There’s nothing quite like snipping fresh herbs right from your own garden to add to dinner. The flavor is brighter, the aroma is incredible, and it makes any meal feel a little more special. This guide is here to show you exactly how to plant herbs in pots, making it easy for anyone to have a thriving herb garden, no matter how little space you have.
You don’t need a big backyard to enjoy homegrown basil, mint, or rosemary. A sunny windowsill, a small patio, or a balcony is all it takes to create a beautiful and delicious container herb garden.
We’ll walk you through every simple step, from choosing the right pots and plants to keeping them happy and productive all season long. Let’s start growing!
First Things First: Choosing the Right Herbs
The best way to start is by choosing herbs that you actually love to eat and cook with. It’s also wise to pick herbs that are known to grow well in containers. Here are some of the easiest and most popular choices for beginners.
The Easiest Herbs for Pots
- Mint (Mentha species): This one is a must-grow in a pot because it’s so aggressive it will take over a garden bed. It’s incredibly easy to grow and comes in many fun varieties like peppermint, spearmint, and even chocolate mint. Important: Always give mint its own pot!
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum): The king of summer herbs. Basil loves heat and sun and grows very quickly. It’s perfect for pasta sauces, pesto, and salads.
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Both flat-leaf (Italian) and curly parsley do wonderfully in containers. They are workhorses in the kitchen and will produce leaves for months.
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): These are members of the onion family and are incredibly easy to grow. Their mild, oniony flavor is perfect for eggs, potatoes, and as a garnish. The purple flowers are edible too!
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): This woody, evergreen herb loves sun and dry conditions. It’s perfect for roasting with chicken or potatoes. It can even be brought inside to overwinter in colder climates.
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): A low-growing, drought-tolerant herb that’s fantastic in pots. Its tiny, fragrant leaves are essential for many savory dishes.
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare): Another sun-loving Mediterranean herb that thrives in containers. It’s perfect for pizza, pasta sauces, and Greek dishes.
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Picking the Perfect Pot
Choosing the right container is one of the most important steps. It’s not just about looks; the pot is your herb’s home.
Size Matters
- Don’t choose a pot that is too small. Tiny pots dry out very quickly and restrict root growth, leading to a stressed plant.
- A good rule of thumb is to choose a pot that is at least 8 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep for a single herb plant. For larger herbs like rosemary, or if you want to combine a few plants, go for a 12-inch pot or larger.
Material World: What Your Pot is Made Of
- Terracotta (Unglazed Clay): This is a classic and excellent choice. The porous clay allows air and water to move through the sides of the pot, which helps the soil breathe and prevents it from getting too soggy. The downside is that it dries out faster, so you’ll need to water more often.
- Glazed Ceramic or Plastic: These pots are non-porous, so they hold onto moisture longer. This is great if you sometimes forget to water, but you must be extra careful not to overwater. They come in a huge variety of colors and styles.
- Fabric Grow Bags: These are a fantastic modern option. They provide amazing aeration for the roots, making it almost impossible to overwater your plants. [Amazon Product: 5-Pack of 5-Gallon Fabric Grow Bags]
The Golden Rule of Pots
No matter what material or style you choose, your pot must have drainage holes at the bottom. This is not optional! Herbs hate sitting in waterlogged soil, which will quickly lead to root rot.
The Right Foundation: Soil for Your Herb Garden
Never use soil directly from your garden in a pot. It is too heavy, compacts easily, and can contain weed seeds and pests. You need to use a high-quality potting mix.
- What to Look For: Choose a potting mix that is labeled for containers or indoor plants. These mixes are specially blended to be light, fluffy, and well-draining.
- The Perfect Blend: A good potting mix will contain ingredients like sphagnum peat moss or coco coir (to hold moisture), perlite or vermiculite (for aeration and drainage), and compost or other organic matter (for nutrients).
- Give it a Boost: You can improve any bagged potting mix by adding an extra handful of perlite and compost. This creates a premium soil that your herbs will love.
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How to Plant Herbs in Pots: A Step-by-Step Guide
You’ve got your herbs, pots, and soil. Now it’s time for the fun part: planting!
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
- Your chosen pot with drainage holes
- High-quality potting mix
- Your herb plant or seeds
- A trowel or scoop
- Gardening gloves (optional)
- A watering can
Step 2: Prepare the Pot
- If your pot has a very large drainage hole, you can place a piece of broken pottery or a coffee filter over it to keep the soil from falling out. Do not add a layer of rocks to the bottom of the pot. This is an old myth that actually makes drainage worse.
