wrote in message
oups.com...
I know virtually nothing about gardening. However, I would like to grow
small amounts of chives, basic, dill, rosemary etc. for cooking
purposes. I have a small apartment with a balcony and a good amount of
sun.
Are there any good websites that explain how to start this?
Should I get a kit (please recommend one), individual packets of seeds,
or plant existing small plants to start off? What type of soil, etc.
Besides watering, what else do I need to do to care for the plants.
Also, I often go away on business trips, can someone recommend an
automatic watering system that works well.
Something I can fill up with water and operates on batteries (I don't
have a hose outlet near my balcony).
Looking for advice.
Thanks


Get the biggest pots you have room for. Then you can plant things that take
the same type of soil and water needs together and have room for them to
spread. A lot of the more aromatic herbs are from the sunny Mediterranean
area, so they'll often need less water than vegetables, for example. But
pots dry out easily, so they'll need more water than if you were planting in
the ground. Good drainage is a must!

There are lots of books and pamphlets around that focus on herb growing. If
you look through one or two, you will probably get plenty of instruction and
a few ideas for more herbs to add to your garden. You should probably have
one to refer to as the season progresses anyway.

I'd use starter plants, which might be hard to find this time of year
(depends where you are, of course). Most seed packets have way more seed in
them than you will need. With healthy starts, you are several months ahead
of seed.

Deb
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In Oregon, the pacific northWET. NWF habitat #32964