Stop Planting These 6 Herbs in the Ground – They Actually Grow Better in Pots for a Bigger Harvest and a More Fragrant Patio

An herb garden is a simple way to grow attractive plants you can also use in the kitchen. While many gardeners plant herbs in beds, some varieties actually perform better in pots, where their growth is easier to manage.

By growing herbs in containers, you can make the most of limited space – whether that’s a small yard, patio, or windowsill – while keeping conditions like soil, drainage, and sunlight in check. You’ll also have better control over how plants spread, making container gardening an easy, low-maintenance option that’s ideal for beginners.

Most herbs are straightforward to grow, but how you start them can make a difference – some are quick and reliable from seed, while others establish more easily when bought as young plants.

How to Grow Herbs in Containers

While each type of herb has one or two unique needs, there are some basic rules to follow:

• Container. First, start with the right container. Different materials have their pros and cons, but what really matters is drainage. Make sure whatever pot you choose has drainage holes in the bottom.
• Potting Mix. Use a sterile, high-quality potting mix. Do not be tempted to simply dig dirt out of your garden. Drainage is so important in container growing. You need a light mix that doesn’t compact or hold on to water.
• Spacing. Whether you start herbs from seeds or use transplants, follow spacing suggestions. Overcrowding leads to disease.
• Water and Light. Water and light needs vary, but most herbs need full sun. Some tolerate dry soil better than others. All should be watered regularly and never allowed to dry out completely or get soggy or waterlogged.

Container Herb Essentials

The Best Herbs for Easy Container Growing

These six herbs will actually perform better in a pot than in the ground, but before planting, check that they are compatible with your USDA hardiness zone. If not, you can always grow outdoors in summer and move indoors over winter. Together, they offer a versatile, kitchen-ready mix that works across a wide range of cuisines.

1. Mint

Mint is a delightful culinary herb with many uses, both fresh and dried. It’s tolerant of neglect and hard to kill. This makes mint incredibly easy to grow, but also a menace in the garden, as it spreads very aggressively by runners. Planting mint in the ground can lead to a quick takeover of beds and even lawns.

Instead, grow mint in pots. This keeps the rapidly spreading plants contained and allows you to grow them on patios, balconies, and porches. It's much quicker to start with plants, like this Strawberry mint from Burpee, which is perfect for dropping into cocktails and sprinkling over ice cream.

Once your mint plant is four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) tall, start harvesting it regularly by pinching off stems just above nodes. This will give you a regular harvest and encourage branching and dense growth. Mint is hardy in zones 3 through 11.

2. Basil

Basil is a culinary staple. In the garden, it requires warm weather and soil that tends towards dry. Soggy soil can kill a basil plant quickly. It’s this factor that makes container growing ideal for basil. It gives you better control over soil moisture and drainage.

Basil is only hardy in zones 10 through 11, but it grows fast as a summer annual. You’ll have time to grow several rounds of basil plants by succession planting seeds every couple of weeks. This basil selection from Seed Needs via Amazon has eight aromatic varieties to suit every cuisine.

You can harvest basil leaves by pinching as soon as the plant has several sets of mature leaves. Pinch off flowers as soon as you see them appear to keep the leaves fresh and tasty.

3. Rosemary

This Mediterranean herb needs dry soil to thrive. Like basil, rosemary will deteriorate rapidly in soggy, poorly draining soil. It will thrive in a large container with a light potting mix and excellent drainage. By growing rosemary in a pot, you can be sure you don’t overwater the plant and risk getting its roots soggy.

It's best to start with plants, as it takes a while to grow from seed. This Arp rosemary from Burpee is one of the most fragrant varieties going.

You can start snipping off stems once the plant is large and full. Choose newer growth for cooking, but remove any type of growth to use as seasonal décor and fragrance.

Rosemary is hardy in zones 8 through 11. If you live in a colder climate, bring your pot in for winter and enjoy this woody shrub year-round.

4. Thyme

Thyme can be tricky to grow in the ground if you don’t get the soil or water right. Don’t even attempt it if your garden soil is heavy or clay-based. Instead, grow thyme in pots. As with rosemary, use a light mix and ensure your pot drains very well.

Because it grows low, thyme can be grown with taller herbs in the same container, as long as they have similar growing conditions. It takes a while to start from seed, so buy young plants, like this Summer thyme from Plant Addicts, or try a more unusual variety like lemon thyme.

Once established, start trimming off stems of thyme to use the tasty leaves in the kitchen. Thyme’s hardiness varies depending on the type and includes zones 4 through 10.

5. Parsley

This versatile kitchen herb isn’t hard to grow, but it can be a little particular about soil and moisture. By growing parsley in a pot, you have better control over these factors. Use a rich soil that stays consistently moist but not soggy. Parsley is hardy in zones 4 through 9, so you can keep it outdoors in winter or bring it in, depending on your region.

The main choice of parsley is between curly and flat leaf – you can get the best of both worlds with this twin pack of seeds from Sow Right Seeds on Amazon.

To harvest parsley, snip off outer stems at the base. Leave the inner stems intact so that the plant keeps producing new growth. These Fiskars' Pruning Scissors have microtips for better precision when cutting. Do harvest regularly, though, as this will promote more new growth.

6. Chives

Chives have a mild onion flavor that complements many savory dishes when snipped fresh from a kitchen garden. Suitable for zones 3 through 9, this tasty herb is also very appropriate for containers, with its tidy, clump-forming growth.

You can grow potted chives indoors or outside. This twin pack of common and garlic chive seeds from Amazon is all you need to get started. When grown outside, the edible purple flowers will attract pollinators.

To harvest chives, snip stems an inch or two (2.5 to 5.0 cm) from the base. Harvest regularly to encourage more growth.