Container herb gardens are among the easiest and most rewarding of garden projects.<\/p>\n
A must-have for cooks, herbs add wonderful flavor and fragrance to cooked foods and salads. But they provide many more benefits that go beyond their use in cooking.<\/p>\n
Many release their intense fragrances in the warmth of the afternoon sun or when you brush up against their leaves.<\/p>\n
And most have enchanting, aromatic flowers that pollinators adore, and make an excellent addition to cut flower arrangements.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/How-to-Grow-Herbs-in-Containers-Feature.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links,\u00a0<\/em>we may earn a commission<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Herbs are just as easy to grow in containers as they are in the garden. So you can enjoy them growing near the kitchen for convenience, or placed around decks and patios.<\/p>\n Plus, growing your own is an economical alternative to those pricey little packets at the market \u2013 and your pots of green gold have a garden-fresh flavor that can\u2019t be beat!<\/p>\n Most herbs are robust plants that don\u2019t like to be fussed over, and many are drought tolerant<\/strong><\/a> once they are established.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s get on with those tips to ensure your container herb garden thrives all summer! Here\u2019s what I\u2019ll cover:<\/p>\n With such a large variety of herbs available, the best place to start is to choose what you\u2019ll use on a regular basis.<\/p>\n From there, you can ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, browse seed catalogs<\/strong><\/a>, and check out our herb growing guides<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Or, if you tend to cook a lot of a particular type of cuisine, choose plants based on that theme.<\/p>\n The foundation of your container garden should begin with herbaceous and woody perennials.<\/p>\n Chosen wisely, some of these plants can provide a year-round harvest \u2013 provided they\u2019re hardy in your climate and region.<\/p>\n These include evergreens like bay<\/strong><\/a>, lavender<\/strong><\/a>, rosemary<\/strong><\/a>, sage, thyme<\/a><\/strong>, and winter savory<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Parsley<\/strong><\/a>, a biennial, can also grow through the winter if pots are brought under cover or tucked into a sheltered site.<\/p>\n And many herbaceous ones \u2013 like chives<\/strong><\/a>, marjoram<\/a><\/strong>, mint<\/strong><\/a>, oregano<\/strong><\/a>, and tarragon<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 are among the very first plants to emerge as the days begin to lengthen, often well before winter is officially over.<\/p>\n Annuals, such as basil<\/strong><\/a>, cilantro<\/strong><\/a>, and summer savory<\/strong><\/a>, are quick-growing and can be direct sown in pots once temperatures warm up in spring.<\/p>\n Or you can start seeds indoors<\/strong><\/a> about six weeks before your last frost.<\/p>\nWhich Herbs Should You Choose?<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Thyme-in-Bloom.jpg\"\/)
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Thyme-in-Bloom.jpg\")
\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Winter-Savory-Growing-in-a-Pot.jpg\"\/)
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Winter-Savory-Growing-in-a-Pot.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Summer-Savory-Seedlings.jpg\"\/)
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Summer-Savory-Seedlings.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Herbs-Growing-in-Containers.jpg\"\/)
![\"A](\"https:\/\/gardenerspath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Herbs-Growing-in-Containers.jpg\")