Herb container display

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Herb container display

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 10 July 2019 at 3:25 pm

Create a stylish container display using a selection of edible herbs. We show you how.

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Most herbs originate in hot, dry climates and dislike our cold, wet winters. Growing them in pots is therefore perfect because they can be brought under cover for the winter. You can also keep them near your kitchen, where you can access them easily. Herbs look fantastic in containers, too – here we've combined red-veined sorrel with geranium, basil, calendula and salad burnet.

You Will Need

Red-veined sorrel, Rumex sanguineus
Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses'
Sweet woodruff, Galium odoratum
Calendula
Basil plant
Salad burnet, Sanguisorba minor
Old tin bath or bucket

Total time: 20 minutes

Step 1

Herb container display - adding compost

Drill drainage holes in the base of the container, if necessary, add crocks and then fill two-thirds with compost. Cover the bottom of the pot with crocks, then fill it two-thirds with compost, mixed with a few handfuls of horticultural grit or sand.

Step 2

Herb container display - adding the herbs

Arrange the plants in the pot in any order you like.

Step 3

Herb container display - adding gravel around the herbs

Top up with compost, firming it around the roots with your fingers, then add a mulch of gravel to conserve moisture.

Step 4

Herb container display - watering the herbs

Water the container well and allow to drain before moving to its final position.

Kevin Smith says...

Combine herbs with edible flowers to create a container display that provides good looks with a tasty harvest. Calendula, violas and nasturtiums all make a colourful addition to fresh salads.

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