- Fill your pot with potting mix until it is about two-thirds full.
Step 3: Planting Your Herb
- Gently squeeze the sides of the nursery pot to loosen your herb plant. Carefully slide the plant out.
- If the roots are tightly wound in a circle (root-bound), use your fingers to gently tease them apart. This encourages the roots to grow outwards into their new home.
- Place the plant in the center of the new pot. The top of its root ball should sit about 1 inch below the rim of the pot.
- Add more potting mix around the plant, filling in the gaps until the soil is level with the top of the root ball. Gently press the soil down to eliminate any large air pockets.
Step 4: Water It In
- Give your newly potted herb a thorough watering. Water until you see it running out of the drainage holes at the bottom.
- This first watering helps settle the soil around the roots and reduces transplant shock.
- Place your pot in its new home and get ready to enjoy it!
Creating a Mixed Herb Planter
Planting several different herbs together in one large pot can be beautiful and convenient. However, you need to be a good matchmaker.
- Group Like with Like: The key to success is to combine herbs that have similar needs for sun and water.
- Good Combinations:
- The Mediterranean Mix (Sun-Loving & Dry): Rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage all love full sun and prefer their soil to dry out between waterings. They are perfect companions.
- The Moisture Lovers: Parsley, chives, and basil like a bit more consistent moisture in their soil.
- Bad Combinations: Don’t plant rosemary (which likes it dry) in the same pot as basil (which likes it moist). One of them will always be unhappy. And remember, always give mint its own pot!
Caring For Your Potted Herb Garden
A little routine care is all it takes to keep your herbs healthy and productive.
Sunlight
- Most culinary herbs are sun worshippers. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce the best flavor and growth.
- A south- or west-facing window, balcony, or patio is the ideal location for herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano.
- Herbs like parsley and mint can tolerate a little less sun (partial shade).
Watering
- This is where most beginners go wrong. The best rule is to check the soil before you water.
- Stick your finger about an inch or two into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it feels damp, wait another day or two.
- When you do water, water deeply until it runs out the bottom.
Harvesting: The Best Part!
- Harvesting your herbs regularly is the best way to keep them productive. It’s like giving them a haircut that encourages them to grow bushier and produce more leaves.
- Never cut more than one-third of the plant at any one time.
- For leafy herbs like basil and parsley, pinch or snip off the top sets of leaves. For woody herbs like rosemary and thyme, you can snip off a few inches from the tips of the branches.
Feeding Your Herbs
- Herbs in pots will eventually use up the nutrients in their soil.
- Feed them with a balanced, all-purpose liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength about once a month during the spring and summer growing season.
Conclusion
You are now fully prepared to create your own beautiful and delicious container herb garden. Knowing how to plant herbs in pots is a simple skill that brings so much joy and flavor into your life. There’s a special satisfaction that comes from stepping outside your door to gather fresh ingredients that you grew yourself. So pick out a few of your favorites, find a sunny spot, and get planting!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the easiest herbs to grow in pots?
Some of the easiest and most forgiving herbs for pots are mint, chives, parsley, thyme, and oregano. Basil is also easy but requires a lot of sun and heat.
2. What kind of pots are best for growing herbs?
The best pots are at least 8 inches in diameter and have excellent drainage holes. Terracotta pots are a great choice because they are porous and help prevent overwatering, but glazed ceramic or plastic pots also work well.
3. Do herbs need full sun in pots?
Most popular culinary herbs, especially Mediterranean ones like rosemary, thyme, and oregano, need at least 6 hours of full, direct sun to thrive and develop the best flavor.
4. How often should I water herbs in pots?
There is no set schedule. Always check the soil first by sticking your finger in an inch or two. If it’s dry, water thoroughly. If it’s damp, wait. Potted plants dry out faster than garden plants, so you will need to check them often, especially during hot weather.
5. What kind of soil should I use for potted herbs?
Always use a high-quality, all-purpose potting mix designed for containers. Never use soil from your garden, as it is too heavy and can harbor pests and diseases.
6. Can I plant different herbs in the same pot?
Yes, but you should group herbs with similar light and water needs together. For example, plant sun-loving, drought-tolerant rosemary and thyme together. Don’t mix an herb that likes dry soil with one that likes moist soil.
7. How do you keep potted herbs alive?
The three keys are: give them enough sunlight (at least 6 hours for most), don’t overwater (let the soil dry out a bit), and harvest them regularly to encourage new growth.
