Potted Herb Suggestions?

One of my friends actually just bought me the chia herb garden kit. It doesn’t take up much room and is a great way of getting started. I live in a lil mobile home and don’t have a ton of room so it is perfect. I hope that helps you. I think that they cost around 20 dollars…come with seeds and the soil starter and pots:)

-- Debbie, Pennsylvania

Well, what’s yer aim with the herbs? Culinary? Medicinal? Magical? Ornamental?

Potted herbs are extremely easy to get going and grow, with the proper light, even in this time of year. Once you decide which types of herbs you’d like to grow, I’m sure we’ll all come out of the woodwork and give you tons of suggestions…

Also, how big do you expect your planting pots to be?

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

The goal is culinary / ordimental, but chiefly culinary. I have grown a pot of rosemary before and it grows like a weed (which I guess it is) and is something that I use a lot in cooking… Other thoughts were mint, although I am not sure how this would do in a pot, sage, thyme and basil (I am really new to gardening and as such I am not sure how big these would get). My plan was to have 3 pots 1 about 6”, one about 10” and 1 12” as this will perfectly fill the space in front of my door that gets some natural light (which is about 30” x 12” would a planter box be better than pots?). Thanks for your thoughts!

OK, culinary. You could certainly grow everything you listed in the pots you have, and the planter box also. I’ve grown stuff in both, and it really didn’t make that much difference. The pots will be easier to maintain as you can lift and move them individually, whereas the big box will be heavy and awkward for indoor planting.

Really, it depends on the amount of light and food you give them to get the yield. For example, last season our basils grew 3 1/2 feet, and the sage was about 2 feet tall! Probably a little obnoxious for indoor gardening, but I really doubt you’ll have that problem. You mentioned that you’re going to rely on natural light, so these plants might have a little bit of a challenge to get big. Maybe some supplemental light, like a little fluorescent bulb?

Good luck gardening in your apartment, and show us some pics of your progress!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

a great topic!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

my brother gre herbs in his appartment, e stepped the pots so that he could have 2 rows. he had a trough planter basically right against the window, and then he mad a little riser and had a set of pots raised up behind them. with the exception of perhaps dill you can pretty much grow all herbs indoors, if they’re getting to big, cut them back, easy eh? chives, rosemary, parsley, thyme, basils, sage, oregano, lemon balm, mints… tons of options. but if you can additional lighting would only benifit them, even if its a CFL in like a desklamp on the floor.
Thanks
sib

might just have to start some herbs…

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

if you rarely use them, then why not try silk herbs, they look real and then just drop by the grocers for the real McKoy.

Kidding, I use a lot of basil, rosemary,fennel, chives, parsley, oregano and thyme. I also have garlic chives. Some of them you need a weedeater to keep chopping them back.

I like pots and bigger is better. Then when summer comes I dig the pots into the ground in one area, build it up with river rock. This stops the invasive ones from choking out the “I dont grow fast” ones.

I also dry them and put them in the wine cellar…....aka cold room.

Northern California eh!...............nice spot

-- Central northish Ontario

BTW…..........I’ve lived in some tiny small apartments too. Always had a nice garden, flowers and herbs.Looked a tad like a jungle inside but folks always commented on how nice it was. In the summer I always made windwo boxes and filled those up…....sweet memories!

maybe they were just being nice?.......regardless, It worked for me!

-- Central northish Ontario

awesome!!!

re: pots in the ground. Do you use clay pots and then dig them right into the ground and pull them up (still in the pot, obviously) in the fall?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I’ve planted pots into the ground (to tame mints), and in these cases I’ve used plastic pots. I suppose any material could work—I’m just cheap and had plastic pots handy!

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

my question is if you are using clay pots; and the fact that clay pots draw moisture away from the plants … wouldn’t you really have to worry about them drying out … cuz I know it is a problem above ground.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Not so much. The terra cotta pots dry out in the air because it’s the air that helps wick the water out of the soil. If a terra cotta pot is in the ground, I’d argue that the soil in the pot would dry out much slower—even at a similar rate to the surrounding soil—assuming a similar drainage situation.

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

I thought it was the actual clay material that was absorbing the water, because most of those pots are not “sealed” ... but hey, I’ve been wrong before (just don’t let hubby know – he thinks I am perfect – LOL!!!)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

In Summer

I always underwater a plant, As a rule I never overwater a plant. In the summer, it is difficult to over water a plant in a clay pot unless the pot is dug into the ground. At that point and wether above ground or below, the plant always lets you know if it needs water or it doesnt.

I try to water plants in the evening just before the sun goes down or at dawn.

I love dirt under my nails

in my socks

in my shoes

my hair

my coat

my pockets

I just love dirt

-- Central northish Ontario

LOL!!! Is that singing I hear Greenthumb??? Well you and me both LOVE the DIRT!!! :-)

Cuz I am in full sun, I typically water all my outside “babies” in the early morning … before the heat of the day hits. (I love my timed soaker system!!!) Although with hanging pots … or outside pots in general, if we are having outrageous heat then a second watering is typically needed.

Really enjoy my morning routine … walk around the yard, pull a few stray weeds (HATE weeds in my flower beds!!!), water all my pots … sit in my glider with coffee in hand and “survey my kingdom”—oh yah, and watch my eccentric neighbor who always is good for a giggle -

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Hey Greenthumb….dirt is all fun and game, until someone doesn’t watch their hands

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Nah … what is a little dirt with dinner??? Just adds to the flavor!! ;-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Back to the question of growing herbs inside…

One thing I would point out, regardless of what herbs you grow, its import to know how to properly harvest them in order to keep them going. If you aren’t pinching to a node to harvest for cooking, likely you’re going to diminish the plants very rapidly. Another thing to consider is in a small space, growing small plants, you may not have as much harvest as you’d like each time you need it.

If, for instance, you decide to grow basil indoors in a container, pinch it regularly whether using the harvest immediately or not. This will keep the plant growing bushy rather than leggy. And, basil (among other herbs) freezes well. From the freezer it isn’t lovely for bruschetta, but it is incredibly flavorful for cooking. Of course, that’s just one example, but the point is how you care for contained plants is really critical. Containers are contrived growing spaces that need extra TLC.

Good luck!

-- GardenMentor, Seattle, WA (zone 8/9), www.gardenmentors.com & www.gardenhelp.org

you can make basil and olive oil “ice cubes” and toss a couple into a stirfry, soup or what-have-you.

-- southern NH. - smack dab in the middle of 5a and 5b - with lots of shade and full sun, in all the wrong places.

Scott … that is a great idea. Funny how something so simple just totally eludes us. ;-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

A great idea.
Is there any special tricks to the olive oil ice cube process?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)