by Jessica Steele

Created on: August 20, 2011

How to use a strawberry planter to grow herbs.

A common strawberry planter is an excellent container for growing herbs, and makes it possible for you to bring those herbs indoors once the weather becomes too cool to grow them outside. Because strawberry planters have several openings on them, it is possible to grow a wide variety of herbs in a much smaller space than would be required if they each had their own containers. You will want to choose herbs that have compatible growing needs, and that will fit into the container that you have chosen. Most herbs have similar growing conditions, but you will want to make sure that they have similar light and water requirements.  Soil requirements can be quite important as well.  For example, while Thyme and Basil are both lovers of bright sun, they have very different preferences in soil and water needs. Decide if you are going to grow perennial or annual herbs in your containers, as mixing the two will leave bare spots in your container once the annuals have completed their life cycle.

Start by choosing your planter and soil. Herbs need good drainage to thrive, so make sure there is adequate drainage in the bottom of the planter. It is best to start with small, established plants, as it is very difficult to water and maintain seeds in the sideways openings on the planters sides. The soil, and seeds planted within, tends to run out of the sides of the container until there is adequate root support to keep it contained.

One problem people run into with strawberry planters is that the water erodes a lot of the dirt out the side, before roots are established and later, it is difficult to water the plants whose roots are deeper in the container. A quick, easy, and inexpensive fix for this is to take a small piece of old garden hose, just enough for the top to stick out of the soil, and drill or poke small holes all around it. When you water you will have an opening to pour water into, and it will distribute more evenly through the pot without disrupting loose soil.

Start by placing your hose into your container. Fill the container with soil to the bottom rim of the first layer of openings. Choose your herb and gently place it into the opening and cover with soil, packing firmly enough to hold it in place.  Continue this process one layer at a time until you have placed all of your herbs in the pot, remembering to leave the very top of the hose sticking up out of the dirt just enough to keep from clogging it when you water. Place your herb garden in its designated home, and enjoy the bounty. If you bring your container inside before the frost hits, you will be able to enjoy your bounty most or all of the winter through, and can place it back outside in the spring when temps are safe again.  

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