Can I start anything now?

[Sestren]

Hi everyone,

I'm a complete beginner when it comes to gardening but I'd like to give growing my own herbs a shot. Space is at a premium so it really needs to be done in pots, either indoors or outdoors.

The ones I'd like to grow are thyme, parsley, sage, rosemary and basil. Would these work in a pot? Would I need a separate one for each herb or could I grow them all together in one big one?

Also, is it worth doing anything now? I suppose I was thinking of getting little plants and then trying to cultivate them a bit rather than growing from seed.

Generally any help that you can give would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

(EDIT: I should also say that there's a good little garden centre just down the road from me and I'm intending to go down and ask them their advice and what they think, but I don't want to appear a bit dim and get told to come back in three/six months so I thought I'd check here first!)

[Mell]

If you are talking about buying plants & sticking them in new pots now, it isn't the ideal time but thyme, sage, rosemary will happily sit around outside at this time of year, but using any of a small plant wouldn't be a good idea. Parsley & Basil, will both grow indoors now & be put out later in the year.

I don't like herbs all in one pot myself they always loom pretty on photos, but I've never seen a long term sucess this way. So I'd suggest multiple pots.

[Alison]

I don't like herbs all in one pot myself they always loom pretty on photos, but I've never seen a long term sucess this way. So I'd suggest multiple pots.

It's fine to put them in pots together so long as they like the same conditions ie ones which like full sun and can withstand a bit of dry do well together etc etc. Also tubs with say 3 varieties of the same herb look great as you can show different leaf colours and the like.

[Strawberry delight]

If you were thinking of buying them in pots and repot them, as Mell said ,it didnt work that well.
Growing them from seeds is just as easy and you could sow them now, indoors etc. Ive decided to grow all my herbs from seed this year- i think it is probably cheaper in the long run.

Good luck!

[Mell]

yes can be done, but I don't think they tend to do as well & also you can move the basil indoor in winter if by itself, not so easy if its with something else. If you want different leaf colours in one pot better to use the different kinds of the same herb, IMHO, there are many types of thyme, several sages, purple & green basils, Rosemary, likes to be really dry & free draining so I always like it by itself, for a pot I think I'd go for prostrate rather than upright.

[Sestren]

Thanks for the help everyone,

OK, so if I get a separate small pot for each herb that I want to grow do I just need to fill it up with compost and sow them straight in? If I did that now and then kept them indoors until the weather gets a bit nicer would they be OK, or would I be better off doing everything in the Spring?

[Jeanied]

Sestren it will all depend on your climate - and where you are growing. If you are likely to get a frost or more snow, now is not the time to sow seeds - spring is better for many herbs.
Why not put your location on your profile as that may help us to answer.
Your garden centre will sell you little plants of hardy herbs, that can be re-potted onto tubs or containers.

[Mell]

Thanks for the help everyone,

OK, so if I get a separate small pot for each herb that I want to grow do I just need to fill it up with compost and sow them straight in? If I did that now and then kept them indoors until the weather gets a bit nicer would they be OK, or would I be better off doing everything in the Spring?

You mat as well try now, don't use all your seed and if it fails try again in the dpring. It will deoend somewhat on the conditrions in your house, as you don't plan to sow outside where you are geographically isn't a big issue.

Windowsill is prob best and it can help to keep the moisture in with a mini bell jar made from a see thro tub, if your house is quite dry. I've only ever grown rosemary , and sage from cuttings or plants, basil & parsley are easy from seed, thyme is OK but slow.

The National Herb Nursery isn't far from you National Herb Centre at Warmington, near Banbury

I try and avoid such places as I always buy stuff I don't need !

For the rosemary you will eventually need a fair size, deep pot, its compost needs to be stoney, mix with gravel or grit.

Sage likes dry but not quite so stoney but well drained

It will be 2012 before you could use these from seed I think.

Parsley likes a deep pot 20cm min , moist but not waterlogged soil, cooler conditions. place seeds in warm water for 24hours before sowing to speed things up

So if I were you I'd buy in rosemary & Sage & do seed of basil & parsley

[JamesM]

I grew coriander, parsley and basil in pretty small pots last year. The basil and parsley were fine, the only issue was that the coriander flagged after a couple of long and particularly sunny days. Soon perked up after a good water and it was probably avoidable if i checked the forecast a bit closer to move it to shady spot on the hotter days.

In short i'll be doing the same this year and see no reason why i shouldn't be successful again. Seeds were sown in the shed window in mid-May

[chris]

Rosemary is a right beggar to germinate from seed. I think from a whole pack, I've had 3 seeds germinate successfully... 1 seed left (forgot about them outdoors) - but it's survived the winter... Tiny mind. Suggest a cutting/small plant bought in personally!

Edit, oh hmm didn't realise this was an old thread!