Herb Soil & Care

Annual herbs (basil, cilantro, fennel) and perennial herb plants (oregano, marjoram, chives) are popular among growers. 

Why?

Growing herbs is more economical than buying them at the store. Plus, you can easily set up a thriving herb garden with the right growing conditions. 

You can:

• Grow your herbs indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather, and enjoy your potted plant year-round.

• Place your potted herb on your kitchen windowsill to keep it accessible when cooking. 

Let’s now explore the best potting soil and care tips for growing fresh herb plants:

1. The Best Potting Soil for Herbs

Your herb plant won’t flourish without the right potting mix.

Here’s what to consider when selecting the best type of  soil for herbs:

• Nutrient-Dense: The best soil must have a mix of organic matter and essential nutrients since herbs need adequate plant food to flourish. 
• Optimal Drainage: The potting soil should retain moisture and drain well. Your container should also have good drainage holes to release excess water.
  Well drained soil (like loamy soil) is essential to avoid root rot, which is common among indoor herb plants. On the other hand, your culinary herbs can start wilting in gritty alkaline chalk and sandy soil or dense clay soil.
• Well-Aerated: The best soil for herbs should be light and fluffy. This creates air pockets in the potting soil, giving the indoor plant roots easy access to oxygen. 

2. How To Grow A Herb Plant 

Growing a herb from seed can take time since germination (seed starting) needs a suitable environment. 

Instead, to grow annual herbs and perennial herbs quickly, you could get a starter plant or take a cutting to grow your herbs indoors or in an outdoor container.

Here’s how you take a cutting for a potted plant:

1. Find an outward leaf node on a green stem and make an angled cut above it. 
   
2. Remove the leaves from the lower part and plant the stem in moist soil.
   
3. Pop a plastic bag on top of it to provide some humidity.
   
4. Water your fresh herb and check for new leaf growth every few weeks.
   
5. Re-pot the herb into a larger container with potting soil.
   
6. Gradually introduce the herb to direct sunlight (herbs can flourish with full sun exposure and partial shade).

3. Caring For Your Culinary Herbs

Love vegetable gardening? 

Try these care tips for your favorite herb plant (including Mediterranean herbs):

• Avoid planting herbs in garden soil. Instead, opt for well drained soil.
  
• Water your herb plant only when the 1-2 inches of the top soil is dry to avoid overwatering.
• Add plant food (like worm castings) to the soil mix every 3-6 months, starting from the growing season.
• Increase yield by pruning your indoor herb plant when it grows about 3” above the soil.
  
• Perennial herb flowers can turn a sweet basil bitter, but if you’re regular with your trimmings, this shouldn’t pose a problem.