Want unlimited aroma therapy oils, scented soaps and herbal wreaths for a pittance? Like to grow herbs, but have no back yard or no time for gardening? No problem – you can successfully grow beautiful, aromatic, flavorful herbs in outdoor containers with little effort and on a budget.
Cathy Nardo of Libertyville IL, member-at-large of the Herb Society of America, is an herb expert and folklore historian with 25 years experience. In a 2005 interview, she encouraged experimenting until you find just the right plants to tickle your fancy, your taste buds and your nose.
Keeping the Garden Small
Her herb garden runs the perimeter of her house, wherever she finds space. She began a quarter century ago with an interest in cooking and decorative herbs, then started researching folklore. “Now, I give lectures to garden clubs and interested parties. I’m always looking for are new and adaptable things,” Cathy says.
For container gardening, she suggests buying new plants each year. Herbs don’t overwinter well in northern climates in containers. Further south, they do, but variety is fun. Tips:
- Change plants annually so you learn about varieties.
- Stay with what works - abandon what doesn’t.
- Try newly developed varieties – sages, thymes and mints are available with fruit scents and flavors.
- Try new uses - enhance foods and beverages, make visually beautiful dried arrangements.
Herbal Benefits
Recent studies in France confirm the scent of certain herbs have a physical effect on brain chemistry. Rosemary gives mental energy and enhances thought retention. Cathy says ancient Greeks bound their heads with rosemary before lectures to stay alert and absorb information. Lavender is known to calm mind and body – just inhale the aroma. Some work medicinally, but know what you’re doing – no experimenting.
Get Started
If your yard, patio, or balcony has shelter, at least a half day’s sun and space for a few pretty containers, you can grow an herb garden. Chives, parsley and mints do very well in containers. In fact, that’s the best way to grow them so they don’t take over your neighborhood. Basil, thyme and rosemary like a little more sun but will do ok in partial shade.
Poke drainage holes in pots, roots don’t like standing water. Use light, soil mix without a lot of acidity or peat. Water when soil beigns to dry. Here’s a clue about watering: Plants with grey-green leaves like sage, rosemary or artemesia are from dryer climates and don’t like to be over watered. They can stand some neglect.
As for choosing your plants, the selection is huge.
Lavender, a favorite because of its gorgeous perfume and interesting taste is not great for pots, but one variety called “Lady Lavender” can be successful. It blooms compactly in summer with a nice perfume - specifically hybridized to be a smaller plant.
Salad burnet (sanguisorba minor) has ferny foliage and a cucumber flavor in vinegar, cream cheese or herb butters. In Sweden it's called Little Bird because of the leaf formation.
Sages do well in pots - purple sage, golden variegated and a new grey called Berggarten (very hardy). Some are fruit-scented: Pineapple sage and honeydew sage.
Add them to fruit salads and summer drinks. Basils like Purple Opal and African Blue can be harvested as soon as they get more than four leaves. Don’t pass up Stevia, the sugar herb--sweet leaves good for calming sugar cravings.
Most nurseries carry herbs. Look online for companies like Parks, Burpee or Nichols Nursery.
It's fun to shop local nurseries, so you can ask questions and plants are acclimated. The Ortho Company’s Herb Book is an inexpensive resource for general information.
No matter where you decide to shop, or if you start off with cuttings from friends’ gardens, don’t procrastinate. Start as soon as weather permits.
