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Top 20 Quick Growing Herbs In Pots/Containers

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Introduction to Top 20 Quick Growing Herbs in Pots/Containers: Growing plants, including edible plants, exclusively in containers rather than in the ground is called container gardening or pot farming.  In gardening, a container refers to an enclosed, portable object displaying living flowers and plants. Container gardening mainly refers to growing plants in containers, like pots, boxes, tubs, baskets, tins, barrels, and hanging baskets – typically herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and bushes and small trees. If you live in a high-rise apartment without outside space, container gardening is ideal.

A guide to Top 20 Quick Growing Herbs In Pots/Containers

Top 20 Quick Growing Herbs In Pots
Top 20 Quick Growing Herbs In Pots (pic credit: pixabay)

The best way to grow herbs in pots

Your cooking can be transformed by herbs grown in your garden. Herbs require little maintenance and add a tremendous amount of flavor. In many areas, evergreen types such as sage will provide leaves even in the winter, making them a must-have for any cook. Many herbs grow well in containers. By growing them in pots, you can customize the soil to suit each type of herb. It is easy to move pots around the garden to create attractive edible arrangements, or you can group them close to the house for ease of access. You can choose to use conventional or quirky containers. With terracotta pots and urns, sun-loving herbs from the Mediterranean look beautiful. Planters made of wicker and galvanized tubs create an explosion of lush greenery. In pots, you can grow a single herb or type of herb or group them. Herbs can grow in containers most of the time. However, its vigorous habit and tendency to spread and overwhelm neighboring plants make mint ideally suited to its position. Match herbs that prefer the same growing conditions. Herbs like full sun and well-drained soil, while herbs like chives and parsley do better in the shade.

How to plant herbs in pots

Containers require drainage holes for excess water to escape, so if yours lacks any, you’ll need to drill some into the base. To prevent the soil from washing out of the drainage holes, place broken pot pieces over them. Then, adding and mixing grit in stages as you fill the container will create a free-draining potting soil. Make sure your herbs look good before planting them in the soil. Pay attention to how each plant grows. The front of the garden should have creeping herbs, while the back or middle should have taller herbs and bushier plants. Remove the herbs from their pots once you’re happy with the arrangement and replant them in the potting soil. Fill in the surrounding space around the root balls with more potting soil, firming it in as you go. The herbs need to be thoroughly watered to settle into position. You might need to add more potting soil after this, as the level of potting soil will sink. Finish off the display by mulching the planted tub with gravel, pebbles, or shells. Raising the pot off the ground with large stones, bricks, or purpose-made pot feet will help ensure proper drainage.

How to care for your potted herbs

A few simple tips will keep herbs looking their best and provide you with plenty of pickings. Water each herb according to its needs – more often for herbs with fleshy leaves such as parsley and basil, less often for aromatic herbs such as rosemary or thyme. You can then water your herbs every few weeks throughout the growing season with an organic liquid fertilizer to help them produce plenty of leaves. To protect your pots from extreme cold, wrap them in bubble wrap, hessian, or burlap, and stuff them with scrunched newspaper or straw. Doing so will prevent the roots from freezing. In addition to moving containers undercover, you could also relocate them to a greenhouse. Finally, remember to pick your herbs regularly and enjoy them. Regular picking of herbs will result in more shots being produced. Consequently, both parties are satisfied. Herbs on hand are brilliant – and they also look great.

Quick growing herbs in pots

Basil: In summer, the herb is mainly turned to basil and has many varieties growing in gardens, including Genovese, Nufar, Dolce Fresca, Spicy Globe, and on the sunny back deck. Basil is an annual herb that thrives in pots and window boxes in warm climates. Many gardeners struggle to grow basil, but one must ensure that the soil is well-drained and has plenty of sunlight. It will continue to produce new growth when trimmed back frequently, as basil does with most herbs. Herbs are among the best for container gardening, as there’s no doubt about that. When flower buds appear, remove them immediately. Basil leaves lose flavor once they begin to flower.

