Herbs in containers

(I hope that this is in the right section)
I am hoping to grow herbs in containers this year but don't really know what type of soil/compost to use. I have read that some mediterranean herbs don't like a rich medium but 'jiucy' herbs like parsley and mint might like a different growing medium.

I am hoping to grow rosemary, mint, parsly, coriander, chives, bay, sage, oregano, thyme.....

 

Hi fmay, most herbs are fine in containers. I have one with sage, thyme and a prostrate rosemary - can't remember the name but it is not as big as the common bush variety. If you do plant the common one it must be kept regularly trimmed or it will get very large and leggy, then use the trimmings. Oregano spreads quickly but is very easy to grow.

Coriander is an annual and is sown from seed every year. It is an umbillifer and a member of the carrot family. It tends to bolt when transplanted so sow directly into the container in early May. You could put the chives in with it.

These are mediterranean plants so need well drained soil and full sun. Put crocks into the bottom of the container and add about 1 part sharp sand to 3 parts compost.

Mint will need a container on it's own as it will swamp anything else in there. Any moisture -retentive compost will do. I haven't grown parsley myself as a friend up the road grows masses and gives me bunches whenever I need any.

Bay will become a small tree but pretty slow growing so ideal in containers.

 

I find that eventually a lot of herbs get leggy and need replacing when grown in containers. There are a few exceptions - chives seem to do fine and mint of course.

I replace a lot though every couple of years, either with seeds or cuttings.

 

Hi, fmay.
I use a very basic Peat free multi-purpose compost with added John Innes for all of the herbs and vegetables that I grow indoors. With larger veg, these need eventually to be planted outside, but generally all the herbs grow very happily in this compost, and if I have any problems with lack og growth, a sprinkling of vermiculite usually does the trick. Parsley, mint and basil all take well, the only exception this year so far being Rosemary, which has, nonetheless, usually grown well for me in this sort of compost.

 

I plant my kitchen herbs in hanging baskets and containers works well for me and have just been using my mulit purpose compost.

This year have already tried Miricale grow compost 3bags for £12.