If you are new to herb gardening, I suggest getting started with pots. Follow these easy tips on how to grow herbs in containers.

Herb Garden Goals

It doesn’t matter how much space you have for herb gardening. Consider how much space you have to devote to your garden, what kinds of herbs you’d like to grow and your growing conditions. Herbs are great inside and out, however most like full sun and hot weather. After these considerations, your main goal should be to create an environment that mimics the native conditions of the herbs you’ve chosen. 

I have a formal garden with over a dozen large, raised beds. One has been devoted strictly to herbs for many years. It has, despite best efforts, become overrun with chocolate mint and lemon balm. Even after great lengths to eradicate these prolific plants, I finally decided to cut them back hard and nestle pots of herbs throughout. I really like the rustic look and have found the herbs to be much more manageable. You can adapt nearly any space to containers.

How to Grow Herbs in Containers

Many herbs are small plants and don’t have elaborate root systems. This makes them great choices for pots. You will need to select pots at least 6 inches deep. My mom recently found a treasure trove of Italian terra cotta pots at an estate sale in a variety of shapes and sizes. I chose to plant one type of herb in each. I like the visual impact of a single plant in each, with pots repeated in groups, but it is certainly possible to combine several different plants in one pot for a fuller look. Especially if you have limited space.

Plant the herbs in good soil. I like Miracle Grow.  And like all container gardening, be sure the pot you’ve chosen has good drainage. It should be noted that most herbs like to get pretty hot, full sun and they don’t like “wet feet”. Well-draining pots are a must. 

Pro Tip: If combining many herbs in one container, thoughtfully place them so that taller varieties are towards the back, with shorter plants in the middle and trailing or vining selections around the edges. That ensures that all plants get adequate sun and don’t overshadow the others.

Maintaining Your Garden

When learning how to grow herbs in containers, there are a few things to remember. First, make sure you’ve got them in plenty of sun. Second, let them dry almost all the way out before watering again. Next, be sure to use and enjoy your herbs. You can snip off pieces for cooking, steeping in water as a refreshing tea or simply as cut flowers to add fragrance to your home. 

As the plants grow and begin to flower, you’ll want to “dead-head” or snip off the flowers to prevent the plant from going to seed. This is especially true of basils and cilantros, where the flavor changes and becomes more bitter as flowers form or in the case of cilantro, the plant “bolts,” becoming leggy and not producing more leaves. Keep using you herbs and watering them and they will provide you with much joy.