Hi,
I've got my corner set up w/ my herb garden finally. I've planted most of them in clay pots of various sizes....then. ~': ! .......it occured to me..........some plants like deep pots........some like shallow.........
What do Herbs like? (can you tell I'm new to this?)
thanks in advance
mj
What kind of pots to Herbs like to grow in?
Depends on the herb.Why do you want them in pots? The only herbs that I put in pots are tender perennials.Living in the snow belt,I have no choice,but to over winter them indoors.I would think in Florida,you could plant just about everything in the ground.The plants would be happier in the ground.You wouldn't have to water as often.Edge
I plant a lot in pots myself as we have some really dry spells here. I can control the soil and soil moisture far better in pots. Of course we see some freezing too so I can overwinter some herbs better too. I grow in pots too so the dogs can't help water ~ grimace!
I normally use larger pots but find the plants that need deeper pots are the trees like Laurus nobilis or Bay and Pimenta dioica or the Allspice. Tell us what herbs you are growing MJSponies?
Pots are also good for giving herbs excellent drainage when you use a good soil-less potting mix. I'd give basils a plastic pot (you can put plastic inside terra cotta) and/or moisture crystals, as they require more water than other herbs.
I'm with podster... "tree" types and maybe even "shrubby" herbs (such as rosemary or sage) would like a larger/deeper pot, but most herbs are native to places with shallow, rocky soils... thyme, in particular, will grow in a 4 or 6 inch deep pot. Even with shallow pots, though, I find bigger pots are better (shallow window box planters for thyme, for example), just because they'll give the roots more room and make for more even watering (small pots dry out quickly). Also, with some soil surface to work with, you can "layer" many herbs to make new little plants.
You'll figure it out as you go along, also. If a plant that was thriving starts struggling, it may have outgrown its pot. New to herbs or not, it sounds like you've got a good start!
Good point on the larger pots requiring less watering. Thanks.
Hi guys,
Thanks for the advice. I'm growing the herbs for two reasons. People and butterflies. I mainly put them in pots becuase I didn't have a really good place for them to grow year round. In Florida even tho most say they can be grown in full sun, in the summer, if they don't have protection from the mid day sun they'll fry. This way I can move them up under the shurbs at the front of the Herb garden in the summer. Also, I can move some over to an area with more dappled sun/shade in the summer also. And...I like the way they look in pots too! I've been collecting odd sized/shaped clay pots and have added coqina rock from the beachs here, large slate slabs that I brought from my grandparents farm in Ohio. The coqina has neat little spots where water can collect that the butterflies like to drink out of. And Podster, I'm with ya on the dog thing...my beagle likes to use plants to ":scratch" on, and has sqashed a bunch of my mealy sage and the botton limbs of a few shurbs are broken from him walking under them and scratching his back. And one of my horses I was letting graze on the yard munched down a large pot of Parsley, and even took a bite out of my chives when I had them sitting in a side bed beside the house.
The herbs I have so far are:
Sage, Italian Oregano, Fennel, both curley and flat Parsley, Tyme, Rosemary,Mint,Chives,Lavender, Purple, lettuce Leaf Basil. And Lemon Basil...which hasn't really done well since I got it..or maybe it has...silly thing keeps flowering even after I gave it a pretty big haircut!!
Still want to add Dill, and possibly some others depending on how much room I have.
Thanks again
Mj
Lemon and Lime basils do seem to flower more readily than any others I've grown -- it's tough to keep up with them! Leaves from any branch that's not actually flowering still seem to taste good, so if a few blooms get away on you, you should still be able to do some harvesting. I grow the citrus-y basils more for their scent than for cooking, so after a few snips I just let mine bloom.
clay pots definitely (if grown in pots) here--I have almost everything in clay pots (as well as a lot in the ground too). Basil, rosemary, pacthouli, parsley, thyme, mint, fennel, dill, sage, oregano all do really well in clay pots for me
=)
I find that good-quality terra cotta pots are best for herbs as most of them don't like humidity, which would certainly be a concern for you in FL. Terra cotta pots "breathe" because they are porous. I NEVER use plastic pots and only use glazed pots if I absolutely can't resist them because they're so darn pretty! I place a small piece of window screen over the hole in the bottom of my pots and use a soil mix that I make myself. It's 1/2 good-quality potting soil, 1/4 perlite, and 1/4 compost. I avoid overwatering my potted herbs, which you wouldn't think would be a problem here in Tucson. My rule of thumb is to allow the soil to dry out to about 1" in depth before watering. Also, during the hottest part of our summers potted plants will naturally "swoon" during the afternoon. If they don't perk up when the sun goes down they need more water. If they look fine at dinnertime I leave them alone. Best wishes for a successful container herb garden.
Momherb
I have grown cinnamon basil & this year african blue basil..the cinnamon basil just overtakes the garden with it's reseeding!! Here I thought I was just getting an annual!! hahaha...I haven't had to buy a cinnamon basil plant in 4 years!!!! They are also a wonderful visual plant that fills in nicely.
The african basil grew really bushy, even bushier after pruning & it was a great attraction for the honey bees!
This year I am going to contain it to one area of my garden!!! hahaha
Cindy,
That's what I've done w/ my herbs. All in one spot. All in assorted clay pots...finding bigger/"different" ones has become a "sport" for my DSO and me. We're always digging around junk shops and off beat garden centers and feed stores looking for unusual clay pots for the herbs.
mj
I am going to have to try to find some pots, only clay ones here are not really good due to the heat we get I would be constantly watering them & that could cause root rot. I have run out of garden space so I am going to containers next year....I want to grow a few roses & a butterfly bush. I know I am going to put a rosemary in a container as the one I had for 4 years died this year & it was huge..so I would like it in it's own container.
momherb,
Your right about the clay, it breaths, and the plants don't get water logged. Here is the summer we have to give them some shade in the midday/early afternoon also. As they get bigger and they are in bigger pots I don't have to water as often, but if we get a rainy spell they aren't as likely to be overly wet either.
How do you think the emon verbena will do here in FL...does it not like the humidity either. I was just placing a herb order this morning, dont want to get the already know not do gooders.
garden...I don't have any experience w/ the Lemon Verbena. I know that I generally keep verbena where it will get good circulation in the summer tho. Penta's hate me....summer or winter.
mj