It’s true that I have quite a lot of space to garden but I still like to grow some things in containers. I love having containers of my favorite cooking herbs right outside my kitchen door.
I always plant at least one large container of herbs on my deck. It makes it so easy to snip some fresh herbs when I need them. Plus have you ever bought fresh herbs in the grocery store? Crazeee prices!
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My deck is pretty sunny especially from early afternoon into late in the day and that’s one of the key elements for growing herbs. You do need sun to grow most herbs!
I always grow basil on my deck as well as in my veggie garden. I grow lots of it in a raised bed for pesto (which we love) but I always grow some on my deck for cooking. This year I planted purple basil in addition to my regular sweet basil.
My Thyme is from last year and seemes to have done fine with the mild winter we had. My oregano reseeded itself and my sage also looks like it’s coming back.
I have parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, 2 basils, oregano and sorrel growing on my deck this year. I made the parsley spoon marker a few years ago with metal alphabet stamps which you can find on Amazon, ebay and various hardware stores.
I think I’m going to add a container of mint for making tea. Mint tea is not only delicious but we also use it for easing upset stomachs and for when we’re sick. Mint is a great plant for a container since it stays contained (it easily spreads!). It’s also one of the few herbs that I know of that doesn’t mind a bit of shade.
Not only is growing herbs in containers a frugal way to add delicious flavor to your meals, it’s also pretty easy!
Definitely something to consider if it’s not something you’re doing already!
How about some tutorials on harvesting your homegrown herbs? I confess I’ve gardened for years, but never grown my own herbs so I don’t know the first thing about how or when to harvest them or how to preserve them. Got any advice for a newbie?
Well that will have to wait for later in the season when I’m actually harvesting huge amounts. Mostly I use them fresh. I dry them in my dehydrator at the end of the season for use during winter.
I am wanting to plant veggies in containers so I don’t have to weed them!
I always have a pot of just basil and a pot of a variety of other herbs growing on the patio, too. I don’t have much luck with basil in the ground but I think I will try it again in the raised bed. I have a few flowers on the tomatoes so hopefully we will be seeing the fruit soon. Patty
It’ll be awhile, but I’m looking forward to it. I will have herbs at both doors because the scent is wonderful when passing by and it’s that ease of grabbing herbs quickly without running to the garden. I still have to make the run for chives because I don’t enjoy that scent by the door.
I have some container gardens too:) Can’t beat having the herbs close by and I think they are pretty too! Enjoy your evening dear friend, HUGS!
Those look so nice and calming.
I’ve been too ding dong busy to play in the garden this week and it’s driving me crazy — I can barely pop by and read my favorite blogs, and haven’t been able to post on mine! Doctor and dentist appointments for the most dr and dentist avoidant person on Earth (me), dr and dentist apptmnts for the kids, and preparing for a “getting started homeschooling high school” meeting that I’m facilitating on Saturday — and then Easter –aach! If I can get through this week . . . . I better get off the ‘puter and haul that turkey out of the freezer.
I’ve been thinking of having my herb garden by my kitchen door to have a real kitchen garden! I would like the ease of having them so close by!
Not cure if I will do containers or a smallish raised bed but I definitely want to do this!
It looks lovely I love the lil toadstool!
I started some of these same herbs from seed and they are getting big enough to transplant… I may do this in one big container. I hadn’t thought of that before. I was thinking I need individual pots… so I’ve procrastinated. Hmmm… the wheels are turning now!
thanks for the pictures and the wonderful ideas. ~Pat
I always grow a few herbs in containers. The mint I planted last spring, burned to a crisp under the hot Carolina sun last summer. But surprisingly over the winter, started sprouting again 🙂
And freezing fresh mint leaves in ice cubes makes for a refreshing addition to glasses of lemonade during the Summer!
http://workinghomekeeper.blogspot.com/2010/06/cool-mint.html
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
Love that idea!
Good morning Manuela, I love your herb garden. I have a small one in an old chicken feeder but it is rough looking due to the cold weather…maybe when it gets warmer. Have a blessed Easter.
Debbie
I love fresh herbs! I am planting mine on my deck this summer too!
I completely agree with you that the best place for herbs is in containers outside of the kitchen door. I have herbs near my veggie garden but I almost always end up using the pots near my door when I’m cooking.
I plant a lot of fresh herbs I love it and I love them to cook with they are so fresh and smell so good. Unfotunately, where I live in New Jersey we have to wait until May to plant. I can’t wait to post about my deck area.
Love this! Definitely gonna do it…I have one big container in the garage that I can start with…but NOT til end of April….I saw some fantastic herbs at the KMart yesterday…surprised!…but did not get them yet. going down to 30 tonight… I definitely am going to do some spearmint…it’s delicious just stuck in some tea…my mom always did that when I was growing up, and it smells SOOO good. Have you ever seen chocolate mint herb..smells heavenly…those kind I can only get at a Nursery. I am excited to get this going. Thanks for the pics and anticipation !!!! Hugs to you Manuela. YOU are having FUN!!! 😉 xoxo
Your spoon garden marker is so cute. Did you make your’s?
Yes, I made mine but you can buy them on etsy now.
We had such a mild winter that my parsley grew back! I let the apple mint take over half the raised bed that is all herbs, I love it so much. This year I think I’ll also plant a container herb garden for those often used herbs. My garden is not next to the house but a little farther out where it gets more sun.
Everything here is about a month ahead of time. We’re going through Dogwood Winter now according to our meteorologist, which is the time the dogwoods bloom when it has been warm and then gets cold for awhile. He said it is a month early. Someone commented on my blog that the dogwoods usually bloom around Easter and this year Easter is very early. How did God do that? 😉
We’ll still have frosts and freezes for the next few weeks so I only have cold weather veggies planted. I’m hoping my teeny tiny lettuce seedlings will make it okay.
I always grow herbs on my deck even if I don’t have anything else! My Sweet Girl and I LOVE basil and pesto. 😉 In fact last spring I asked my husband to pick basil up at Lowes and he said he didn’t know what it was but my daughter who was 5 at the time was going with him and she told him she knew what it looked like. 🙂 Sure enough, they came home with my basil she picked out.
My oregano is planted just outside my garage and has done wonderfully, as has my rosemary.
I am trying sage this year and also I planted cilantro in the shade. Going to see if I can keep it from bolting.
I planted cilantro in the shade one year and it worked well – until about July/August. I think shade or not by then our temps are just too hot and it bolts. I have the same problem with growing lettuce in the summer.
Hi Manuela,
I like fresh herbs..but we don’t have a good sunny aspect…..so they don’t grow for us.
Your porch looks really nice with the herb pots on it.
Happy Easter
God Bless
Barb from Australia
We just plant most of our herbs last week. Most of them are in containers, but I am trying to incorporate a few into the landscape as well. I am so excited to be finished with the house (unpacking and arranging) and can play in the yard a bit.
Have a lovely Easter weekend!
I’ll be growing herbs again this year. I love the parsley and basil I grew last year and this year I added rosemary. Never thought to try some mint- definitely will keep it in a separate container. My grandmother had it in her yard and it was everywhere! LOL
I love your container herbs! They are so attractive and handy to snip and use! Thanks for showing us the combinations of plants and how cute you can decorate with little signs and things you stick in them. I may use some small rocks and old bird and frog knick-knacks, you’ve inspired me.
Have a wonderful week!
Linda