Planting Herbs in Hanging Baskets

By Brenda Hyde

Planting herbs in a hanging basket is a pretty and useful way to grow herbs and it's perfect for those with limited space!

THE CONTAINER

You'll want something good sized (12-16 inches wide and at least 12 inches deep). Wire baskets work nicely and look especially good with herbs. Use sphagnum moss, coco-fibre or other organic materials to line the basket. You can also use black plastic (poke holes) or burlap to line for a cheap fix. I have a very large wicker basket with a handle that I'm going to plant this year. If a basket is not made for hanging, buy hooks and chain and the hardware. You can also add a swivel made for fishing-they come in all sizes and attach it to the hook. BE SURE what you are hanging it from is sturdy enough. I've had good luck with wrought iron hangers that are screwed in to fence or porch posts. If you look in the house plant section you'll find some good ones and for some reason they were cheaper then the ones in the garden department.

THE LOCATION

You'll need at least 4 hours of sun-more if possible. Try to shelter the basket from the wind, or at least move it on extra windy days. Use a good container soil, and if you are using herbs like mint or basil, you'll want a pretty fertile mixture. The Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, lavender or sage need a little sand added.

THE PLANTS

Here are some ideas---

A lemon basket: use lemon thyme, lemon balm, lemon basil and a pretty yellow edible flower such as a pansy, moonlight nasturtiums (creamy yellow), or calendula.

A spicy basket: Choose a small hot pepper plant (Thai pepper are nice) for the middle and around it plant basil (lime and cinnamon), lemon thyme, and oregano. All of these can be used for salsa!

A Summer Salad Basket: Plant nasturtiums, fernleaf dill, parsley, and a cherry tomato plant.

A Fragrance Basket: Try a chocolate mint, scented geraniums, and lavender or any other herb that you love the smell of. Look for dwarf varieties if possible, but they stay smaller in containers, so experiment!

An Italian Basket: Use basil, oregano, marjoram, garlic chives and a pepper plant in the middle. There is a dwarf variety called Jingle Bells that is not only charming, but the little peppers can be stuffed!

PLANTING:

Soak the moss liner for quite a few hours or even overnight. Line the basket with whatever you are using and add the soil. Place the plants in the soil-crumbling peat pots off the roots if they had them-Place the largest/tallest herb in the middle and around it plant the others. You can fit them in quite closely. Water well, and hang. Watch the container closely to determine how often it will need watering. Larger containers do dry out slower than smaller ones, and herbs like it fairly dry, but you shouldn't let the soil dry out at anytime. Feed the herbs with an organic fertilizer of some type-but never use chemicals. Pinch the plants out from the middle after planting to help them busy out. Harvest as you would in the garden!

NOTES: I haven't tried this, but I've read of planting cherry tomato plants from UNDERNEATH the hanging basket (drilling holes if necessary), and putting annual herbs about them, so they grow hanging-basically upside down. They must be in full sun where it will expose all the plants. A unique idea! Click here for instructions to grow full sized hanging tomatoes.

About The Author

Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her
husband and three kids. She is also editor of StandBesideHer.com and has a family friendly blog, On the Front Porch.

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