Sow aromatic herbs in pots

Details
What a pleasure to harvest aromatic plants which are within hands reach, just before using them! As these plants grow well in small containers, it would be a shame to go without them. The most economical way of obtaining them is to sow them directly into the pots in which they are to be grown and gathered.

The choice of containers
For sowing, a small box is adequate, as long as its bottom lets the water drain out of it. All materials are suitable, like plastic, painted metal, terra cotta (enamelled or not), resin…. You only need 10cm in depth for annual plants such as parsley. For perennial plants like Oregano, choose bigger pots (for example 3 or 5 L pots) as the plants will not stay long in the container. A bigger pot is always preferable. Pots which are too small have two disadvantages: Plants wither in smaller pots and suffer from sudden watering, unavoidable in smaller earth’ volumes.

Sowing
Do not sow the seeds too deeply, no more than 1cm deep. Use some sowing compost if you have some, or at least a clean, moist compost which has not housed another plant beforehand. Sow either in the spring or at the end of summer when the cooler weather comes back. Try to sow thinly so as to avoid having to thin out and prick out the seedlings when they have sprouted up. The seedlings need a space of 1cm all around them. If you have sown too densely, thin out when the seedlings form their first two leaves, pulling them out. Prick out the seedlings when have reached 2 to 3cm in height. Lift them up to pull them out with all their roots and their earth-ball. Replant them, on the basis of three seedlings per 20cm pot. Proceed on a cool day, humid if possible and in the shade. Let the seedlings recover in a shady spot.

1 Fill up your container with compost
2 Level it out and press down lightly.
3 Sow, spacing out the seeds.
4 Cover the seeds up with a little bit of compost and press by hand.
5 Water gently and wait.

Dill
Sowing periods: March to May or August to October
Site: Sun or partial shade
Sowing depth: 1 cm
Rising up duration: 10 to 20 days
Number of days between the sowing and the first harvest: 120
Care: Thin out the seedlings if they grow too densely.
Watering: frequent.
Harvest: As soon as you can cut the leaves with scissors.
Good to know: Dill can be consumed as seeds, once the plant has bolted.

Coriander
Sowing periods: March to September
Site: Sun or partial shade
Sowing depth: 1 cm
Rising up duration: 18 days
Number of days between the sowing and the first harvest: 180
Care: Place the pot in the sun if the seedlings show signs of withering.
Watering: moderate.
Harvest: As soon as you can cut the leaves with scissors.
Good to know: Coriander can also be consumed as seeds. Let it go through winter and wait until it goes to seeds.

Fennel
Sowing periods: March to May or August to October
Site: Sun or partial shade
Sowing depth: 1 cm
Rising up duration: 10 to 20 days
Number of days between the sowing and the first harvest: 120
Care: Thin out the seedlings if they grow too densely.
Watering: frequent.
Harvest: All year round. Cut the stems right back from time to time to encourage new leaves.
Good to know: Fennel which has darker leaves (‘Purpureum’ or Bronze Fennel) has dark, crimson, young leaves which turn brown as they mature. It has identical flavour.

Oregano
Sowing periods: April- May or August-September
Site: Sun or partial shade (for lighter foliage varieties)
Sowing depth: 0.5 cm
Rising up duration: 30 days
Number of days between the sowing and the first harvest: 180
Care: Thin out the seedlings when they reach 2cm in height. One plant is enough in a 20cm pot.
Watering: regularly but not too abundantly.
Harvest: All year round. Cut the stems right back from time to time to encourage new leaves.
Good to know: You can find varieties of Oregano which have golden or variegated leaves. They have the same use than classic Oregano in cooking.

Parsley
Sowing periods: February to October
Site: Sun or partial shade (even shade)
Sowing depth: 0.5 cm
Rising up duration: 30 days
Number of days between the sowing and the first harvest: 120
Care: Thin out the seedlings if they grow too densely. You can prick out Parsley but it does not recover well.
Watering: frequently, otherwise Parsley goes to seeds. Mulch in summer.
Harvest: All year round, leaf by leaf. Protect from draught which make its leaves wither in winter.
Good to know: Parsley will sprout better if you cover the sowings with newspapers’ sheets which are kept humid during the rising duration.
Photos (11)