Herbs

k_webber90

Hi, I'm wanting to plant up some herb containers, I've seen on a few Monty Don shows though that people tend to put Herb's that dont like the same conditions together. Any advice on what to put with what please? (I've killed a fair few herbs before!) Thank you

Obelixx

You need to work out which herbs you want to grow first then divide them into sun lovers and shade lovers and the sun lovers then need dividing into the ones that like well-drained soil and those that need more water.  The other thing you need to know is not to mix mints in one pot or even adjacent pots as they will lose their identity and all taste the same.

You can happily combine the woody mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, sage and thyme but in my experience, rosemary and sage get quite large when happy and neither is good in a cold or very wet winter unless placed in a very sheltered spot.   Thymes are good in trough type planters as they can get by on less depth of soil.  The ones grown "hard" are great for soups, stews etc.   Do make sure the planting medium is covered with a layer of grit or small pebbles afterwards to keep the foliage clean and help with drainage around the corwn of the plant.

Herbs such as chervil need shade from the midday sun and, like parsley and basil, are better grown soft with more watering to keep them plump and fresh.   I also like the soft, fresh growth of young thyme stems for salads so usually have a small pot handy on a windowsill for regular trimming of the soft new growth and where they get regular watering to maintain the soft growth.  Still need good drainage tho.

Have a read of this as it gives good basic guidelines then look up each herb and its preferences - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=142

k_webber90

Thank you Obelixx, thats super helpful! I'll have a read of the RHS link. 

nutcutlet

Has anyone checked out 'mint absorbing/swapping flavours' for fact? I've read it many times but fail to see how this could happen

Obelixx

I grew a whole collection of mints in pots in Belgium @nutcutlet and grouped them all together for effect.  I ended up binning most of them beacuse they all ended up tatsting the same.  These days I limit myself to Moroccan mint, ginger mint and strawberry mint and keep the pots well apart.  They are much better tho the strawberry mint has been a bit of a wussy fusspot and will probably go.  We also have wild apple mint all over the wilder areas of the plot and in the hedgerows.

Big Blue Sky

Does strawberry mint really taste like strawberries @Obelixx ? Or is it just a name?

Obelixx

No, tho it is mild and probably good with strawberries tho that may be due to excess heat in May and July.  I do keep my mints on the north side of the house so no excesses of direct sun except early morning but we had 44C in the shade in July and I think this one needs a bigger pot and more water - or the bin.

Nollie

All excellent advice, Obelixx, I would only add don’t mix mint in a pot or planter with any other herb, give it it’s own pot as it will take over everything and its very hard to get rid of! I made the mistake of sinking a pot of mint in a large planter, thinking that would be enough to isolate it, but within weeks the roots escaped the bottom of the pot and the stuff sprang up everywhere. 

Obelixx

It can leap over the sides too @Nollie.  Definitely a plant for pots.