CONTAINER GARDENING SERIES : HERBS

CONTAINER GARDENING: HERBS

Herbs are becoming very popular for a myriad of reasons, ranging from culinary purposes to insect repellent and essential oils that can be rendered from the plants.
No matter what your reasons for buying herbs, they are a beautiful addition to even the smallest areas. Container gardening is a growing trend hitting urban America.
Herbs are the quintessential cure-all for what ails us. In this article, we will dive into the best herbs to grow individually and together to best suit your needs.

Insect Control

For insect control, we recommend any herb with a very pungent scent or anything with a citrus smell such as citronella, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, oregano, orange mint, lemon grass, catnip, lemon balm, lavender, bay laurel, rosemary, and dill. All of these possess some insect repelling properties. Citronella is often used in candles, oils, and even sprays that keep mosquitoes at bay while we are outside.
You should consider a mixed pot with about 3 different herbs to get the maximum effect. You could add citronella, lemon grass and rosemary for a nice combination of textures and aromas, or dill oregano and lemon balm. Use plants that complement each other, but have a powerful effect on the winged biters. I would never recommend insect-repelling plants to keep things away that are beneficial to our environment. So, please be mindful of the pollinators. If you are planting herbs for repelling insects please use them sparingly and only in your living or entertaining areas. Try not to place them where your pollinators will be repelled from nearby blossoms and blooms.

Italian Cooking

If you are like me, you never turn down a great Italian meal. Fresh herbs really bring out the flavors for these dishes. You can plant a pot combination for this purpose. Combine basil, thyme, and oregano for your tomato-based dishes or if you like Alfredo and wine sauces you could pair fennel, rosemary, and sage. I personally don't use extra sage in my Italian dishes that include Italian sausage, but to each their own and a kitchen is a laboratory experiment!


Chicken Recipes

If you eat a lot of chicken and are into all-natural and organic eating, then you may want to try these combinations for optimal flavor. Cilantro, rosemary, and garlic blend nicely for light grilled meals and tarragon, sage and thyme are great for baked or fried chicken. These look lovely together in a container as well.

Fish Recipes

Fish is such a delicate flavor you do not want to have herbs paired with it that will overpower its light flavor. A container with lemon balm, parsley, and dill will make quick work of a delicious meal for your family or if you fry your fish, you can season your batter or your sides with a combination of mint, chives, and basil.

Beef Recipes

For seasoning red meat, beef, pork, lamb, and venison, you may want to try a combination of chives, basil, and cilantro. Or, for a lighter taste, you may opt for parsley and garlic with rosemary. No matter what your preference you could easily grow these cook ready combinations to use and be the envy of the neighborhood or family.


Of course, if you eat veggies all the time you already know how important herbs can be in making your dishes very tasty. You can never go wrong with cilantro and dill in fresh salads or basil and garlic in your sauteed meals. Even if you are frying your vegetables, it's a delicious choice to add thyme, chives, and oregano.

Planting your combination planters according to your cooking habits will make it so easy to cut as you need or to dry in combination packs. Why pay big bucks for dried herbs when you can do it yourself?

Growing your insect repellent is much more cost-effective and visually pleasing. While a lot can be said of the oil burning tiki torches and the tabletop candles adding to the ambiance, nothing can compare to the natural aspect of live plants in your outdoor living spaces.

If you're growing your herbs simply because you have a deep-seated affection for the plants then any combination is fine, but I recommend lavender, eucalyptus, and lemon balm if your goal is simply aromatherapy and a love of all things natural.

Have fun building your combinations. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
HAPPY GARDENING!