No Luck with Herbs

Hi, I am new to the forum and could use some advice about growing herbs.
I have bought herbs about 5 times now, growing in there pots from our local supermarket. But every time they just die on me.
I have tried them on two different windowsills in my kitchen and have just bought some more which I have planted in there own pot and put outside in the sunniest part of the garden.
I have bought flat leaf parsley, mint, chives and basil.
They just seem to go limp on me and die. The parsley always seems to break off at soil level.
any tips would be welcome.

Linda :cnfs:

 

Hi and welcome.

The herbs you get from the supermarket are a bit rubbish to be fair. They are force grown, with too many seeds in the pot, kept to warm and not enough light so that they grow fast ready for sale. I've succeeded a few times in saving them, but they do take a lot of TLC to get over their traumatic start in life.

You'd be better off going to a nursery for some that have been grown properly. You might end up paying a bit more, but it will be worth it as they will be far easier to look after, having had a better start in life.

 

thanks for the reply clueless,
My favourites are Parsley and Mint, so I think I will start with those two. I believe Mint is better in a pot as it can take over the garden.
I think I will go and ask my Hubby "very nicely" if we can have a little run to our nearest garden centre

Thanks again

Linda

 

supermarket herbs are tricky-parsely does well and basil but the rest are only worth harvesting and chucking. It really is easier if you grow from seed.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. :thmb:
I've just got back from our nearest garden centre.
I already have some suitable pots, so I have bought some mint and flat leaf parsley. I will see how I get on with those first.
I have also bought some tub and container compost and some vermiculite.
I'm off to plant them before it goes dark. so wish me luck, I will let you know how I get on.

regards
Linda

 

Hi GG. Agree with Clueless's post above. Mint and parsley are both fully hardy and easy so no need to grow them inside. They would be nice as 'patio plants' if you want to grow them in pots. Another good beginners one is marjoram, looks nice too. Good luck.

 

Rosemary is a quite easy herb to grow in a sunny position, Smells good and tastes just a nice.

 

I've found most herbs do best in the border/garden rather than in pots, where they get thirsty and straggly. The exception is Basil, but that's to keep the slugs off it!

 

I agree with Sussexgardener - herbs like mint and rosemary are vigorous plants and really don't like being cooped up in a pot. And parsley can develop a tap root like a young parsnip when grown outside in good soil.

Cooking magazines often suggest you can grow a range of herbs on your window sill and indeed you can. But you need a bit of experience to do it well and IMHO, the herbs don't seem to have the same flavour as those grown in the garden.

 

I agree with everything others have said here. I hope I haven't overlooked this in someone else's answer, but if you don't do it already, one good piece of advice is always to turn the herbs in pots on a regular basis, so that every angle of the plant receives sunlight. Otherwise the plant will reach for the light, which is why plants are often seen leaning forwards in one direction; but no doubt you already know that.
As others have said, regular watering is very important, as is bearing inmind the natural conditions in which the plants grow - whether it is, say, a Mediterannean herb such as Thyme which needs well drained soil and not much water, and so on. Perhaps you also want to look at what you are feeding the plants and/or adding to the soil and ocmpost.