"Container Herb Gardening"
And not only are they useful and beautiful to look at, herbs grown indoors create a fresh atmosphere in your home.   And outdoors, herbs help attract butterflies and bees, and can be an aromatic addition to your veggie garden or even the patio. Why not have a bowl of chives growing near the barbeque and let your guests help themselves!Start your herbs off using seeds. Thompson & Morgan are useful global seed distributors and have a good range of herb seeds..
Nearly all everyday herbs can be grown indoors. As long as your plants get enough light and air circulation, there's no reason the indoor plant should be any less productive than the outside plants. Outdoor herb gardening can lead to a mass herb take-over - mint popping up all over the place, rosemary getting out of control, and various other natural grow attacks! In containers they stay contained :-) Choose well-drained containers, large enough and pleasing to the eye. Don't squash too many herbs in too small a space. They won't grow well. Traditional clay pots are nice but they tend to dry the soil very quickly so more care will be needed with regular watering. You could use plastic and disguise it with baskets and other decorative containers.
For US deliveries Amazon have lots of containers available.
Or simply keep your herbs in individual pots dotted around the house. It's important to ensure whatever container you use is well-drained. Growing in containers indoors or out will make herb gardening just that little bit more organized. Position herbs in a sunny spot in your home, but be careful not to place behind glass where the sun is very hot. The plants will scorch very easily in those conditions. A sunny windowsill in the kitchen is ideal - *The herbs are at hand where they are needed *Water is easily available *The kitchen window can be left open to allow air circulation *And most importantly, you visit the kitchen regularly and can keep an eye on your babies :-) If the kitchen windowsill isn't a practical option for you, find the next best place, keeping in mind the need to water, ensure an air supply and more to the point, enjoyed!
Apart from the need for a more weather-proof container, all other tips apply for indoor or outdoor container herb gardening. Individual herbs will have different needs. Always check on seed packets for growing recommendations and pop over to this page for more about herb varieties: Research for container herb gardening
Choose a good potting compost or mix for your container herb gardening. Best to start off with as many nutrients as possible. Because your herbs will draw all the nutrients contained in the pot, the soil will get tired very quickly. It is therefore very important to feed the soil regularly. Always use an organic fertilizer and never spray any insecticides or other non-organic products onto your indoor plants. At the first sign of aphids or other bugs - try washing the plant gently with warm water and pure soap. Bugs don't like the soap, but most plants won't mind it at all. Use a soft cloth or sponge and gently wash the leaves of any infected plants. Check the soil everyday for moisture. If the soil is dry around an inch below the surface, you should water. Never let your herbs become water-logged. Check the drainage of your containers and keep the soil damp. If you can't check the moisture levels every day, consider self-watering systems. Although container gardening needs a little extra special care, there is the advantage of no digging, little weeding and also mobility. Move your containers around from time to time. Get a new look for your garden. Do a little research before you start your container herb gardening project - pop over to this page...Gardening Containers and find lots of individual herb pages listed here: Garden Herbs Experiment and enjoy! Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. ("Container herb gardening ideas!")Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! "Use alongside your container herb gardening project for best results!" Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back to Gardening Back to Flower and Garden Tips homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/containerherbgardening.html |
These containers are available for UK delivery from Crocus UK 
