How To Grow Herbs In A Hanging Basket

In this guide we look at how to grow herbs in a hanging basket including how to plant them, which plants to use and how to care for them after planting.

Growing herbs is a novel alternative to growing the traditional flower displays. Herbs can provide a striking new look, a pleasant aroma around the garden and can be used to provide herbs for use in cooking.

Which herbs can be used?
A wide range of herbs can be grown easily in hanging baskets. Popular herbs such as parsley, rosemary, sage, basil and tarragon are ideal due to their scent, appearance and usefulness around the kitchen. In reality, hanging baskets can be used to grow most plants or flowers and even fruit - so experiment if you want to see what else you can grow in one!

How do you plant the herbs?
Fortunately, herbs can be planted in much the same way as flowers. As materials you will need a frame, hanging basket liner, compost and slow release fertiliser. Position the frame securely in front of you and place the liner inside the frame. Fill the liner with compost to the half way point. Mix in a teaspoon of slow release fertiliser (or as advised on the packet) to the compost. Add more compost until the basket is nearly full and mix in more fertiliser - leaving around an inch below the lip of the basket all the way round. Plant the herbs in the compost and position them appropriately. Tall herbs like Tarragon can be planted in the centre whilst plants such as Sage can be planted around the sides to encourage them to trail over the side. Basil and Parsley can be planted to fill in any gaps. Aim for 8-10 individual plants in a 14 inch basket.

How do you care for the herbs after planting?
Once planted, water the plants thoroughly and then hang on a bracket or hook as normal. The herbs need to be watered regularly to encourage growth as baskets are particularly prone to drying out. In summer this means every day and potentially twice a day in very hot periods. Liquid feed can be added as well during the growing period. As a result of this care the herbs will develop and mature and can be harvested individually or all at once depending on your requirements.

In summary, planting Parsley, Thyme, Sage, Basil or Tarragon in a hanging basket is a great way to create a different kind of hanging basket that gives a nice appearance, a pleasant scent and of course something you can use in the kitchen.