Easy Container Herb Gardens

How great would it be to have fresh sage at hand for the stuffing while cooking Thanksgiving dinner? Or perhaps you're making spaghetti for family night and you'd like fresh basil for the sauce. If you're into fresh foods, there's nothing more convenient than growing herbs in your kitchen, or just outside of your back door, ready to add to your favorite recipe in just a few seconds.

Since herbs are small plants, it's very simple to grow them in container gardens. The most difficult part is deciding on what you want to grow. Follow these tips for growing an herb garden inside of your kitchen, or just outside of your back door:

• If you want to grow herbs for cooking, you'll most certainly want to include essential herbs such as sage, dill, oregano, basil, and rosemary. There are many more herbs that you can grow, as well. Check your favorite recipes to determine which herbs you'll need the most, and then choose to grow those.
• What type of container do you want to use? Decide if you want small pots lining your kitchen counter or windowsill, or one large dish to house them all. Or perhaps you'd like to build a large container herb garden to place on your patio or at the edge of your vegetable garden. You can also use a container to serve as decoration when growing herbs. A plastic wheelbarrow serves functionally as an herb garden, but also lends a sense of charm and whimsy to your garden or patio decor.
• Do you want to start plants from seed, or transplant established plants into pots? Visit your local nursery or garden center for ideas to suit your needs. If you want to start using herbs right away, purchase plants and repot them. If you want the satisfaction of growing herbs from seed, you will have herbs in a matter of a few days since herbs tend to grow very quickly.

Choose potting mix that is slightly sandy, with good drainage, when planting herbs. Provide direct sunlight, since herbs grow best out of shade. It's best to provide herbs with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Herbs require little water since they are tiny plants, but make sure the soil does not become dry.

Once your herbs begin to grow, use them right away to encourage new growth. Think of it as pruning as you use the herbs, and either snap off a piece with your fingernail, or use sharp scissors when cutting pieces. No matter what growing zone you live in, you can always bring herbs indoors and have fresh herbs all year long.