Pure Beauty Farms Potted Herbs User Manual
- June 7, 2024
- Pure
Table of Contents
Pure Beauty Farms Potted Herbs User Manual
Most herb plants stay small and compact, making them the perfect choice for a small container garden. You can grow the herbs indoors or outdoors depending on the season and needs of the plant. Most potted herb varieties thrive outdoors in summer in all climates, and the hardier varieties can remain outside year-round in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 and 10. Using the best ways to take care of the potted herbs ensures maximum productivity from a small container garden.
Containers and Soil
Most herb varieties require good soil drainage and they won’t grow in dry or
overly wet soils. Using pots that have a bottom drainage hole allows the
excess moisture to drain away. A well drained pot combined with a peat-based
potting soil further ensures proper soil drainage and moisture retention.
Avoid heavy soils or regular garden soil since these tend to compact in the
confines of a pot. The size of the container depends on the herb variety. Most
small annual herbs do well in pots as small as 8 inches in diameter, while
larger perennials, like rosemary, may require a gallon pot or larger.
Location
The sun and temperature requirements of the specific herb determines the best
location. Most herbs can grow inside in a sunny windowsill, although the sun-
loving varieties may not produce foliage as lush as they would outdoors. The
majority of herbs grown for foliage tolerate some shade, especially in the
afternoon. Too much direct sunlight or heat can shorten the productive life of
cool season herbs like cilantro, so it’s best to always refer to the plant
care tag for the specific variety to determine the prime container location.
Temperature needs also vary between plants, with cilantro (Corian drum
sativum), for instance, preferring cool spring and fall weather and basil
(osmium basilica) growing best during the warmer days of summer. You can keep
the containers indoors until the outdoor temperature reaches the optimum range
for the herb variety.
Water Needs
Containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, especially when the herbs
are set outside where sun and wind speed drying. Most indoor pots require
watering every two to three days, or when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Outdoor pots may require irrigation as often as once a day, or even up to
twice a day during extremely warm weather. Checking the soil conditions daily
ensures the soil contains the correct amount of moisture. Different herbs also
have differing water needs. Basil, again, grows best in evenly moist soil
while lavender (lavendulan) and sage (salvia officinalis) prefer drier soil,
so always reference the plant care tag before watering. Pots kept indoors
should be set on a drip tray to catch any excess water as it drains. Empty the
water out of these trays after each irrigation.
Fertilizer
Herbs generally require minimal fertilization. Too much fertilizer can result
in a poor flavor, even if the plants produce more foliage. Like most care
requirements fertilizer needs also vary depending on the plant. A dilute
application of a balanced, soluble fertilizer, as low as a fourth of the
package recommended rate, every three weeks during the productive phase of
growth ensures the plant has enough nutrients to thrive.
Pruning and Harvesting
Foliage herbs tend to produce more when you prune and harvest from the plants
often. Pruning also prevents the plants from outgrowing their pots. You can
cut the foliage from a mature herb plant at any time until it begins to
flower, by either removing individual stems or pruning back the entire plant
by half its height. Herbs grown for seeds or flowers, such as coriander or
chamomile, require harvesting either after the seeds dry on the plant or when
the flowers are just about to fully bloom. Using clean shears to cut the herbs
minimizes the chances of disease and keeps the potted herbs healthy and
productive.
Credit: Written by Jenny Harrington https://homeguides.sfgate.com/ways-care- potted-herb-garden-26463.html
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>