Greek Oregano: Putting oregano in a pot is an easy and attractive way to control its size in the garden since it overgrows. In addition, these leaves add a unique flavor to homemade pizzas, bruschetta’s, vinaigrettes, and marinades. The flavor of Greek oregano is unsurpassed for culinary use, but many families favor the silvery leaves of Syrian oregano, commonly known as Zaatar.

Rosemary: Rosemary is an herb with aromatic, needle-like leaves that brings an extra layer of flavor to roasted potatoes and chicken dishes. Growing rosemary in pots in zone 5 makes it easy to bring inside once the days begin to cool down in mid-autumn. There are many rosemary cultivars, with most growing upright, but some cascade downward, making them ideal for pots’ edges.  The best varieties are Gorizia, which has large leaves, and Arp, which is cold-tolerant. Overwatering rosemary in a container will kill it quickly; rosemary needs consistent moisture, not a wet environment.

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Growing Rosemary Herb in a Pot
Rosemary (pic credit: pixabay)

Thyme: Herbs like thyme are perfect for container gardening; they don’t need much maintenance, are drought-tolerant, and handle neglect. Furthermore, it looks stunning when planted at the front of a container, where the tiny leaves spill over the edges. Make sure it gets plenty of sunlight and doesn’t overwater. Dry soil is best for this plant. For use in cooking, consider English thyme or Lemon thyme, which has variegated yellow and green leaves and a strong lemon fragrance and flavor.

Mint: Mint is an excellent container herb. The only way to prevent some mints from taking over your garden is to keep them in a container. Several varieties of mint make beautiful ornamental plants and are perfect for planters. Unfortunately, the plant is also easy to grow-hence its ability to take over the world. Most mints will tolerate some shade, but most prefer full sun. Check the tag on the plant to see if it is a tall, leggy plant or a low spreader, like spearmint. Your mint will thrive and become bushy if you keep it pinched back. Cuttings of mint are easily rooted as well. Mint leaves with variegated patterns can be found in pineapple mint, apple mint, or chocolate mint. While making iced tea, add handfuls of mint while it is steeping. Similarly, a simple tea (also known as a tisane) is made by filling a cup or mug with water and resting for a few minutes after boiling. Spearmint makes a delicious tea.

Parsley: Parsley is a close second to basil as a culinary herb. Curly and flat-leaved types of parsley can both be grown in beds and containers, making them among the best herbs for container gardening. Also, curly parsley lends itself well to ornamental plants like million bells, geraniums, and petunias, which bloom in summer. It is straightforward to grow parsley, but, like mint, it needs regular moisture and feed. To ensure that my plants remain happy from spring to late autumn, incorporate an organic slow-release fertilizer at planting time. The plant can also tolerate some light shade, but it prefers full sun.

Lemon Balm: Lemon balm, mint’s cousin, also grows aggressively and can invade small areas. As a result, plant lemon balm in containers. Zone 5 is a hardy zone for this perennial, even if it is potted. It needs the same mixture of soil and compost as mint, as well as frequent watering. For the best taste, it needs ample moisture. What a flavor! These glossy green leaves smell and taste like lemons. The fruit salads, teas, lemonades, and marinades are great ways to use them.

Chives: Salads, soups, or added as a garnish are all excellent ways to use this fresh herb. During the spring, flowers are cheerful, tasty, and the bees love them as well. It is another easy plant to grow and only requires four or five hours of sun per day. Make sure the soil is moist when growing chives.

Sorrel: Sorrel remains a mystery on supermarket shelves, despite being popularized by Ottolenghi. With a strong sour taste and a lemony bite, it has a strong flavor. You can cook sorrel with eggs and salmon or chop up a few fresh leaves to add to salads. Potted plants are easy to grow. If you grow six to eight plants in a window box with at least four hours of sunlight, you’ll have a tasty treat all year. Pick off the outer leaves to ensure that new leaves grow.

Bay Leaf: Taking your morning coffee and eggs to this soup starter will encourage bay leaves to grow like a shrub and grow best in lots of compost. For a natural air freshener, keep them next to your couch or outside your front door. The leaves release a sweet, earthy scent that can provide relief from headaches.

