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Herb planter

matthewjh74I4tsOVuHmatthewjh74I4tsOVuH Posts: 11
in Problem solving
Hi
I've made my own herb planter with 6 separate sections for 6 different herbs
 Do I need to fully close each section off to avoid roots spreading? Indicated in the photo 

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Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited March 2021
    Depends on the herb. If you are planting mint for example then yes but a rosemary would be ok.
    Don't grow any other herbs so can't advise.

    PS nice planter
  • matthewjh74I4tsOVuHmatthewjh74I4tsOVuH Posts: 11
    K67 said:
    Depends on the herb. If you are planting mint for example then yes but a rosemary would be ok.
    Don't grow any other herbs so can't advise.

    PS nice planter
    Thanks. Mint is going to be one yes. I was going to out that in one of the bottom sections because I did read that it can spread. Would It spread up hill though, if that makes sense ? 😂
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    edited March 2021
    That looks a very lovely, sturdy planter Matthew  :)

    You only really need to contain mint or lemon balm as they will take over and, allegedly, change the flavours.  Most other herbs are easy enough to keep in check. What are you thinking of growing?

    Edited to add:  Snap @K67!

    Matthew mint spreads laterally from runners so probably not a threat to upper stories.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    Just a suggestion to be on the safe side with mint:  plant it in a tin first that you have pierced holes underneath for drainage.     Can be planted in the ground this way, but it does get away on you after a few years (even though it dies completely back in winter.  Don't be fooled!!)
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    The mint will spread, even 'uphill'.  I have some in a raised bed which found it's way down, across (beneath) a path, and up the other side into another raised bed!
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • matthewjh74I4tsOVuHmatthewjh74I4tsOVuH Posts: 11
    herbaceous said:
    That looks a very lovely, sturdy planter Matthew  :)

    You only really need to contain mint or lemon balm as they will take over and, allegedly, change the flavours.  Most other herbs are easy enough to keep in check. What are you thinking of growing?

    Edited to add:  Snap @K67!

    Matthew mint spreads laterally from runners so probably not a threat to upper stories.
    Thank uou. It weights a tonne 😂, I was thinking Mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, corrinader & basil. Not convinced basil will be any good, but I will give it a go 
  • matthewjh74I4tsOVuHmatthewjh74I4tsOVuH Posts: 11
    tuikowhai34 said:
    Just a suggestion to be on the safe side with mint:  plant it in a tin first that you have pierced holes underneath for drainage.     Can be planted in the ground this way, but it does get away on you after a few years (even though it dies completely back in winter.  Don't be fooled!!)
    Thanks, what sort of size tin?
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    If you give it the right conditions basil should be fine it needs to be warm but not necessarily in direct sunlight, well drained and fed occasionally. I have one in the greenhouse, one on the patio and one in the kitchen and they all do reasonably well.  If you don't use it very often then pinch out the tops and pop them in water, they will root and give you new plants.

    Mint and lemon balm are often contained when grown in a bed because they will throw runners everywhere. tuikowhai34 has suggested a tin but any container is fine and the top should be about 1" proud of the soil to deter the runners making a break for it.

    Sounds exciting hope you have fun with the growing  :)  Maybe site the planter before adding the compost though, don't want to do yourself an injury  :#
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • matthewjh74I4tsOVuHmatthewjh74I4tsOVuH Posts: 11
    Thanks @herbaceous. I have now decided to close off the bottom middle section. Will this eradicate the need for a tin or container?
    Also I'm guessing I need to fully line it with polythene and then add lots of drainage holes ?s
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Always a good idea to cover the wood. even if it is treated having soil in permanent contact will shorten it's life. If that middle section is just for the mint then fill it to within 2" of the top and you won't need a container.  Just keep an eye on it  :D 

    Mint likes a bit of shade and doesn't mind a bit of damp but rosemary and thyme are Mediterranean herbs, they like well drained soil, warmth and sunshine. Too early to put basil outdoors yet here in sunny Berkshire, don't know where you are but you should wait for all chance of frost to pass before you pot the planter up.

    Coriander likes a semi-shaded spot, very well drained soil and lots of warmth to flourish and marjoram the same (I prefer it to the taste of oregano) so you need to think about the proposed site.

    Lots of people (my daughter included) annually stock their herb pots with supermarket herbs. As long as you repot them quickly and harden them off they are a quick way to get started. Unless you already have a herb garden?
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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