I love using fresh herbs when I cook, and there are a few herbs that help deter bugs naturally. I can't wait to show you how easy it is to plant a container herb garden so you can have fresh herbs right at your fingertips!
Having fresh herbs readily available is so fun and makes creating flavorful dishes and cocktails so simple. As mentioned above, there are some herbs like mint and lavender that actually keep mosquitoes and other biting insects at bay. This summer, take a little time and plant your own herb container garden...you will be so happy you did!
You will need a few things to get started. Chose the herbs that you think you will actually use first. Then, find a container for them. I love this strawberry pot that I found at Wayfair. It's got the perfect openings I need to plant my little herb garden. I also have a larger pot with one large opening where I plant a different selection of herbs, but for this one, I want to keep it small. You will also need some potting soil. It's important that the pot have a drainage hole in the bottom so water doesn't sit in the container and cause root rot. I would also use a sealed pot instead of a raw terracotta pot that may soak up the water and cause your plant to dry out too quickly.
Start by filling the bottom of your container with potting soil up to the other openings.
Next, loosen up the bottoms of each of your herb plants and place them in the holes of your pot or the top of your pot. Pack potting soil tightly over each plant, making sure it is secured and not flopping over the side of the pot.
Next, take the herb plant that you think will either grow the tallest or you would like to have the most space to grow, and place it in the top of the pot. Water extremely well the first time.
Only water when the soil starts to get a little dry. Herbs are pretty easy to grow and slightly draught tolerant, so they are super easy for beginners! Enjoy snipping them and using them for food and drink too. I love pinching off basil for Caprese Salads, using rosemary sprigs when we grill chicken, snipping a piece of mint to add to sweet tea and the lavender is my favorite because it smells amazing and keeps the mosquitoes away. In another planter, I have chives which I use in tons of dishes as well as parsley, more rosemary, cilantro and sage.
***WARNING*** Avoid planting mint in the ground where you have other plants. It is extremely invasive and will take over your entire garden.
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Dinah Loney says
Love the herb gardening tips. I do the same thing but in Tuscany on the terrace. I'll be here for 8 weeks and will have lovely fresh herbs for all my cooking. It is such an excellent and easy thing to do. Great post. I am enjoying many of your posts. Thank you. Dinah
Jessica says
Thank you so much, Dinah! 8 weeks in Tuscany sounds like a dream come true...I hope you enjoy yourself to the fullest and enjoy eating all of the spoils Italy has to offer! ~ Jess
Cara says
I love the idea of using the one pot for all the different herbs. I currently have half a dozen small pots all over my kitchen with my herbs in them, I will have to keep my eye out for a cute strawberry pot instead. Keeping herbs in your house or garden is so much cheaper than buying those bunches at the grocery store, it seems like they always go bad before I can use the whole thing.
Thank you for sharing!
Jessica says
I totally agree. I just tossed 1/2 bunch of cilantro that went bad before I could use it again. Plus, the fresh herbs make your house smell amazing! Good luck finding a pot, I think I saw some at Walmart last week! ~Jess
Jan says
Can you keep herbs year around in your house??
Jessica says
Hi, Jan! Absolutely! As long as you have a window to put them in you should be able to grow most of them year round. Hope this helps! ~Jess