HERB GARDEN IN A POT

Herb Garden in a Pot

You don’t need to have a garden to grow herbs. You can easily grow herbs in a pot and you can even have your herb garden right in your kitchen window, at hand when you are cooking. They can provide a beautiful mix of aromas as well as being visually appealing.

Some of the herbs suitable for planting in pots & containers include:

PARSLEY

This is a very popular, hardy and versatile herb and can be grown both indoors as well as outdoors.

Cookery Uses
Both the stems and the leaves can be used in a variety of dishes e.g. European and Asian dishes. It is an excellent addition to fish dishes and sauces and can also be used in salads, soups, stocks and stuffing.

Medicinal Properties
It can help to regulate blood pressure. It is also an antioxidant and an excellent breath freshener. Chewing parsley is surprisingly great at getting rid of garlic breath!

BASIL

This is a very versatile herb and is best grown indoors in a warm kitchen as it does not like draughts.

Cookery Uses
Basil can be used in Italian as well as Indian cookery and is a good compliment to tomato foods, pasta and rice dishes and also nice in salads.

Medicinal Properties
It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant benefits. It is also known to aid digestion and respiration.

OREGANO

This herb is also a very hardy and versatile herb and consequently can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Cookery Uses
This herb is used widely in Italian cookery. It is great with meat, fish, vegetable and tomato based dishes and it’s also a good herb for salad dressings.

Medicinal Properties
It has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial benefits. It is also an antioxidant and a digestive aid.

PEPPERMINT

Another very hardy and versatile herb and can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Cookery Uses
This herb can be used to make a mint sauce to serve with lamb. It can additionally be used to make teas or in desserts or as a garnish.

Medicinal Properties
This herb is a great digestive aid and a mood enhancer. It can relieve migraines and headaches and also help relieve insect stings.

ROSEMARY

Yet another very hardy and versatile herb which can be grown both indoors and outdoors. If grown outdoors it will grow very large and needs to be kept pruned to stop it getting too woody.

Cookery Uses
This herb is great with lamb and it is also good with chicken, fish and root vegetables. Undoubtedly it is also very tasty in soup and salad dressings.

Medicinal Properties
This herb has numerous benefits such as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. It is a great digestive aid and a mood enhancer and can heal mouth ulcers as well as relieve muscle and joint pain.

SAGE

Again, a hardy and versatile herb which can be grown both indoors as well as outside.

Cookery Uses
This herb is great in stuffing, soup and casseroles. It’s a good herb to season meat and fish with, or to add to potato dishes.

Medicinal Properties
This herb has numerous benefits including antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, hormone balancing, and as a digestive aid. It is also recommended for purifying the blood and enhancing one’s mood.

THYME

Again, a hardy and versatile herb hence it can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Cookery Uses
This herb can be used with meat, fish and tomato dishes. It is also nice in omelettes, stuffing, soup and casseroles.

Medicinal Properties
Like all the other herbs, this has many benefits which include antiseptic, painkiller, a muscle relaxant, anti-viral and aids digestion.

MARJORAM

This is an easy to grow herb and can be grown indoors or outdoors. When grown outside, it is a great plant for attracting butterflies. Marjoram is a variety of Oregano, both of which belong to the mint family.

Cookery Uses
It adds a lovely mild, sweet, fresh fragrance and taste to dressings, sauces as well as marinades. Use the leaves, without the stems, in almost any dish, including vegetable dishes, soups, Italian dishes and egg or meat dishes, or in teas.

Medicinal Properties
Marjoram has numerous health benefits. It is an antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent as well as being an anti-inflammatory.

CHIVES

These are easy to grow and can be grown either indoors or outdoors.

Cookery Uses
They impart a light onion flavour in any dish and can also be used interchangeably in recipes calling for onions. Great in salads, soups and omelettes or simply as a garnish.

Medicinal Properties
Like other members of the onion family, chives contain useful amounts of potassium, flavonoids and saponins, hence they have valuable anti-oxidant, anti-cholesterol as well as anti-inflammatory effects.

Regardless of whether herbs in a pot are grown indoors or outdoors, herbs generally prefer full sun, although many, such as those with lush green leaves (e.g. parsley & chives), will do well in partial shade. The easiest way to start your indoor herb garden is to buy established plants. Drop in to your nearest garden centre to check out what herbs they have in stock. Follow expert gardeners such as Dermot Carey for tips on growing herbs as well as everything else!

Depending on the species of herb, you can plant a few different plants in the one pot, or, have a selection of pots of varying sizes, heights and colours to create an interesting arrangement. Water your hebs regularly to keep the soil moist but be careful not to over water. Use only organic plant food such as Ocean Leaves® Liquid Seaweed Extract and Ocean Leaves® Wild Organic Seaweed. You will find this is particularly important if you intend to use your herbs for cooking so as not to add chemicals to your food.

Tip: If herbs in a pot become overgrown, cut them back to encourage new growth.

Mary, Ocean Leaves

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