Even if you don't have a nice vegetable garden or a big garden, you can grow aromatic herbs in pots! In this way, you will have a great variety of smells to enrich your recipes and, in addition, you can create a beautiful green corner in your kitchen, on the balcony or in the flower bed in front of the house.
Steps
Step 1. Choose the aromatic herbs to plant in pots
It is convenient to have a great variety of smells so as not to be caught unprepared in the kitchen. Here is a list of great herbs:
- Marjoram
- Melissa
- Sage
- Basil
- Mint
- American basil
- thyme
- Origan
- Strawberries
- Hot pepper
Step 2. Prepare the vase
-
Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot for good drainage.
Plant a Herb Pot Step 2Bullet1 -
Pour some gravel or sand into the bottom of the pot, filling it one quarter full. It is essential to ensure good water drainage and avoid stagnation.
Plant a Herb Pot Step 2Bullet2
Step 3. Fill the jar with earth
Once you've laid out the gravel, start filling the pot with soil or a mix of soil and compost. The soil must occupy the remaining 3/4 of the pot.
Step 4. Start planting herbs
-
Gently remove each seedling from the original pot and free the roots from the root ball so that they propagate smoothly.
Plant a Herb Pot Step 4Bullet2 -
Place the plants in the pot, leaving at least 6 inches between each stem.
Plant a Herb Pot Step 4Bullet1
Step 5. Taller plants should be placed in the center of the pot, while climbing plants should be placed along the edges to ensure adequate growth
At first you will feel like you have them arranged in a messy way, but don't worry: within a few weeks, they will start filling in the gaps and the vase will acquire a wonderful and lush appearance.
Step 6. Fill in the blanks
When you are satisfied with the composition, start filling the empty spaces with compost.
-
Press the compost firmly into empty areas using your fingers, paying attention to the roots.
Plant a Herb Pot Step 6Bullet1 -
Add more if needed. Leave a couple of inches between the edge of the pot and the top of the potting soil so that no water spills out when you water the seedlings.
Plant a Herb Pot Step 6Bullet2
Step 7. Prune the herbs
Cut off the tips of the tallest plants; you can even halve the height. This will encourage their growth and produce many more leaves.
Step 8. Fertilize the seedlings
Purchase a controlled release fertilizer.
Add 3 or 5 to the soil, depending on the size of the pot. Just push the fertilizer hard with your finger and then cover it with potting soil. It should be enough for a full season, which means you won't need to add any more fertilizers during that time
Step 9. Water thoroughly
You must see the water coming out of the bottom of the vase. Compost needs to absorb a lot of water during the first watering, so you will need to pour in 4 liters or more. Keep watering regularly, whenever you see dry soil. Many herbs do not like too frequent watering, unlike others that require a lot of water, such as rosemary.
Step 10. Finished
Advice
- To water well you have to let the water penetrate deeply, but don't do it too often; spraying the water with a spray bottle is useless, because the water would only reach the most superficial roots, leaving the rest of the root system dry.
- Aromatic herbs need good drainage. Allow the potting soil to dry on the surface before watering again and do not leave the pot in a standing pool of water.
- Herb pots are great gifts, especially for those who love cooking, gardening and plants in general. Decorate the plant with a nice bow and add a birthday card.
- Basil is an annual plant in most climates and tends to regrow when grown outside even in colder areas. During the growing season, cut the flowers to encourage leaf growth and make the plant more lush.
- Does the kitchen window have a spacious, well-lit windowsill? It's a perfect place for your pot of herbs, so they'll always be close at hand while you cook.
- If you live in a mild climate area, you can grow aromatic herbs outside, either in pots or in the ground. This way, you will have larger plants and can grow many other herbs, such as rosemary and lavender.
-
Often, when the plants seem slightly wilted it means you need to water them. To grow plants without problems, just water them regularly. During the warm seasons, when the temperature hovers around 27 °, some plants need to be watered every day, especially if you grow them outside or are in sandy, well-drained soil.
- On the other hand, excess water can also kill plants, especially those grown in pots or in poorly drained soil. This happens because too much water can cause root rot or fungal growth.
- If the plant does not get enough water, the leaves turn yellow and die.
- If you like fragrant gardens, choose herbs that give off an intense aroma, such as basil and those that smell of lemon.
- If the plants rot at the top, it doesn't mean they are completely dead. You can try cutting the dry parts and replanting the roots.
Warnings
- Mint and lemon balm are lush plants that spread quickly, so it's best to grow them in a separate pot. You can let them grow in pots, or plant them outside, but plan to contain them, otherwise they could suffocate other herbs.
- Basil begins to wilt as temperatures drop with the arrival of autumn and winter. It is an annual plant that enjoys heat and at least 12 hours of light per day, but is difficult to grow indoors.
