Herb

These days going organic doesn’t always mean a trip to your nearest Whole Foods or the Sunday morning farmer’s market. Plenty of urban farmers are utilizing small and medium sized containers for growing their herb gardens. This means if you have a sun filled backyard, open porch or kitchen windowsill you can start growing your own fresh herb garden.

* Many Container Options Are Available. Because herbs don’t require deep soil to grow, there are a variety of plant container sizes that can you can utilize for your herb garden. An oblong window box is great for planting varieties of plants. Just make sure there is “breathing room” between the plants. And check the labels to see which plants work best in the same type of moisture environment.

Another option is to separate the plants into their own individual pots. You can use terra cotta, plastic or ceramic. If your containers will be indoors, look for pots that match your kitchen décor. For the more artistic, you can even paint your pots with pictures of the herbs. That’s a great way to know what’s growing inside. An important tip to keep in mind is whether or not you’ll be moving these containers around in colder weather. If so, consider the size and weight so you can make the moves as simple as possible.

* Drainage Is Essential. No matter which container you choose it is important that there is proper drainage. If the pot doesn’t come with holes, simply poke a few in the bottom and make sure you have a tray underneath to catch the access water. Herbs can survive a few days of “drought conditions” much better than drowning. Also, when watering, try not to hit the plants directly with water. This will prevent a potential build up of fungus. Any decent potting soil that allows for drainage but also holds moisture is best for your herb garden. You can find varieties of this type of soil at any home, garden, or department store.

* Let the Sun Shine. As with all plants, your container herb garden will need plenty of sun. They should be soaking up the rays at least 4-5 hours each day. You should factor this in when it comes to placement. Having your plants close to your cooking is ideal so you can just snip and simmer away.

* Harvest Time. Allow your herbs to grow several leaves before you begin taking your sample and be sure to leave enough behind so that your herbs will continue to thrive. And since most herbs are perennials you’ll be able to use them all year long. I recommend pruning your herb plants even when you don’t use to keep them flourishing. These cuttings can be dried and used at any time.

* Picking Your Herbs. The best way to decide which herbs to grow is to merely think about your favorite recipes. What do you like to sprinkle on top of chicken, pork or in soups? Basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano and cilantro can all add fragrant tastes to any dish – and the fresher the better.

And herbs don’t mind living amongst other fruits and vegetables so why not grow a variety of colorful – and spicy – chili peppers in the same container. Just imagine a simmering pot of tomato sauce finished off with a couple of clippings from your handy herb garden! Boy, that’s what I call, “good eating!”

Tags: