Potted Herb Garden

loveblacklab

I'm new here (I just discovered this board) and I have a question already :-)

This year I am planning on growing several herbs in pots on my deck.  I am thinking basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, chives, and parsley (maybe one or 2 more-like mint).

In the past, I've had success growing them in individual pots but I am thinking this year I want to combine them into larger pots.  Can this be done?  What plants would grow well together and how big should the pots be?

I live in Maryland and we have a deck that gets full sun-our "garden" area is under the deck and gets very little sun...

TIA!

SusieBW

I'm looking forward to seeing the other answers on this one too!

I used to use a big window box to grow a combination of herbs - usually, basil, parsley, oregano and cilantro.  It was always really crowded, but it worked as long as I took care of them and cut them often.  Last year, I switched to hanging pots around my deck with a combination of herbs in each.  My chives took over everything else in the pots they were in.  I also used poor soil when I planted them, so I blame that for their not doing so well.  This year, I'm just putting one herb in each pot, though, just to be on the safe side.  I feel like they'll all do better if they have their own space.  I've always found that herbs grow like weeds, so I want to give them lots of space to spread out.

 

rooski1

I Love herbs! My husband and I just got our herbs for our deck last week! Our deck gets morning to early afternoon sun. We have basil, rosemary, and oregeno. We actually planted them all seperate but I bet you can plany a few together in one of those long rectangular planters. We have rectangular planters but have flowers in them. Our herbs did wonderful last year! My favorite food to make with our herbs is a tomato and basil pizza! Good luck with your herb garden!

K&C2005

I have grown my herbs together the only one that I still have together are my Oregano and Thyme for some reason it just seems to work. However, I did want to warn you if you decide to plant mint, plant it in a separate pot and distance it from your other plants mint will take over and overgrow anything.

loveblacklab

Yeah I know about the mint-my parents have some and it grows like weeds!

Oregano and thyme together seem like a good start!

kastle

The woody herbs (oregano, thyme & rosemary) would be OK together & the herbaceous ones would be OK together (basil, chives, parsley).

In general, the woody ones won't tolerate over watering at all (and prefer to be slightly drier) whereas the the other ones are kind of the opposite.

I'd use quite big pots...like at least a foot in diameter...to give them plants enough room to grow in.

SaraTonin

We grow all of those except mint in the same container, The basil often overcomes others, especially the oregano, but if you keep it trimmed it workds out fine. I also suggest growing sage if you eat outside often. If you burn it it keeps misquitos away.

living_insanity

I'm a DC area MDer and we grow herbs in pots on our patio

I should trade seeds with you after summer 

In a large pot we had three basil plants and they got huge

In another large pot we planted rosemary, cilantro, and dill.  I harvested the cilantro and dill seeds and planted them this spring and I have little sprouts already.

The rosemary I will have to plant again because it cant survive outside in the winter.  I didnt bring it in and it's dead now 

My chives came back all by themselves I think they are awesome

Mint is a big creeper.  I'd keep it in a smaller pot on it's own