Lemongrass: Generally used for soup bases, rice seasoning, and herbal teas, lemongrass can also be used in Thai and Indian food. Stress has traditionally been treated with the herb’s essential oil, which is said to help digestion. Besides being an effective skincare ingredient, citronella is also a natural mosquito repellent.

Sausage: Sausage is drought- and frost-tolerant with a taste profile that remains even when overgrown. Your favorite flora can spread quickly thanks to the fuzzy leaves that repel pests. Savory cocktails, kinds of pasta, and fatty meat dishes can be flavored with sage once it is picked. It is also common to bundle and burn dried leaves in spiritual practices to purify the air.

Cilantro: Coriander, Mexican parsley, and cilantro don’t require water once sprouted and make for an excellent year-round seasoning. With cilantro planted inside, you can move it to a better house area during the summer to avoid getting bitter from the heat. Keep multiple pots on hand so you can make homemade salsa, flavored oils, and dressings for seafood. When dried, the herb doesn’t retain its flavor, and when cut, it wilts quickly. Two hundred organic seeds let you stock up for every holiday.

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Growing Cilantro Herb in a Pot
Cilantro (pic source: pixabay)

Lovage: Despite its old-fashioned reputation, this plant can reach several feet in height and is generally easy to grow. Fresh celery leaves add a light celery flavor to casseroles, soups, and potato dishes.

Sweet Marjoram: The leaves of marjoram are rounded, and the flowers are tiny, almost unnoticeable. It grows best in sandy soil but does not tolerate frost. Cold regions of the country should treat it as an annual. Warm climates are the only place it can grow. It is used to make soups and poultry dishes.

Salad Burnet: The leaves of this herb are toothed, and its flowers are pink. It is one of the lesser-known herbs. Salads are flavored with leaves to taste like cucumber.

Sorrel: It has long, round leaves with dark red veins, and it is less common than sorrel. Its growth is dependent on moisture. You can use the leaves as a spinach substitute or add a lemony tang to salads and soups.

Garlic Chives: Their grassy leaves and fragrant white flowers make these clumping plants a pretty addition to your garden. Garlic, however, is not as strong in flavor as these plants. Nevertheless, unopened flower buds, as well as leaves, are edible.

Dill: Dill also knows Suva, Soya, Chatakuppa, Pakhon, Satakuppa, Catakuppai, Kattucata, Kuppai, and Sompa.There is something similar to fennel and carrot in the taste of dill. You can use it in soups, dals, and sauces and pair it with meat, fish, and potatoes. It makes a tremendous Indian herb garden plant in pots.

Holy Basil: Holy Basil is also known as Tulsi, Trittavu, and Tulshi. Among Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist communities, basil is considered auspicious. This herb has many variations: lemon basil, purple basil, Thai basil, and strawberry basil. Additionally, fresh or dried leaves can make tea, soups, salads, and Thai cuisine.

