Everyone can grow herbs in pots. It's fun and rewarding. And it's especially great in the kitchen, where you'll always have fresh ingredients to hand. On your windowsill, terrace or balcony.
Most herbs used in cooking adapt well to pot culture. They can be harvested frequently and continue to produce new shoots when pruned. Planted as close as possible to the kitchen, in a window box on the windowsill or on the balcony, you'll have them on hand when you prepare the meal. Freshness guaranteed! What's more, these are generally perennial plants. If you protect them from the rigors of winter, you'll be able to keep them year after year.
Some aromatic herbs that are easy to grow in pots
Mint
In the garden, many mint varieties are reputed to be invasive and unruly. So it's best to grow mint in pots to limit its spread. Mint thrives in both sun and half-shade. Water regularly and harvest often.
Lemon balm
Less well-known, its light-green leaves have a lemon aroma with a hint of mint. Use chopped fresh leaves to add zest to sweet or savory dishes. But beware, it's best to place it away from the kitchen; its sweet fragrance attracts bees.
Chives
Chives are easy-to-grow perennials that need only four or five hours of sunlight. Make sure it doesn't dry out, as it likes moist soil. Add a handful of chives to finish off a salad, soup or sauce. Its delicate fragrance makes all the difference. Beware: prolonged cooking reduces its flavor, so add it at the last minute. Did you know that chive flowers, which are a light purple, have an even more delicate flavor?
Parsley
Once established, parsley will produce for two years before flowering and dying out. Slow to start, this classic aromatic herb becomes very productive over time. It needs more water than most herbs, and is one of the few that can use a little fertilizer.
Basil
It's the aromatic herb of summer. There are different varieties, all with exquisite flavors. Give it well-drained soil and plenty of sun. Be sure to pinch off any flower buds that appear, because as basil begins to flower, the flavor of the leaves diminishes.
Rosemary
Rosemary adds a welcome flavor to roast potatoes and chicken dishes. It dries perfectly and retains its flavor all winter long. It likes sun and well-drained soil. Be careful not to over-water. It hates having its feet in water. Bring it indoors, on a sunny windowsill, when the weather turns cool in mid-autumn.
Thyme
Another hardy Mediterranean plant that requires very little maintenance. It thrives in pots and needs minimal watering. Some varieties grow into small shrubs with tiny purple flowers. Do you know lemon thyme or orange thyme? Give them a try, they'll add a delicate spice to your dishes.
Coriander
Everything's good about coriander. Pick the leaves, which have a slight aniseed flavor, as and when you need them in the kitchen. Use in soups, salads, with fish or poultry. The dried seeds are used in curries and pickles. And the finely chopped roots will give your curries and stews an intense flavor.
Chamomile
Like mint, chamomile has a reputation for being invasive and its root system needs to be controlled. Growing it in a pot is therefore an excellent solution. Remove the chamomile flowers and infuse for five minutes in a cup of boiled water. It's the perfect relaxing herbal tea.
Which herbs to use in a window box?
If you're short on space, you'll probably find yourself growing several herbs in the same planter. This is quite possible, provided you follow a few basic rules:
- Container size: choose a planter large enough and deep enough to hold your herbs.
- Water requirements: avoid mixing plants that like a lot of water (such as chives, mint, chervil, coriander) with those that like well-drained soil (such as rosemary, thyme, sage, chamomile) and are almost drought-tolerant.
- Plant size: combine herbs of similar size - a large rosemary will overwhelm a small thyme, for example. And if you really want to mix rosemary and thyme, look for a compact form of rosemary.
- Exposure: most aromatic plants love the sun. But some can also tolerate shade (parsley, coriander, chives, mint, lemon balm).
Some "good associations":
- Chives, parsley and sorrel
- Rosemary, thyme and bay leaf
- Coriander, basil and parsley
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