I think herbs were the first things I ever grew in containers. Most herbs, because of their mature size, do really well in containers. Containers of all sizes and shapes can be used to grow herbs indoors or outdoors. Be creative and imaginative, and your container herb garden can be visually appealing.

What Kind of Containers to Use for Growing Herbs

Of course, the obvious types of containers to grow herbs in is flower pots. I use small 4″ terra cotta flower pots for starter plants and windowsill gardens. For herbs that I use often (cilantro and basil, for instance), I plant several small plants and/or transplant them into larger pots so that they can go forth and multiply into larger, fuller plants.

I have personally used just about everything there is to start herb seeds or grow herb plants in. To start my herb seeds, I generally use cardboard egg cartons. Just fill each cup with a couple of tablespoons of sterile potting mix, and voila! You’ve got a dozen little seedlings in a few weeks. I have even used egg shells, rinsed clean and filled with potting mix.

Other containers that I have used to grow herbs are cans, bottles, small plastic bins, wooden produce crates (lined with cheese cloth to hold in the soil) and milk jugs. If you use cans, plastic bottles or plastic jugs, use sandpaper to sand down rough edges. If you have a whimsical leaning, jazz up your containers using  some acrylic paints (the outside of the container only!), to draw different images or the names of the herbs you have planted.

Basically, you can use any container to grow herbs, as long as it has never contained something toxic (such as cleaning products), and is not made of of toxic plastics.

Originally posted 2011-02-28 21:18:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter