Most herb plants stay small and compact, making them the perfect choice
for a small container garden. You can grow the herbs indoors or outdoors
depending on the season and needs of the plant. Most potted herb
varieties thrive outdoors in summer in all climates.
Containers and Soil
Most herb varieties require good soil drainage and they won't
grow in dry or overly wet soils. Using pots that have a bottom drainage
hole allows the excess moisture to drain away. A well-drained pot
combined with a peat-based potting soil further ensures proper soil
drainage and moisture retention. Avoid heavy soils or regular garden
soil since these tend to compact in the confines of a pot.
Location
The sun and temperature requirements of the specific herb
determines the best location. Most herbs can grow inside in a sunny
windowsill, although the sun-loving varieties may not produce foliage as
lush as they would outdoors. The majority of herbs grown for foliage
tolerate some shade, especially in the afternoon. Too much direct
sunlight or heat can shorten the productive life of cool season herbs
like cilantro.
Water Needs
Containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, especially
when the herbs are set outside where sun and wind speed drying. Most
indoor pots require watering every two to three days, or when the top
inch of soil feels dry. Outdoor pots may require irrigation as often as
once a day, or even up to twice a day during extremely warm weather.
Fertilizer
Herbs generally require minimal fertilization. Too much
fertilizer can result in a poor flavor, even if the plants produce more
foliage. Like most care requirements fertilizer needs also vary
depending on the plant. A dilute application of a balanced, soluble
fertilizer, as low as a fourth of the package recommended rate, every
three weeks during the productive phase of growth ensures the plant has
enough nutrients to thrive.
Pruning and Harvesting
Foliage herbs tend to produce more when you prune and harvest
from the plants often. Pruning also prevents the plants from outgrowing
their pots. You can cut the foliage from a mature herb plant at any
time until it begins to flower, by either removing individual stems or
pruning back the entire plant by half its height.
