Growing your own Herbs

Creag

Creag

The Boar's Rock
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
46,414
Reaction score
8,979
Location
Joburg
We have started growing some of our own herbs. Presently we have parsley, basil and mint (three kinds in the same pot). I've resorted to pots because we don't have a lot of sunny spots in the garden.

The parsley is struggling a wee bit. The basil and mint are finally doing well.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips or ideas on successfully growing herbs in pots outside. Is there any organic means of fertilising the herbs and protecting the plants?

Also, are there any other herbs you have grown which are reasonably easy to grow? Any other thoughts on growing herbs for cooking with?

(PS. We put some mint in with vegetables when steaming them tonight. It was really lovely.)
 
Coriander/dhania is an easy herb to grow. Use as a garnish for Indian curries and breyani.
 
We have mint, basil, rosemary and thyme.
 
Mint is like a weed. Separate it. It is very invasive. BTW mint will grow practically anywhere so don't worry too much about that.

Do yourself a favour and invest in some hydroponic equipment if you want to keep yourself stocked properly. I'll try to post some pics of my simple setup tomorrow. Stands out in the sun all day long and requires practically no input on your part, apart from keeping the water flowing...
 
I grow basil and chili in pots no problem.

Use a fish emulsion like seagro once a month or so. I use a canola oil/garlic extract pesticide which nukes things like aphids.

Very keen to see the hydro setup
 
Rocket also grows like crazy. origanum is also nice. +1 to the seagrow. use it on anything i grow.amazing stuff.You cant burn the roots of plants with it like with some fertilizers, but just stick to the recommendations anyway.
 
Last edited:
_kabal_ said:
I grow basil and chili in pots no problem.

Use a fish emulsion like seagro once a month or so. I use a canola oil/garlic extract pesticide which nukes things like aphids.

Very keen to see the hydro setup
Click to expand...

Where do you get that? or do you mix it yourself.
Do you have a picture of it?

DJ - also interested in seeing pix of your hydroponic setup. :p
 
Thanks for the great input you all. Loving the ideas and looking forward to your pics, DJ... :)
 
Seeing how you capitalised the H in the title .. I came here expecting a completely different topic! :D

Just show us the 'ponics already!
 
My rosemary died mysteriously in the recent heatwave after surviving for about a year and a half. I have mint, basil, oregano and I think rocket. I've also planted watercress - growing slowly! I dont have the ideal setup for watercress - I've put them in a shady, usually moist part of the garden, in pots. But I think they'll do okay.

Otherwise, I have 2 Roma tomato plants, and a lot of different chilli varieties. Guajillo, jalapeno, birds eye, habanero, fatalii, cayenne, poblano, malawi paprika, pasilla and jalapeno. Just waiting for pods to form and turn ripe, I have some near ripe pasilla pods.
 
Regarding fertilizer and pest management...

Look for Seagro Superkel pellets, which are a form of slow release fertilizer. Very useful if you are growing outdoors. Dont use them indoors, they stink.

For pest management, leaving the plants outside seems to be the best. I had the chillis inside for a bit, but I battled with all sorts of insects. That garlic and canola oil insecticide did nothing, even when applied at pressure. Leaving them outside seems to discourage all pests except snails, and the way I deal with snails is to keep the plants in a place where the snails cant reach, or wont bother. Where there are plenty of other nice plants for them to eat, without bothering my herbs and chillis. I leave my pot plants outside on a metal plant stand, which raises them up out of reach of snails. Not that snails cant slither up the metal plant stand, they just dont seem to bother when there is so much more for them to eat that is easier to reach.

On another gardening related note, flip the rain is coming down here!
 
Too busy today and not likely to be home in time to snap pics in the light. You'll have to wait another day. I did post pics before - let me see if I can find them...
 
DJ... said:
Too busy today and not likely to be home in time to snap pics in the light. You'll have to wait another day. I did post pics before - let me see if I can find them...
Click to expand...

Come on Mr hydroponics....we're curious to see your setup ;)
 
McT said:
We have started growing some of our own herbs. Presently we have parsley, basil and mint (three kinds in the same pot). I've resorted to pots because we don't have a lot of sunny spots in the garden.

The parsley is struggling a wee bit. The basil and mint are finally doing well.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips or ideas on successfully growing herbs in pots outside. Is there any organic means of fertilising the herbs and protecting the plants?

Also, are there any other herbs you have grown which are reasonably easy to grow? Any other thoughts on growing herbs for cooking with?

(PS. We put some mint in with vegetables when steaming them tonight. It was really lovely.)
Click to expand...

You don't have to protect them, nothing much that will eat them but if you want get some of margaret roberts incecticide for plants, organic and easy to use.

Nitrosol is the cheapest and best liquid fertilizer I know of, spray leaves and drench pot with it.

The mint is going to take over the pot pretty quickly, you won't notice till it's to late as the roots will grow much faster than the leaves at first.
 
If you were to grow herbs in the garden outside how do you go about separating the different kinds?

Or do you just plant them all together and hope for the best?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X