A herb pot not only looks beautiful, but also provides you with delicious herbs for salads, teas and dishes. Find out below which herbs go together, which don't, and how to plant your herb pot step by step.
What is the best way to plant a herb pot?
When planting an herb pot, consider combining herbs with similar water needs and location requirements. Good combinations include rosemary and basil or sage and thyme. Make sure that the pot has drainage and do not plant the herbs too closely.
Which herbs to put in the herb pot?
In general, all herbs can be grown in a herb pot. When making combinations, it is important to ensure that the herbs have similar water needs and location requirements. Some herbs complement each other perfectly and keep pests away from each other, but others don't go together at all.
Good herb combinations
The following herbs go well together:
- Rosemary and basil
- Sage and rosemary
- Sage and thyme
- Savory, oregano and sage
- Tarragon, sage, chives, thyme and lemon balm
- Tarragon and lemon balm
- Borage, dill, parsley, marjoram
Bad Neighbors
You should never plant them together:
- Basil and sage
- Basil and thyme
- Dill and parsley
- Dill and caraway
- Chervil and dill
Herbs for sunny and shady locations
Select your herbs based on the site conditions and combine those with similar requirements:
| Herbs for the sun | Herbs for partial shade | Herbs for shade |
|---|---|---|
| Oregano | Chives | Arugula |
| Coriander | Chervil | cress |
| Lemon balm | spiced fennel | Sampfer |
| Lavender | Marigold | Wild garlic |
| Rosemary | parsley | Mint |
| Borage | Lemon Verbena | |
| Thyme | Tarragon |
Planting the herb pot step by step
Almost all herbs are sensitive to waterlogging. Therefore, you should make sure that your herb pot has one or more water drains. If this is not the case, such as in a zinc bucket, you should drill fingernail-sized holes in the bottom of the pot - one or more depending on the size of the pot.
Material and tool list
- potsherd
- expanded clay
- Garden soil
- possibly some sand or compost
- Herbs
1. Drainage layer
Cover the water drain with a piece of pottery (with the curvature facing upwards) to prevent it from becoming clogged. Then add some expanded clay or other clay shards to the herb pot as a drainage layer.
2. Fill in soil
Fill the pot two-thirds full with soil and then place the plants in it. Remember that the roots need enough space; so don't plant too tightly. Then fill the rest with soil.
Optional: 3. Protect the pot from drying out
Last but not least, you can cover the soil with mulch, pebbles or moss. This looks nice and keeps the moisture in the soil for longer. Then water your herb pot thoroughly and place it in a bright location.