Kitchen Herb Garden

Love the smell of fresh basil or crushed mint? Well, think about growing your own herb garden. You may encounter an issue that is common in today’s condos and homes and that is a shortage of space.  So it is best to get a container herb garden to compensate for this. This small mobile herb garden is a better option than growing them on a regular piece of land. Not only is it more convenient to shade your herbs from harsh climates, insects and general changes in the weather, it also helps you to take advantage of the benefits of your herbs throughout the entire year.

However, looking after your container herb garden can be a tedious task since you will need to allocate sufficient time to care for the herbs and make sure that they get all the sunlight they require as well as ensure that the water content in the soil is maintained properly.

One of the advantages of having your own potted garden is that the more common herbs grow fast and don’t need fancy pots. You can use old coffee cans, chipped mugs and dishes to grow rosemary, basil and coriander, while old terracotta pots or even simple clay pots work great for thyme, sage, lavender and oregano.

However, one of the critical aspects to be aware of when you are first starting out is that you should always buy good quality, organic seeds. This is important as the quality and growth of your herbs depend upon the quality of the seeds. Check for the expiration or packing date and avoid any seed that shows discoloration or dampness.

Other than this, the location of the herb garden is of vital importance. Sunlight, shade and temperature vary for different herbs so before planning your herb garden, find out the kind of exposure the herb will need. Some plants like basil require dry air and warm soil while these are sensitive to cold weather so, if you are planting basil indoors, keep it near the window so it gets adequate sunshine.

Container herb gardens flourish well when the soil is rich in nutrients. Make a good mix of clay, sand and soil so that the moisture content is high without being wet all the time. Clay chips are an excellent alternative to damp, lumpy soil as they are able to retain the water for a longer time.

Each herb requires a different moisture level, so check online or look in a reference book for details regarding the moisture content of each herb that you intend to plant. Once your seeds are planted, keep them moist since the proper way of watering these small containers is essential. Root rot is a common ill that develops from over watering, but for the most part, herbs require dryer soil for optimum growth. Some planning and due diligence can enable you to have a flourishing container herb garden that you can enjoy for a long time.