Resources / Container gardening
By Sawgrass Organics · Updated September 18, 2026 · 3 min read
Start with two or three herbs you cook with, give each a suitable pot with drainage, and choose a location that meets its light needs. Separate pots make it easier to adjust watering for each plant.
Choose the herbs you will use
Begin with your kitchen instead of a long shopping list. If you regularly cook with basil, parsley, or thyme, choose a small plant or two and learn their care before filling every available pot.
The University of Florida's herb guide highlights herbs as a good fit for containers and notes that their moisture needs differ. It also cautions that mint can spread aggressively, making a separate pot a useful choice.
Check your local planting season. A sunny patio in one region may need a different timing plan from a windowsill or a hot balcony elsewhere. Use local extension guidance and the plant label rather than assuming the same herb will thrive outdoors year-round everywhere.
Choose light before choosing a shelf
A kitchen counter is convenient only if it offers suitable growing conditions. Put light first, then think about how to keep the herb easy to reach. Indoors, a grow light may be needed where natural light is insufficient.
Use a container with drainage and a lightweight, well-draining potting medium. The University of Maryland's guide to container herbs covers indoor light, potting media, and care. Check the mature size on your plant label when selecting the pot.
Three herbs, three labeled pots, and one tray for supplies. Keep the pots separate so you can move one into better light or adjust its watering without disturbing the others.
Plant and establish your herbs
- Set the empty pots in place. Check that you can water them and remove any drained water without making a mess.
- Prepare the growing mix. Follow the bag instructions and fill around the root ball gently, keeping the plant at its original depth.
- Water after planting. Let excess water escape, then check the mix before the next watering.
- Label each plant. Add its preferred light and watering notes to the label or a small notebook.
- Harvest gradually. Follow the harvesting guidance for the herb and leave enough healthy growth for it to continue developing.
Maryland's container planting guidance explains gentle filling and grouping herbs with compatible conditions.
Keep watering and feeding plant-specific
Do not give every herb water just because one needs it. Basil generally prefers more even moisture than herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Separate pots let you check them individually. Read our container watering guide for a repeatable checking routine.
Follow the potting mix and fertilizer directions, taking the herb's needs into account. Extra compost or fertilizer is not the first response to every slow-growing plant; check the light, roots, and moisture as well.
Which mix should I choose?
Start with a product labeled for the use you have in mind. Sawgrass Organics Potting Mix is an all-purpose peat-free option for appropriate herb and container projects. Herbs with particular drainage requirements may call for a specialist blend.
What should I try first?
Choose one small project you can check often. After a few weeks, add another herb based on what you have learned about the light and care your space can provide.