Container Herb Gardens from Greenleaf Nursery Company, NC

Rummaging around on the Facebook Page of Greenleaf NC I found some lovely Container Herb Gardens that they have made up. Find them in your favorite retail garden center. The one at left contains Flat Parsley, Chives and is called their "Mashed Potato Blend". 

Although I think outdoors-in-the-ground is best when growing herbs, not everyone has the luxury of a garden area. The majority of herbs need full sun and high light intensity, excellent drainage and a sweet soil on the alkaline side. Several herbs will fit quite nicely into the smallest scrap of ground. But if you wish to grow some fragrant and culinary herbs thrive in planter boxes or containers, keep in mind a few simple rules.

Herbs need excellent drainage in containers or in the ground, so for planters choose a potting mix labeled for cactus, or add sharp river sand or extra Perlite to the potting soil to allow water to drain quickly. Make sure plants are watered regularly – sparingly at first, then more thoroughly as the plants become established and fill the pots. It’s standard practice to water well so that the water comes through the drainage hole at the bottom, but afterward never let them sit in water; simply empty the saucers after a few minutes. The old fashioned tip of first adding an inch or two of pot shards or pebbles at the bottom of the pot is no longer approved, as research has shown it merely shortens the water column inside the container and keeps the soil soggier. Finally, individual pots can dry out quickly; larger containers that hold several favorite herbs at once is the way to go.

Because many of the fragrant and culinary herbs evolved in the Mediterranean or Near East, they prefer an alkaline soil, achieved by adding some pulverized lime to the potting mix before potting up. This is especially true if the soil-less potting mix has a peat moss base, which is naturally very acidic.

Finally, here’s hoping you have a south-facing deck or balcony. Full sun is best, and herbs become pale green, weak and spindly when someone attempts to grow them indoors. Even grown under fixtures having four, high wattage, fluorescent Grow-Lights, herbs grown indoors can’t compare with outdoor-grown ones.

Keep container grown herbs in a sheltered, sunny place, and if a hard freeze is expected, lug them indoors overnight. When harvesting, snip a leaf or two all the way to the base, rather than shearing the tops of several leaves. Add to Thanksgiving stuffing or salad for a taste of summertime. 

The container on the right (above) is called the "Turkey Herb Blend" containing Tri-colored Sage, Tuscan Blue Upright Rosemary and Creeping Thyme, recommended for a healthful main course, while the third photo bottom left is the "Stuffing Herb Blend" planted with Italian Parsely, Creeping Thyme and Sage, best used to season the stuffing for a memorable Thanksgiving menu. Next spring, remove the herbs from the container and plant in the garden for continued enjoyment. 

Photos courtesy of the Greenleaf Nursery Facebook Page.  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000437466869