When it involves having a garden, there's nothing more satisfying than choosing a fresh plant for the night dish!
These plants that grow together in pots are often planted in a single pot or directly in your outdoor garden for an entire and healthy harvest in no time!
These plants not only enjoy each other's company; they also feed one another by exchanging essential nutrients and thus ensuring that your harvest is bountiful!
In today's article, we'll be looking at different plants that grow well together in pots. These are also some of the best plants to grow in pots.
Table of Contents
What To Consider While Growing Plants In Pots
There are a few tricks that will help you to be successful in container gardening, including knowing which containers to choose, what soil to use, and the perfect place to put your pots. Let's quickly look at these things:
1. Size of the pot
Plants need room to grow. Don't get carried away with the idea that plants will remain happily nestled in miniature pots. You may get away with succulents, but most plants will do best in big pots.
Some plants don't have an intense root system so that a shallow pot will do. Just be sure to choose a pot that is at least 6 cm in diameter - the bigger, the better. I have my parsley in a large 14cm pot, and it has never been healthier!
Nurseries will sell you cute plant pots, but that environment shouldn't be permanent. It's best to transplant those store-bought plants into a larger container to prevent the plants from getting stuck at the root.
You want to avoid root rot, so choose a container with drainage holes or consider adding one yourself. If that's not possible or you're unwilling to drill holes in your new pot, add rocks to the bottom of the container to help with drainage.
A self-watering pot is helpful, but beware. Not all plants enjoy constant levels of humidity. Some plants, like basil, prefer the soil to dry out between waterings.
2. Floor
In a pot, the soil mix is essential. There is less room for error. Choose a soil mix that drains well, but won't dry out in a day if not watered. Look for one that has good drainage and lots of nutrition.
Some plants have specific preferences. For example, plants like basil and rosemary do well in sandy soils. Always check the label on the plant before placing it in its pot.
3. Packaging Material
There are endless containers out there, from plastic to concrete and everything in between. The box you choose is mostly a matter of preference.
Terracotta and clay: These are popular choices because the material is lightweight and affordable. You may need to bring them indoors during winter because they can crack in the cold.
They also dry faster than pots made from other materials, so you may need to water them more often.
Plastic or resin pots are affordable and lightweight, but they don't last as long as stone or clay options. On the positive side, they don't crack in the cold and retain water better.
Cement or stone pots: are heavy and more expensive, but they are a durable option. You don't want to pick up the stone if you plan to move your plants.
4. The Correct Point
Plants like the sun, at least most of them, so put your pots in a sunny spot. A windowsill that receives lots of bright light during the day is ideal. Just be careful when temperatures drop. Some plants are particularly sensitive to cold (eg basil).
Some plants will appreciate being placed next to a hot brick wall outside, while others will wilt in the heat. Other plants need some shade in the afternoon or some protection from the wind. Be sure to check out the recommendations for your particular plant.
Put your plants nearby. If you place your pots far from your home or in an inconvenient place indoors, you are less likely to water, care for, and harvest them. Keep them close, and you'll get more use from your potted plants.
Plants That Grow Well Together In Pots
Whether a plant grows well in pots or not, the most important thing is whether you will use it or not. Do you make a lot of pasta?
Do you prefer French cuisine? If you are planting a kitchen container herb garden, choose the most likely plants to end up on your dinner plate.
Perhaps you are seeking to attract pollinators or deter pests. Or you want a living and growing medicine cabinet. Don't bother growing plants that won't do you much good.
It is most preferred by expert gardeners to plant annual plants in containers because I can always plant something else in that container next year once they die.
Most of the container plants on my porch are full of annual vegetables and herbs. The temporary nature of my porch pot garden means that next year, I will be able to rearrange everything and create a whole new oasis.
While container plant gardening can be successful with just about various plants, there are a few options that stand out. That said, here are a few of the plants that grow well together in pots:
1. Peppermint
You don't want to plant mint directly in your garden beds, because it spreads like wildfire. Over time, peppermint can quickly become invasive. That is why it is the perfect plant for a container garden.
2. Chives
This perennial herb is ideal for growing containers, and a perfect plant for your self-watering pot as chives prefer moist soil.
Cut them up for use in the kitchen or let them bloom and attract pollinators. You can also eat the flowers. They are edible!
3. Melissa
A relative of mint. It is also an aggressive grower and is best planted in a container to contain its growth habit.
4. Rosemary
A woody perennial with an intense aroma, rosemary is an ideal candidate for containers. You have to be careful not to overwater. Like basil, it prefers drier soil.
5. Basil
One of my favorite plants to grow in containers is basil. It's sensitive to cold spells, so keeping it in a pot makes it easy to protect it and bring it indoors if it's cold.
6. Cilantro
Cilantro (aka cilantro) is perfectly happy in a container, as long as you give it a deep and wide one. Cilantro likes moist, rich soil and lots of suns.
7. Tarragon
This tasty plant grows taller than some herbs, so plan to give it a 3-gallon container. Tarragon doesn't like wind, so put it in a sheltered place.
8. Lavender
Some lavenders don't like cold weather, so growing in pots is the perfect way to have the plant where it wouldn't grow otherwise.
This sweet-smelling plant needs well-drained soil, so make sure your container has plenty of drainage holes.
9. Lemon Verbena
Lemon verbena is a large shrub that can grow up to 8 feet tall. In a container, it will stay smaller, but you will need to prune it frequently. Also, plan to give it a lot of fertilizer.
Plant Container Gardening Tips
Even if you can't use all of your fresh plants, you can also use a dehydrator to dry them for later use. You won't have to go back to the spice aisle and spend money on expensive bags of sausage or ground coriander.
In container plant gardening, you may need to protect your perennial herbs a little more carefully than if they are planted in the ground or raised beds. Mulch at the end of the season or consider bringing the pots indoors.
Save money by starting your plants from seed. It may take a bit of patience, although many plant seeds take time to germinate and take their sweet time to grow into established bushy plants.
Harvest, harvest, harvest and harvest some more. Pick and cut your grass plants' leaves regularly to prevent the plant from blooming and going to seed. Once-blooming, the foliage turns bitter as the plant prepares to self-seed.
When we notice that our plants do not appear healthy, we tend to assume that they need water immediately.
Before watering the plants, stick a finger into the soil to check if it is damp or not, or use a soil moisture meter. If it's wet, think about what else could be going on.
Does the pot provide adequate drainage? Has the plant been in the same container for a while? Could it have outgrown your planter? Maybe your plant needs to be fertilized.
Grow similar plants together. It may look cute, but planting basil and chives in the same container is probably not a good idea.
Plants have very different soil and care needs. Instead, try growing plants with similar conditions together. You won't end up accidentally watering one plant or letting another wilt and die.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know the plants that grow well together in pots. Ensure you don't put the herbs too close together. If you want to create a collection of herbs in a container, go for it!
An herbal arrangement is a great idea. Just make sure you give each plant enough room to breathe. You will need an enormous container if you want to plant multiple plants.
