by Lee Dobbins

There are several advantages to making a potted herb garden versus outdoor gardening. You can bring plants inside when winter comes around, or even grow them indoors all year long. You are able to control soil better since the only thing in the pot is what you provide. You can place herb pots in the shade. You can also put them by a window, or even under a lamp if necessary.

Sometimes growing herbs in pots can be difficult because pots do not offer the same moisture control and necessary nutrients as outdoor soil does. Many herbs do fine in pots with some extra attention from the grower. These hearty herbs include basil, dill, mint, sage, and lavender.

Begin with quality seeds. Because they are like any other natural food product, they have the potential to spoil. The airborne spores present in the air can attack them. Oxygen is able to react with numerous organic compounds. It is easy to obtain fresh seeds and to keep them this way. To do this, you need to read the packages to check the date. It is also necessary to throw away seeds if they get wet.

When making a potted herb garden, don’t get stuck on the notion that you have to keep it indoors. They can thrive outdoors too! Like most plants, herbs need certain amount of sunlight. Essentially, it varies with the species: some requires a full sun, others prefer a partial shade.

The soil should be prepared and kept at the correct moisture levels. Lavender soaks up the sun, and it also loves dry soil that is alkaline. The pot will retain more moisture if clay chips are used, but often it will retain too much moisture. Clay will absorb water for a long time, and hang on to it longer if kept in a container. There should be a combination of both sandy and clay soil.

People often do not understand why their plants do not survive. Sure, some people aren’t blessed with a green thumb but the most common reason that our plants die is a condition called root rot. We often overeater our plants, and although there are a few types of plants that thrive on this, most plants do not, especially herbs. There is a large difference between keeping plants moist and drowning them.

Making a potted herb garden offers many advantages to the grower. It is easy to maintain and will provided fresh herbs all year. The pots should be kept outdoors in summer, but not in direct sunshine, and placed inside near a window in winter.

About the Author: