The Art and Science of Potted Herbs

I love this topic. Partly because of my great love for cooking (and eating), but also because I find potted herbs so aesthetically pleasing. Herbs in pots and containers particularly appeal to the designer in me.

Just think of all of the interesting pots or containers one can find at a variety of places, including farmer's markets, antique stores and garage sales, just to name a few possibilities. An herb gardener can plant in matching pots or use a wide variety for a quaint aesthetic.

You don't need a large plot of land for container gardening. This is a tremendous advantage. You can select your favorite herbs based on their beauty, their fragrance, their uses or a combination of all of these things. Then begin planting them to place them either in your kitchen windowsill (or perhaps on tiered racks or stands) or outdoors.

If your intention is to grow them out of doors, growing them in pots or containers will allow you to move them as necessary in order to take advantage of the best growing conditions. For example, if your potted herbs can't tolerate a draft, as the weather turns chilly or windy, you can simply move your pots or containers to a more protected area.

On the other hand, if you haven't been successful growing the herbs in one of your pots, it is a simple matter to replace those droopy herbs with fresh ones, without anyone being the wiser. You can also replace your potted herbs with new ones just to create an entirely new look.

If using herbs in pots or containers in your yard, you can plant single herbs in each container or use multiple herbs for a full, English garden effect. You can line your walkway or path or even a wall with a row of single pots or cluster them to create more interest. I personally really admire the look of containers clustered together or placed strategically among in-ground herbs in a garden bed. Think about how simple it will be for you to move your herb containers to re-define the look of your garden when you are ready to try something new. There is no doubt that herbs in pots and containers can be both practical and eye-catching.

Containers are made of many different materials. Ceramic, terra cotta, wood and concrete are all suitable materials to consider for herb containers. Wooden containers are not as practical, as they have a tendency to rot on the bottom over time. Just don't forget to consider the weight, if you will need to be moving them around for any reason. Remember that any container becomes substantially heavier and more difficult to move once you add soil and water. Each container will need to have a drainage hole or holes, since herbs most certainly don't like 'wet feet.'

Here is another clever idea that comes in handy. If you don't have room for an outdoor garden plot, why not plant herbs in containers, leaving room to plant some small fruit trees or vegetables beside them. This can give you a gorgeous look, along with the additional benefit of some fresh produce. Just make sure you consolidate plants that require similar amounts of light, water and general growing conditions.

A couple of the greatest advantages to growing herbs in pots in the kitchen are the cozy look and the heavenly fragrances they impart to your kitchen. And, isn't it wonderful to have your herbs so handy when cooking! You can have all of your favorite, savory herbs at your fingertips without having to put on a sweater to go outside on a winter day.

Now that you have at hand many of the secrets to successfully growing herbs in pots, watch for future articles on subjects ranging from Italian herb gardens to cooking with herbs. The article on 'Cooking with Herbs' will include at least one of my very favorite pasta recipes.


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As an author and cooking and herb enthusiast, Lanny Danenberg enjoys writing about the topic of herb gardening. Her new book, The Complete Herb Garden How-To Guide, brings to life many of the secrets to cultivating healthy, glorious herbs. For more informative tips on herb gardening and to download a copy of her book, visit
http://www.herbgardenhowtoguide.com