Herb planting

Blenkiron · January 2019

Evening all.. This spring I’m wanting to grow herbs in my garden and I’m thinking of putting them in a long wooden style planter. What size planter would be ideal to grow basil, thyme, mint and parsley? Was planning on making sections for the ones that like plenty of water and ones that prefer it abit dryer.... I just dont want to get a big planter that would be abit overkill 😂 thinking- 1ft wide x 1ft deep x 3ft long

Also going to put rosemary in a separate pot/planter, any suggestions on size to get a nice, big and plentiful plant?

Thanks all!

Buttercupdays · January 2019

You might have room for a thyme or two and some basil in that, but mint and parsley need more room, especially if you are going to use them.

Parsley makes a nice edger to a veg bed or even a flower border. It can get quite tall, but you just cut or pick some of the taller stems, and you can freeze them too.

Mint likes moist soil and doesn't mind shade, but it spreads. You can let it make a bigger patch if you have a suitable corner, or contain it in a bottomless bucket sunk in the ground. Watch out for runners sneaking over the edge!

JennyJ · January 2019

I would put the mint in a big pot on its own. It will soon swamp anything that you put in with it, and will take over the whole bed if planted in the ground. I thought I would get away with it in the ground in my dry sandy soil, but no, it popped up all over the place and took ages to get rid of.

Nollie · January 2019

I have a herb bed around that size, maybe a bit longer, about 5ft, in which I grow rosemary, thyme, basil and flat leaf parsley. I slotted in a couple of small pots of mint in their pots, but they quickly sent down deep runners, busting the pots open, so I hoiked them out and dug out all (I hope!) of the roots. I agree with JennyJ, keep your mint in a separate pot, its very invasive!

Blenkiron · January 2019

Thanks for all the replies,
Will the mint still be as invasive if it’s sunk in the ground in a decent sized pot? Possibly going to put rosemary straight in the ground now with enough space to get big.

Busy-Lizzie · January 2019

Mint could escape from the pot. Having learnt from past mistakes my mint is now in a large pot on the paved kitchen terrace where it is in the shade some of the time. It likes it damp. Basil and parsley prefer more damp than thyme but they all like sun. I think you could grow the three together if they are in separate compartments so long as the water doesn't leak through. Thyme doesn't even need much compost.

There are different varieties of Rosemary, some hardier than others. My Rosemary, don't know the variety, is about 1m tall and vigorous. It's in poor soil on the sunny side of the house with paving around it. I never feed or water it.

Shrubby plants like hot and dry and leafy, soft stemmed ones tend to prefer a richer moister soil.

Borderline · January 2019

I don't recommend you sinking mint into the ground. It will spread quickly. It's best to plant it into a totally separate planter or large pot. In your original post, you mentioned planters, if you are now planting rosemary into the ground, you will need to ensure the ground is well prepared (digging over and adding plenty of grit), especially if you have very heavy soil. They will need good drainage and good sunlight.

Rubytoo · January 2019

I think initially it spreads sideways more than down. But it does also go down and out the bottom in time. So it will be contained but you also do need to be vigilant, check it occasionally. If it wont lift out.....

Blenkiron · January 2019

Thanks for the tips everyone, the mints going in a decent size pot now.. I’ll also be digging a decent hole and adding more gritty soil for the rosemary

Herb planting

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