GROWING HERBS IN CONTAINERS
Pam Neely

If digging beds and setting up a drip system seems like too big a task – and you want to have an herb garden this weekend – consider growing herbs in containers. There are many benefits to containerizing an herb garden: your watering will be more accurate, you can rearrange the plants whenever you’d like, and many cooks believe herbs grown in containers are more flavorful. There is also less weeding, and when the weather grows cooler again you can bring the pots indoors for fresh herbs all winter.

The largest problem with a container herb garden here is watering. Plants in small containers dry out quickly, particularly unglazed clay pots. To avoid having to water every day, choose containers at least gallon sized, avoiding unglazed clay pots. Keep in mind that even herbs don’t need to bake in the sun all day – placing them in a spot that gets occasional shade is fine. The best trick to avoid daily watering is to pick large containers and then to mix about a teaspoon full of hydrogel grains in with the potting soil. The hydrogel grains swell to five to ten times their size with water and can reduce watering as much as 50%. Just use the hydrogel very sparingly or your plants will pop out of their pots.

Be sure that all containers have a drainage hole. And don’t limit yourself to pots – whimsical containers can include old boots, wheelbarrows, even small boats. If buying a dozen large glazed pots will break your gardening budget, consider the metal washing basins. They can be painted vibrant colors, and a few sharp jabs at the bottom with an awl will allow for drainage. When you plant the herbs in your containers, be cognizant of the different light and water requirements, and group plants that need similar care together.