Herb Garden in pots

[Persephone1]

Hi,

So, DH and I live in a small terrace house in the 'burbs and have no soil in our back "yard." I'm sick of having to buy herbs in packets and in bulky packages, when all I need is some small amounts for cooking. My DH also wanders down the road occasionally and steals herbs from the neighbours

I want to start a herb garden in pots. Ideally it would include basil, rosemary, lavender, coriander...just off the top of my head as a starter. But in the past I've had trouble growing herbs because they either overgrow or die, and I find them difficult to maintain. Are they really that hard to grow? Is it worth the set-up to do it, or should I just resign myself to my packet herbs?

We have little direct sunlight (since a property development went up behind us) but the area I would choose to grow them would be sheltered from rain/wind. I can also put them out the front which would have more direct sunlight if necessary.

Ideas? Advice? Can anyone direct me to a website/book for more information?

TIA.

[Lulu]

just give them haircuts a little more often and water lots in the warmer weather. The pots get dry quickly. Anyway, what have you got to lose?

[Butterfly Child]

Great post- im thinking of doing the same thing too as i love cooking with fresh herbs. so subscribing

[Rivlas]

Herbs in a pot are easy. If your are the forgetful type get self watering pots. We have herbs on the deck and at the moment they don't get any direct sunlight and are doing well. Lulu is correct, give them a haircut if they start to flower or grow to fast.

Also try cos lettuce in a pot, easy to grow but needs a bit of sunlight.

[luna moth]

Pots are perfect because you can move them around to wherever they need to be.

I wouldn't bother trying to start basil and coriander in Melbourne until at least September - they will most likely die through winter. Rosemary is SO easy, and it thrives in Melbs - we have to work a bit harder on ours up here in Brissy. Hard herbs are easy to grow through winter - oregano and thyme are also good choices.

Buy little seedlings at markets and then re-pot at home. Most herbs love milky water - when you rinse out your milk bottle for rcycling, tip it out on them, it's great.

Go for it, and don't lose heart if any of them don't survive.

[Lisa]

We have lavender, Italian parsley, oregano, chives, basil & strawberries growing in pots in our garden. I also had ginger but DS2 destroyed it. We've had ours in pots for about 2 years now. I don't know what we've done to make them work but they do. They don't get huge amounts of sunlight but they get some. We also give them seasol when we remember.