Tips for quick-growing herbs in pots

  • Almost any herb can be grown in a pot if the container and potting mix are right. However, there are some herbs especially suited to growing in pots. For example, herbs commonly used in cooking, like basil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme, are excellent choices. Furthermore, pots allow you to contain aggressive plants such as mint and lemon balm, which can be invasive in a garden.
  • Plants such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) are tropical or tender herbs that can be brought to a sheltered area or indoors to overwinter. A moving focal point of interest can also be provided by specimen plants like the lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) and the sweet bay (Laurus nobilis).
  • You can grow herbs in almost any kind of container so long as the bottom has drainage holes to allow excess water to drain away quickly. With so many styles, colors, sizes, and materials to choose from, your options are nearly endless. In outdoor conditions, plastic pots can deteriorate over time, but they’re lightweight and inexpensive. Containers made of ceramic, stone, or cement have a long lifespan, but they are heavy and difficult to move. Thyme grows well in clay pots since they are porous and dry quickly. Clay pots are susceptible to hard freezes, however, and can break easily. Nevertheless, it is not a good idea to plant a permanent display in a plastic pot, a moisture-loving herb in a clay pot, or a tender herb that must overwinter indoors in a large stone pot.
  • In containers, garden soil is too heavy and lacks the porosity needed for healthy herb growth. The best way to grow any plant in a container is to use a lightweight and porous potting mix. Plants die when the roots lack oxygen in a potting mix that retains moisture but drains quickly. Straight from the bag, you can use a high-quality commercial potting mix. You can also create a custom blend by combining the following: two parts potting mix, one-part compost, earthworm castings, or aged manure to provide nutrients, and one-part perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to increase drainage and aeration.
  • Growing large specimens in a pot, growing multiple herbs in the same pot, or growing culinary herbs frequently requires a minimum diameter of 18 inches. Pots as small as 10 inches in diameter are used for single herb plantings. Don’t forget that bigger pots equal bigger plants, so ensure that pots are deep enough to accommodate roots growing.
  • Plants with similar light needs and water needs in the same container should be paired together when creating multiple plant displays. So that all plants can grow and thrive, allow enough space between them. Plants like dwarf basil can be spaced closer together than herbs like rosemary or comfrey when they reach maturity.
  • Plants in pots can do more than beautify a patio or deck. Potted herbs fill the gaps in beds and borders to enhance a path, create movement on steps, or add color to an outdoor dining area. In addition, you can create a sensory appeal right outside your door by arranging containers of culinary herbs at various heights. For example, a pot is often placed on brick, upside-down decorative pot, or a bench, chair, or table.
  • Water requirements vary depending on a plant’s need for moisture and the type, size, location, and time of year of the pot. Keep the potting soil slightly moist at all times for basil, chives, and other herbs that need moderate to average moisture–like a sponge wrung out–for the Mediterranean and other drought-tolerant herbs.
  • You can tell when to water by using your finger. It’s probably time to water if the soil is dry one to two inches below the surface. Be sure you water the pot thoroughly until you can see water flowing freely from the drainage holes.
  • In the ground, plants have plenty of room for their roots to spread and search for nutrients. Container-grown herbs, however, have much smaller roots. It is thus best to use a slow-release organic fertilizer or a solution of organic liquid fertilizer half-strength, such as fish emulsion, kelp, or compost tea, to feed plants. Apply a liquid fertilizer every three to four weeks or a slow-release organic fertilizer once or twice a year during the growing season.
  • In case your pot does not have enough drainage holes, you can always add some. For example, in clay, ceramic, stone, or earthenware containers, use masonry to drill holes. Also, pots are elevated with pottery feet, bricks, stones, or even upside-down.
  • You can stimulate more blooms and new growth by pinching faded flowers and leggy stems. So, you can enjoy those flavorful sprigs and flowering stems when you snip them from the bushier, more productive plant.

Commonly asked questions about growing herbs in pots

1. Herbs in pots require full sunlight?

Herbs need at least 6 hours of sunlight each day to thrive. Unfortunately, during the winter months, much less light is available indoors. You can also use a grow lamp, which is used for up to 12 hours every day if the sun doesn’t cooperate.

2. Herbs in pots require drainage?

The best way to grow herbs is with excellent drainage. Inadequate drainage quickly results in root problems like rot. Plant herbs in coarse, fast-draining soil, so roots have air and water. Containers with herbs need suitable drainage holes to allow water to flow freely.

3. Can I grow herbs in pots with the potting mix?

The lighter and fluffier potting soil or Pro-Mix is perfect for growing herbs. Watering twice a month with water-soluble fertilizer will replenish nutrients your plants have taken from the soil, and you will have a gorgeous garden.

4. Can you grow plants in pots without drainage holes?

 The possibility exists, but you should exercise caution. Drainage holes keep water from pooling at the base of pots, keeping sensitive roots safe from rot, fungus, and bacteria.

5. What is the frequency of watering herbs in pots?

Approximately once a week. The rule of thumb is to water most herbs about once a week. However, it may be necessary to water twice a week during extreme heat or drought conditions. The best time to water is between 6 – 10 am, as this prevents evaporation and allows the roots to soak in water thoroughly.

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Author: Jagdish

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