Container Gardening Guide

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Herb Container Gardening

from: FancyGardening.com

Few things enhance the flavor of a home cooked meal like fresh herbs. Herbs add lots of full flavor without the additional of unhealthy fats and there is no discounting that intense flavor that comes from herbs. Spices and herbs are notoriously high priced in the grocery stores. There isn't much that can be done about the price of spices, but you can avoid the high prices and low quality of store bought herbs by herb container gardening. After learning a few tips and tricks you'll be using the lush flavor of fresh herbs in all of your favorite dishes.

Choosing the correct containers for your herb garden is simple. They don't need to be large and the common plastic pots will work beautifully. You can always use small terra cotta pots or ceramic containers for a more finished look. While the kind of pot isn't important, the drainage is. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes. Herbs don't like to sit in water and that is the fastest way to damage or kill your plants. A coffee filter in the bottom of the container is a good way to stop any soil loss through watering. Herb container gardening is easy when you use caution in watering your plants.

The best types of herbs to grow are your favorite herbs. In other words grow what you love to eat. For the first time herb container gardening experiment there are some stand bys that the experts suggest. Chives, rosemary, and oregano are good choices for a first attempt. They grow more slowly than other options and are relatively small in size. Basil, thyme, and sage fall into this category as well.

You can purchase your herbs either in seed form or small seedlings. The choice is yours and remember to expose your new plants to the outside slowly. It's a great idea to keep the new plants on a porch, protected from the elements for a few days before moving them to their final growing spot.

Soil is important for all growing things and herbs are no exception. You want to choose a light soil with the addition of vermiculite for drainage. Herbs aren't picky, but they do appreciate the proper soil for growth in herb container gardening.

Harvesting your fresh herbs is a simple process as well. Most people harvest by taking a few pinches at a time as needed for cooking. The plants will need to be clipped back at some point though. You can freeze, dry, or share your herbs with friends or family. Fresh herbs make an excellent gift for the budding chef in your life.

Herb container gardening is a sure way to add some flavor to your life.

FancyGardening.com