Growing Herbs On Your Deck Successfully

06/25/2007
Growing culinary herbs in pots on your deck can provide an easy way to access your culinary herbs for mealtime. However, you can increase your success by bearing several factors in mind.

First, do not overwater your herbs. Many popular culinary herbs (such as sage, thyme and rosemary) like to dry out between waterings and are susceptible to root rot if kept constantly wet. Adequate pot drainage is essential, particularly with self watering pots. A light, easily drained potting mix is also helpful in this regard.

Second, do not expose your herbs to excess heat! Temperatures on a deck exposed to full sun in summertime can quite literally roast your herb plants in the pot! Dark colored decks or pots as well as full afternoon sun can drive temperatures on your deck to well over a hundred degrees. Even heat loving herbs like rosemary can be damaged by excess heat. Typical symptoms include brown leaf tips or edges, stretching, yellowing and a cessation of growth.

Finally, do not overfeed your herb plants. High ratio fertilizers (20-20-20 or 30=30-30) or too frequent feeding can create and acidic PH in your herb pot which will damage the plant. Typical symptoms include yellowing, stretching and lack of growth. A good rule of thumb for summertime is to feed your plants once every two weeks with a balanced and low concentration fertilizer (5-5-5). It is also helpful to periodically repot yoru herbs in fresh potting mix as they outgrow their original pots.

Keeping these factors in mind will maximize your success! Good luck and good growing!