The Best Herbs to Grow in a Patio Garden
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Rosemary
Thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and oregano are all plants that like good drainage in their soil. These five are an excellent combination to group in a wine barrel or other large container when they’re young. While it grows slowly, the rosemary can eventually overtake the other plants in growth, so keep it well-pruned so the other plants don’t get crowded out. If you miss an occasional watering, these will be okay, and their leaves will be more potent and flavorful the next day. Some people deliberately skip watering the day before a harvest and water just after harvesting instead.
-Kevin Espiritu and Lorin Nielsen
- Rosemary is perennial in USDA zones 6-10.
- It makes a great container plant to keep inside for the winter in colder climates; just be sure to choose a rosemary variety that grows to smaller size.
- Use a mineral based, fast draining soil in containers with good drainage.
- Grow rosemary in a south/southwest location in a zone 6 or 7 landscape, in well-drained soil.
- Protect it from unexpected cold snaps.
- In warmer climates it is a useful landscape plant.
- Rosemary tolerates hot, full sun; reflected heat; poor, but well drained soils and low water.
- Varieties of rosemary can grow to 12 feet or slowly creep as a ground cover.
-Pam Perry
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Tarragon
Tarragon can be grown in both partial shade and full sun, so try including it on your list of herbs for a patio garden. This herb grows best with a well-draining potting mix soil and it tolerates drought well, so be sure not to give it too much water. Harvest tarragon regularly and you can cut the leaves off as you need them. It can be dried and frozen, but the herb tends to lose some of its flavor when dried.
- Tarragon is hardy in zone 4 and grows in zone 9.
- It is a spreading plant, so a container is a great way to keep it mannerly in a small space. Containers in cold climates should be protected from extreme cold. If they are porous, they should be kept dry, in a garden shed or garage to prevent breakage.
- Plants appear in the garden centers in spring when they have broken dormancy. Planting them as soon as they are available allows them to become well established before winter comes and they go dormant.
- It tolerates full sun or very light shade, does not require heavy irrigation, or much fertilizer, but prefers well drained soil.
-Pam Perry
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Thyme
Thyme is an herb that grows best in a planter with full sun in soil that drains well. It also comes in several varieties, including lemon thyme that pairs well with grilled chicken, fish and vegetables. Thyme is best when harvested just before the plant blooms. Cut at the stem, then strip the leaves from the stem and discard the stem.
- Thyme is one of the better herbs for patio garden, as long as it’s in a fast-draining soil mix.
- Thyme prefers full sun and cannot abide wet feet in a pot or in the garden. It is easy to over water thyme, especially when the humidity is high.
- Shearing the plant after blooming initiates new growth of leaves to harvest as well as keeping the plant from getting too woody.
- Thyme grows well in zones 6-10 and with protection in zone 5.
- Transplants planted in spring will become established enough for harvesting the first season.
-Pam Perry
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