Home improvement

It is easy to grow one herb plant in a pot. I love to mix things up a bit and put several herb plants in the same pot. It looks prettier and adds a little texture to my garden.

To try this, you should pick herb plants that have similar earth and watering needs and then purchase those that will look nice together or have similar uses—like planting all your cooking herbs together.

Try these herb plants that will grow well in your pots:

• Sage: With nearly 750 types, hopefully you find at least 1 sage plant for your herb garden that you will like, because it comes in a number of colors and sizes. Sage is one plant that you can start from seeds indoors in your container in the early spring and then move outside with the onset of warmer weather. Plant your sage in nice, big pot that has good drainage and put it where it can get lots of sunlight. This is one of those that I grow for the leaves, so I lop off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the plant concentrate on the foliage, which I then cut off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.

• Scented geraniums: Just like sage, there are a lot of types of scented geraniums to choose from. I have an unnatural attachment to red geraniums, so I’m not the right one to talk to, but I am positive that the other kinds are nice too. They grow nice in pots, so drop by your nursery or home improvement store to pick up these. They can take full sun and well-drained earth. You can harvest the stems and foliage for cakes and teas. The petals are beautiful in pressings.

• Cardamom: Not to sound like a radio commercial, but if you have bad breath, cardamom is the herb for you. This large houseplant-like plant will get big in the summer and will need to be brought inside during winter to thrive, so use a big pot. You can harvest the seeds to add a little taste of India to your rice and chicken meals, soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can help with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell nice.

• Lemon verbena: There are so many wonderful ways to use lemon verbena that I would call it necessary in my herb garden. Don’t even think about starting with seeds. Go out and buy a young herb and get it going in a wide container that will support the herb’s height. This herb likes full sun and well-drained dirt. Watch your foliage for signs of drought because the foliage is the usable part of the herb.

Some other herbs that I’d recommend for you to start with in your container combinations are: thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.

Good luck with your [plant|herb] gardening. Be sure to let me know how your [plant|herb] garden grows.

Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.