Herb Activity Sheet

Growing Herbs in Containers

You do not need a spare plot of ground at your school to make a herb garden. You can easily grow herbs in containers. However, they do require a little more care and attention.

Choosing your container

Almost any container is suitable provided it has:

drainage holes
a wide base to prevent it falling over
it is big enough and suitable for the plant

Some herbs can be grown in hanging baskets, but you must prepare the basket well and choose the site to hang it carefully. Hanging baskets do not like full sun all day or high winds. As herbs grow quickly they can become root-bound and dry out. The herb must also be picked regularly to stop it straggling.

Preparing the container

Which compost?

The best compost for growing herbs is John Innes No. 3 because it is soil based and contains longer-lasting nutrients. This means less feeding. It also holds moisture well. If it does dry out, it absorbs water quickly. However, take care not to over-water!

John Innes No. 2 will also do. The higher the number, the more added nutrients. Use different compost for hanging baskets because John Innes composts are too heavy for them

See below for different kinds of compost.

Filling and planting

Wash any pots that have been used before. Check the drainage holes. Are there enough? Are they unclogged?
Place gravel or broken pots in the bottom. This prevents the holes from filling with soil
Fill the container three-quarters full with compost
Remove the herb very carefully from its pot. If the soil is moist, it will tap out when turned upside down. Be careful not to disturb the roots.
Place plant in the centre of the container and add more compost around it until the plant is able to stand upright without support.
Gently firm the soil around the plant, adding more compost, leaving a 2-3cm rim.
Water the plant well

Hanging baskets need to be lined with sphagnum moss and a layer of black plastic with drainage holes cut in it.

Half fill with compost and arrange the herbs carefully. Put 3-4 trailing herbs at the edge and 1-2 upright ones in the centre. Take care not put in too many as they spread and grow quickly.
Fill to the top with compost and water well.
Allow it to drain before hanging it in a suitable position that is not too high - it must be watered frequently in dry hot weather - sometimes twice a day!

Caring for your container herbs

Summer

Water regularly - do not let the pots dry out
Move out of the noonday sun
Dead-head any flowers (or pick them for drying)
Feed weekly, preferably with an organic liquid feed (seaweed)
Cut off any pest damaged leaves

Autumn

Cut back perennial herbs (these grow year after year)
Weed and feed the containers, after removing the top few centimetres of soil
Bring indoors (or put in a cold greenhouse) any tender plants before the first frost
Do not water so often

Winter

It is best to put all container-herbs in doors, or at least cover them to protect them for severe weather
Minimum watering only

Spring

some herbs may need re-potting. You can usually tell if their roots are spreading from the bottom of the container.

Use the next size up
Carefully remove the herb from the old pot
Remove dead leaves and prune the straggly shoots and cut the growing tip of perennial herbs - this encourages bushy growth
Replant after preparing the container as above
Water well
Begin feeding when new shoots appear