Herbs - what goes together and what doesn't?

[Tomato Head]

Can anyone help with advice on what herbs are ok to put together in the same pot and what should not be together? I've only grown basil up til now (successfully on the kitchen window sill so will do that again this year) but I've acquired lots of herb seeds and don't reallly know what is ok together and what is best kept apart.

I know that mint can be invasive so is best kept apart from other herbs - is it ok to put several varieties of mint in the same pot?

The other herbs I have are - sage, rosemary, thyme, sorrel, lovage, salad burnet, parsley and perilla (so far). Do any of those need to be kept apart from each other?

[Nicos]

I think you first need to look into what is perennial and may need overwintering indoors- and make sure they are in the same tub/pot.

Sorrel is a perennial and will cope with very low temperatures...I'd worry about the pot not the plant !

[Thelma Sanders]

lovage is huge so doubt it would grow in a pot

[spanish_gardener]

How to Grow Compatible Herbs
by Julie Christensen, Demand Media

1
Divide the herb garden into several sections, grow herbs in different areas of the garden or in pots. Select a sunny herb garden, as well as an herb garden that receives partial shade.

2
Spread 2 inches of compost or composted manure over the soil and till it to a depth of 8 inches. Herbs don't need rich soil, but a few amendments improve drainage. Soil that is too rich dilutes the flavor of the leaves.

3
Plant Mediterranean perennial herbs, such as sage (Salvia officinalis), oregano (Origanum), rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) and thyme (Thymus), in a sunny garden location with slightly dry soil. Plant basil (Ocimum basilicum) and dill (Anethum graveolens) in another location. These annual herbs thrive in full sun, but need moderate water.

4
Plant mint (Mentha) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) in another location or even in containers. These herbs prefer partial shade, moderate water and cooler temperatures. They spread quickly and can take over the garden if not controlled or placed in their own area. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) also prefer partial shade.

5
Plant tea herbs, such as chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and calendula (Calendula officinalis), in a separate area of the garden or tuck them in a perennial bed. Most tea herbs thrive in full sun to partial shade and need moderate moisture.

[spanish_gardener]

What Is the Best Mix of Herbs to Grow Together in a Pot?
by Emily Goodman, Demand Media

Most herbs start out as small plants. So growing them together in a pot seems like a clever idea to save space, and it works -- for a while. Herbs grown together in a pot can work if you harvest their leaves regularly for cooking, which keeps the plants small and prevents any one plant from taking over the space and squeezing out the other plants. Use a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter, pair plants that have similar water and light needs, and prepare to snip leaves to keep your plants in bounds. A mix of herbs in one pot can be pretty and practical, but it will keep your plants small.

Mediterranean Varieties
Many culinary herbs come from the Mediterranean region and share similar needs for lots of sunlight and a relatively dry, lean soil. Rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme, marjoram and lavender all fall into this group. Thyme is a tiny, creeping plant that easily can be kept in bounds in a pot, and it may be paired with a prostrate rosemary and variegated sage, which grows more slowly than all-green sage.

Moisture-Lovers
Basil, cilantro, tarragon and parsley also like full sun, but these species prefer more moisture in their soil than rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme, marjoram and lavender. Parsley, is a biennial, living only two years. So if you plan to keep the herb pot going indefinitely, prepare for the parsley to give out early. If you have dreams of making pesto, lots of basil plants will be needed; one small basil plant in a mixed pot won't be nearly enough.

Mints
The mint family plants, which include peppermint, spearmint, catmint, flavored mints such as orange mint and lemon balm, are spreading plants. They send out runners and grow sideways. For this reason, mints don't survive long in pots. Pots prevent them from spreading out, and the original plants don't live very long. If you're determined to have mint, grow it in a long window box, where the plant will be able to spread out to the sides. Don't mix different mints in the same box because they interbreed and will produce some new and probably not as deliciously fragrant varieties.

Lemon-Scented Plants
Lemon verbena, a lemon-scented shrub from South America, grows big enough to deserve a pot all to itself, but you could plant low-growing lemon thyme as a spreading plant around a lemon verbena's base. The lemon thyme will help to keep moisture from evaporating out of the soil, which is good for the lemon verbena, and it will spread nicely and may even flow over the pot's edges.

Hope it helps!

[james442]

Nice

Can anyone help with advice on what herbs are ok to put together in the same pot and what should not be together? I've only grown basil up til now (successfully on the kitchen window sill so will do that again this year) but I've acquired lots of herb seeds and don't reallly know what is ok together and what is best kept apart.


_______________
James

[vixylix]

Hi James and welcome to the vine! If you've read through this thread all the advice remains valid. The key thing for me with herbs is sussing what kind of environment they need (eg. sun or shade, lots of water or dry soil) and group them together that way.

This last year I had basil and sage together, thyme and rosemary together and parsley and coriander together. Mint I always keep separate as it really does take over!

Good luck!