Gardening herbs in a container has some unique advantages

Herbs can be grown indoors in pots or containers as well as in your garden.  They can be grown in window boxes or suspended baskets, in containers on your porch or patio.  The best part is that gardening herbs in a container is not anymore difficult then growing herbs in an outdoor garden.  Indoor herb containers have virtually the same requirements that growing herbs in your outdoor garden.

Every plant, whether indoors or out, in a pot or in the ground, needs nutrition supplied through sun, soil and water in order to grow successfully.  Herbs are no exception.  Sunlight is key to growing every type of plant, including herbs, whether they are grown indoors or in a garden.  Herbal pots placed in southern or western facing windows get the optimal sunlight.  Different types of herbs have different light requirements but, for the most part, all need a sunny location.  Some home herb growers supplement the natural light source with “grow lamps” or fluorescent lamps.

Also, herbs need a well drained, not too rich a soil to grow in.  This can be easily achieved by mixing two parts of a sterilized potting soil with one part coarse sand or perlite for growing herbs in containers.  Herbs grown in pots indoors should also be supplemented with one teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to ensure that the soil is sweet enough for the herbs.

Misting the plants and moistening the pebbles will help to keep the herbs within humid conditions. Since they are being grown in containers they do need to have more water than herbs that are grown in a garden but, you should avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy. Your containers needs about an inch of gravel at the bottom to ensure that the plant has good drainage.

An advantage to gardening herbs in a container is that you have the freedom to move them about as you please or as they need.  Annual herbs can spend all of their time indoors but, perennial herbs do better if they are placed outside during the summer.  All herbs should be brought inside before the first frost in order to avoid the loss of leafage.  This rule is overlooked when it comes to mint, chives, and tarragon.  These types of herbs will go into a rest period then form firmer and fresher maturation after it is introduced to a light frost.

All herbs can be grown in containers but some herbs do better than others.  Mint, for example, is an herb that needs to be contained or it will take over the garden.   Over all, it is fairly easy to maintain an indoor herb garden.  It keeps the herbs handy and within reach anytime you need them for cooking.

With these tips, you will be able to easily master gardening herbs in a container ensuring a healthy plant.  You should also include periodic light feeding and yearly re-potting for optimum health of the herbs.  You must always remember to replant annuals each year and move perennials outdoors when needed.  Use your herbs as much as you want as well as harvest them regularly, they really do better when you do.  It is no secret that pruning plants encourages new growth.  This rule also applies to herbs.  So use them in your recipes, store them and give them away to friends.