How to Plant an Herb Garden in a Small Space

For people who love to cook, nothing is better than having fresh herbs at your fingertips. Who doesn't like the smell of fresh rosemary or mint in the kitchen, or making homemade pizzas with hand picked oregano, thyme, and basil? Herbs are very easy to raise and require just a minimum of fuss. They do quite well in any warm, sunny place and will often flourish in areas where nothing else will grow. I've raised herbs in window wells, on balconies, porch steps, and even up against the blazing heat of a foundation wall.

For herbs to thrive, all they really need is a location with plenty of sunshine, and well drained, yet not overly fertile soil.

Where can I plant my herb garden?

Herbs need at least 6-8 hours of sun daily, more is better. In my plant zone, areas with intensive south or west exposure seem to work best. Depending your available space, your herb garden can be planted in either a container, or directly into the ground.

If your garden space is limited to a patio or deck, several herb plants can be grown in a large, but shallow planter. A circular 30 inch round is a great size and can be purchased at most home improvement stores. If you like the look of multiple containers or live in an apartment, half a dozen different flower pots can be grouped to create a striking effect along stairs or on the balcony. Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to hunt for mismatched containers.

I've used containers such as tin coffee pots, metal buckets and roasting pans. The containers must have drain holes for the herbs to grow; for a metal container, you can pierce a few holes in the bottom with a large 3 penny nail and a hammer.

For tiny yards, an incredible variety of herbs can be planted in a sunny plot no larger than 36 by 18 inches. Arrange river rocks into a circle to create an herb rock garden (picture #2). Raised beds can also be built out of stacked pieces of concrete, landscape blocks, whiskey barrels, or tin wash basins.

Buying the plants

Once you've decided on a location, you are ready to buy your herbs.