Organic container gardening is easy and gives good results as long as some simple rules are followed. Mint, oregano, sage, thyme, marjoram, and basil are ideal herbs for container gardening.

You can plant each herb in a separate terra cotta pot or plant a collection in a long window box.

You need to use containers that are food safe when choosing pots for herbs. Some glossy or brightly colored pots are made with lead or other materials that you won’t want in your food. Plastic pots are always safe, and most plain terra cotta is safe. Containers that are not safe for food should have a warning label, so it should be easy to find something decorative that will not be harmful to you.

Most herbs will do well in small pots or with three or four plants in one long window box. Large plants, such as an old rosemary bush, can be planted separately in larger containers.

It is preferable to plant only one variety per container. Different plants grow at different times, different rates, and to different heights. Inevitably one plant will take over the others or the foliage will be so mixed up you won’t know what you are cutting. Strawberry pots are the exception to this rule, just don’t plant a mint in one.

If you decide to mix herbs together in the same container, be careful not to grow the more invasive herbs together with slow growing herbs like sage. Mint is an example of an herb that should be grown in its own pot because it does eventually take over the space thus preventing the other plant from developing fully.

Popular herbs for use in cooking are:

• flat leafed parsley
• thyme
• oregano
• rosemary
• basil
• chives
• sage.

All these herbs will grow well together in a large container 24 inches across the top. Plant the rosemary in the middle because it is a taller plant and quite hardy, then around the outside plant the other herbs. Of all the others herbs basil is also quite tall and this could be put beside the rosemary in the centre. All the other herbs grow to about 10 inches, and some will even spill out over the side of the container.

There are basically two kinds of herbs: those that need a lot of moisture and those that don’t.

Herbs that prefer moisture-rich soil include:

• basil
• cilantro
• tarragon
• parsley

Herbs that don’t need as much water, or “Mediterranean herbs,” include:

• chives
• oregano
• sage
• rosemary
• thyme
• bay
• marjoram
• lavender

Plant herbs with the same moisture needs together. For variety, try a tall, medium, and cascading plant together in the same pot.

Plant moisture-loving herbs in plastic containers, which retain water, and put Mediterranean herbs in terra cotta containers, which draw out water. Make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom otherwise, plants can rot from sitting in water.

When planting an herb pot, select a container that has at least a one gallon capacity. If you don’t have a gallon pot, use a milk jug or any gallon container to measure your soil. Each plant will need its own gallon of soil. So, if you plant several together, make sure they have enough space by measuring your soil.

Get a container that is at least 6-12 inches deep. You can plant multiple herbs in a wide or long container or use at least a 6″ pot for individual plants.

Mint is also a very popular herb but it does tend to take over a pot so plant it in a pot on its own.

Herbs ideally thrive in the ground, but with proper choices and the right precautions, they can flourish in the indoor garden. They have to be positioned inside the house where they can grow well.

You can combine herbs of different colors to create an atmosphere inside your house. For example, you can get calendula or lemon thyme, herbs with sunny colors for a brighter effect.

Let the herbs grow together. They can create a climate among them that will further encourage their growth. They also create a fuller and healthier appearance.

Limit the amount of herbs you will plant in a container. It should depend on the size of your container. There should at least be an allowance of four inches square in between each type of herb.

I want to try and grow some vegetables in pots and grow bags, but I know nothing at all about gardening.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

I am just getting into gardening so all help appreciated, as I want to make this my hobby.

Thank you

I have been reccommended to sow them in trays first then, the ones that germinate, transplant to larger pots then to the garden.

Any help shall be greatly appreciated.

Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, shows you techniques to get more out of limited landspace, by growing up. Check out her website at www.gardengirltv.com This video is available through closed caption(cc) enjoy in any language. FULL TEXT Vertical Gardening Part 1 As urban gardeners, we have a limited amount of space to grow our vegetables and flowers. What I have done is I have employed verticle gardening. Right here as you can see, I have a variety of different cucumber plants. Now, a cucumber is vining crop, which means that with vertical support like this one, you can train it to grow up and the fruit, Take a look right here, can grow perfectly fine on the vine. Different types of crops that work well in a vertical garden are watermelon and pumpkin. Let us go take a look. Here, as you can see, my pumpkin plants are thriving. Pumpkin plants are also vining crops. Now, in the country, where you have a lot of space, you can just let this grow along the ground, but here in a city environment, we do not have all that space. So, what I have done here is, I put together a dog kennel. This is actually really nifty. It is exactly 4 x 4 so it fits perfectly in your raise beds. And, these vines just slough on themselves eventually. You do not have to continuously train them. Okay, so you can go vining crops on vertical supports, but there are other types of plants that also need support like my heirloom tomatoes here, this are Tiffin Mennonite tomatoes, and it grows to be a huge …