.

 



For optimal results, fertilize your plants with natural fertilizer every 4 weeks. With these tips, you’ll enjoy the flavours and beauty of your potted herbs all summer long!