Container Gardening

Did you ever wonder why the flavors of dried herbs are so dramatically different from fresh?  It is because the main flavor of herbs comes from oils that are produced by the plant as they grow and mature.  If you are looking for the best flavor possible from your basil, then, you need to work to get the highest concentration of oil in the basil leaves.

The first secret to growing basil with richer flavor is to give up on the idea that bigger is always better.  It is easy to encourage plants to grow larger by adding fertilizer and watering deeply and heavily.  This does not, however, make the basil plant produce more oil.  The most beautiful and lush-looking basil plants are often weak in flavor.

Higher heat will help your basil get a fuller flavor.  There is not much point to planting before daytime temperatures consistently reach into the 70s: you won’t see much growth until then.  Once it is warm enough for the basil, plant it in as much sun as possible.

The more frequently you harvest your basil, the more it will produce and the more flavorful the leaves will be.  Start removing leaves when the plan is around six inches high, and always trim above a leaf joint: this will encourage the plant to fill out and produce more.  Any time you see flower buds begin to form, pinch them off.  If the plant is allowed to go to seed, you will lose flavor.

You don’t want to cook fresh basil much, if at all.  The oils in them are quickly destroyed by the high heat of cooking, causing basil to blacken and loose its flavor.  Always add fresh basil in the last five minutes of cooking, or sprinkle it raw over cooked dishes.  Tearing basil rather than cutting with a knife can also help it maintain its best flavor.

With these tips, you can get the most of your garden basil.

So, you’re looking to get started in container gardening, but you don’t know what to grow?  We can help!  Here is a list of five edible plants that grow well in containers.

1. Herbs
If you don’t have much experience with container gardening, herbs are hands-down the best place to start. 

With a little care and nurturing, you can keep a basil plant alive on your kitchen windowsill through a winter, and it is even easier to plant a container bed with several herbs at once to thrive through the summer months.  I always start my herbs from seedlings.  If you have an urn or windowbox, consider planting several varieties side-by-side.  I keep basil, parsley, chives, tarragon, oregano, and thyme in mine.  Find out what you use most!

2. Tomatoes
Depending on how much space you have, you can opt for the right style of tomato plant for you.  If you are limited in space, you can grow cherry tomatoes in baskets: they’re both decorative and tasty.  Good varieties to try for that include Florida Basket Tomatoes and Anmore Dewdrop Tomatoes.  Get more info on Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Containers.

If you have more space, you can upgrade to larger tomatoes in pots and planters of five gallons or more.  Roma tomatoes grow very well in pots.  Remember to stake and water well, and you can get a great harvest.

3. Radishes
Radishes can be a lot of fun to grow, especially with children, because they are very quick to grow and don’t need much space.  You can plant them in a windowbox or a little planter and have a harvest in 3-4 weeks!  Moisten the soil in a pot, plant radish seeds, and cover with 1/4 inch of soil.  Cover the pot with plastic wrap until the seeds sprout.  3 weeks after that, your radishes will be ready to eat!

4. Lettuce
Lettuce is a pretty plant, and works well as combination vegetable and ornamental container plant.  I like to plant it in windowboxes, for a nice bit of greenery.  They don’t need too much depth, but be sure to space the plants adequately.  Following the instructions on the package should be fine.  One advantage to lettuce is that you can find good partial shade varieties, which can help if you don’t get much direct sun.

5. Squash
In my experience, summer squashes are a terrifically forgiving plant.  You need a good-sized pot for container squash, but if you get a pot of around five gallons or more and try to keep them watered, you can get a fabulous crop from them.  Keep in mind, squash plants (especially zucchini) like to spread out and fill space.  You need to either prune them back or be prepared for crazy trailing leaves and vines.

Nearly any vegetable you can grow in the ground can be grown in a container, provided the container is big enough.  These suggestions should help you get started, but feel free to experiment on your own and find what works best for you.  Good luck!