“Growing herbs in containers allows anyone the opportunity to grow plants”, preaches my good friend and colleague, Ron 
Wilson. My mother, Mary Nader, of blessed memory, really was an advocate of growing herbs in containers. In our tiny yard, mint was the only herb planted in the ground (and yes, it took over the lower portion of our backyard, and creeped into our neighbor’s grass).
Her other herbs, like “hobbit” (basil), marjoram, and thyme were planted in an antique black cast iron wash kettle, commonly known in the old days as a “spider” because it had three legs to elevate the bowl of the kettle from the fire. I inherited that kettle and I, too, plant herbs in it much as she did. To give credit where credit is due, I’ve learned everything I know about container gardening from my Mom and Ron Wilson.
Although I wouldn’t give up my herb garden, since I love digging in the dirt on my hands and knees, I have to agree with Ron that container gardening sure puts the odds in the gardener’s favor. I’m not alone. With the lack of space many homeowners face these days, container gardening allow everyone to have a kitchen garden, whether large or small. As Ron points out, container gardening is also good for folks of limited physical capabilities.
Here are Ron’s tips for successful container gardening: [private_membership circle]
You can use almost anything that holds soil; just be sure it’s large enough to support the root system of the plants and that the container has excellent drainage. (Drainage means lots of holes for the water to drain out.) You’ll have to water your container herbs more often than those in the ground, depending upon the location of the planters. Consider using polymers such as “Soil Moist” – granules that hold water and release it as the soil requires it. Avoid the urge to put gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage, “unless you absolutely have to, don’t”, advises Ron, especially for those containers that have drain holes in them.
What abut putting saucers directly under your herb containers…to let water drain away on the deck? (Yes, I’ve done it and I’m willing to bet some of you have, too). Ron says that’s a no-no. He suggests getting the pots off the ground for better drainage, because water can sit in the saucer or under the pot, which can create a breeding sanctuary for insects, and possibly stain the deck.
Ron personally recommends the “soil-less” potting mixes for container gardening. They usually contain sphagnum peat, vermiculite, and perlite, but no soil (which I call “dirt”). This is the same mixture that the pros use. It is much more expensive than the average potting soils, but you get what you pay for, according to Ron. What about ordinary garden soil in containers? “No matter how good your garden soil is, it won’t work in a container”, he advises.
When you grow herbs (or anything else for that matter) in containers, you have to add nutrients to the soil. Soil-less mixtures don’t hold nutrients for very long, so you have to feed your plants on a regular basis. Every plant is an individual when it comes to nutrient needs, but as a general rule, Ron likes to amend the soil-less mix with a fertilizer called “Osmocote” before planting. Osmocote is a slow release fertilizer and will help feed the herbs the entire season. Ron also suggests supplementing throughout the season with a water-soluble fertilizer like “Miracle-Gro”, as needed.
Sometimes I’ll put my container herbs directly in the herb garden. I dig a hole deep enough to come up to the rim of the plant. Don’t let the rim go above soil level because it can absorb too much sun and dry out quickly.
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Rita Nader Heikenfeld is founding editor of www.Abouteating.com
a popular website that showcases her many interests in healthy living.
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