Flat-leaf parsley is easy to grow and has lots of flavor.
Brian Bennett/CNETOne huge appeal of a homegrown herb garden is it's always ready for action. Need to spice up that pasta or chicken roast? Just grab a few leaves of basil, sage or a sprig of thyme. With a pot, you can place your herbs in convenient locations, like on your porch, your deck, your kitchen counter, or your windowsill.
The material of your container can vary. Clay, wood, resin and metal are all options. What's most important is that it provides enough drainage. Any pot or planter you use must let excess water escape, which is why most planting container bottoms have holes in them.
Mason jars are pretty to look at, but they don't make the best herb gardens. Without proper drainage, your herbs will eventually experience root rot.
Pick a container that matches the size of the herbs you'll grow. Choose something too large and your plants will spend excess energy growing their roots. A cramped planter will cause your herbs to become rootbound (in other words, pot-bound). That'll hamper their nutrition, stress them or even kill them.
When it's time to plant your herbs, use a well-draining potting soil mix -- you can even find soil mixtures specific for growing fresh herbs. Avoid using soil from your garden, as it may contain pests or diseases and doesn't drain as effectively. Potting soil is lighter and more porous, and garden soil is dense and traps (or blocks) moisture inside containers.
Most herbs prefer evenly moist to dryer soil. It's best to water the plants when the top inch of soil feels dry, but be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
Finding the right water routine is necessary for thriving herbs, but proper fertilizing is also critical. After finding a water-soluble fertilizer designed for herbs or vegetables, follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging for the ideal dilution rate and frequency of application. It's best practice to dilute the fertilizer to half-strength to avoid over-fertilizing and to only fertilize every two to four weeks during the growing season.
It takes constant, regular care for herbs to flourish. That means you must prune them on a consistent schedule. It's best to use clean, sharp scissors to snip off the top growth.
You'll need to harvest the herbs often too, since this primes them for new growth. Clip off leaves as needed, making sure not to remove more than one-third of the plant at a time. Just be sure to match any treatment of your herbs to their specific variety.
If you're worried about your inexperience, you can opt to use starter plants for your herbs. This will save you two to three weeks of grow time and increase your chances of a successful harvest.
It would be devastating to do all of this work growing and harvesting fresh herbs, only to have them brown and spoil in a few days in your refrigerator. It's best to plan your meals around the herbs that are ready for harvest, but if you can't immediately use all of the herbs, there are two methods for preserving the herbs for further use:
Want to learn more about growing your own food? Read our guide on growing your own vegetables and our tips on growing your own garden indoors.
Source: cnet.com