It is easy to grow organic herbs in containers as long as a few basic principles are followed. The main points to be considered are the location for the containers, the containers themselves, the growing medium and routine care and maintenance. If these factors are considered properly, organic herbs can be grown year round, providing a constant supply of healthy, fresh herbs for cooking purposes.
STEP 1
Any herb is suitable for growing in a container, although some will need larger containers than others. If the herbs are to be used for cooking, the most popular are parsley,basil, chives,rosemary, dill, sage, mint and thyme. With the exception of mint, they can all be propagated from seed--mint has to be rooted from a cutting.
STEP 2
Herbs can be grown in containers either indoors or outdoors. If they are grown indoors they will need a sunny location in the house or, alternatively, they can be grown under lights. If they are to be grown outdoors the climate is obviously a factor: most herbs are not hardy enough to withstand a very cold winter, although they can be brought indoors as long as the containers are not too heavy to move. A sunny patio or porch is a popular place for growing herbs, and as long as they have some shelter from strong winds, they will thrive in those environments. And, of course, a greenhouse can provide an ideal environment for growing herbs.
STEP 3
The type of container to be used is mainly a matter of personal choice and aesthetics. As the herbs are going to be organic, the container should be non-toxic and should be made of a material that will not leach chemicals into the soil. Natural stone tubs or terracotta pots are a popular choice, but anything that can hold soil and drain water could be used. This would include wooden boxes and barrels (avoiding paint and preservatives), wheelbarrows, water butts, old buckets and decorative concrete planters. Hanging baskets can also be used, as can hay racks that can be fitted with a peat liner and fixed to the wall.
STEP 4
For most herbs growing in containers the most suitable growing medium is an organic potting soil. A selection of these will be available at the local nursery or DIY store. Despite its name there is not usually any soil in potting soil; it is made up of sand, compost and sphagnum moss, sometimes with additional organic matter. An alternative method for growing herbs is to use a hydroponic system. This system grows the plants in water, with the direct addition of nutrients required for growth. If the system is indoors it will need artificial light for 12 to 14 hours a day, but if it is outside it will rely on natural daylight.
STEP 5
Herbs are usually grown from seed, and they should be planted in a potting mix in a shallow tray, spaced an inch apart, at a depth of about half-an-inch. When the seedling has grown past the first two leaves, the weakest plants should be thinned out and discarded and the stronger ones transplanted to larger pots. They can either be grown in individual containers for each type of herb or they can be mixed up. The only proviso is that herbs such as mint, with aggressive growth, should be kept separate or they will crowd out the other plants.
STEP 6
Herbs do not require a great deal of attention: as long as they are not over-watered and have plenty of sunlight, they will thrive. It is a good idea to pinch out the growing tip of each plant once it is well-established. This will encourage it to bush out rather than grow tall and straggly. If the herbs are grown in a good organic potting mix there should be no need for additional feeds or fertilizers and, in fact, too much fertilizer will encourage leaf growth over flavor.
STEP 7
Most households will not require a great deal of each herb at one time, so it is a good idea to plant seeds at regular intervals so that a succession of plants can be grown, ensuring a continual supply. If there is too much of any one herb, it is possible to harvest it and either dry it for later use, or use it to make flavored oils or butters. And if there is still too much, friends and neighbors are sure to appreciate being given a share of the harvest!
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