Container gardening in August

Gardening Container Herbs to Plant in August

It’s been a long, hot dry summer with super-hot temperatures caused by heat domes in much of North America.

Gardeners have had to water more frequently than usual, including some herbs that can often withstand drought and heat more than vegetables, fruits and flowers.

The long, hot days will be coming to an end and cooler weather will be here before you know it.

The fall harvest can be rewarding with many herbs that you can get started planting now that will be ready for you to use before the first frost comes to town.

Unlike vegetables where you are waiting for the produce, herbs don’t have a long growing time of 2-3 months before you can start using them. This is true for most herbs where leaves can be snipped and harvested as needed.

The other benefit of planting herbs now is that the plants will be able to develop deep roots so you will be ahead of the game when next spring comes.

Most of the herbs mentioned here do well in containers, which can be moved when colder weather comes.

Let’s look at some herbs that can be successfully grown in August.

Cilantro

Cilantro is a great herb for cooler weather as it prefers partial shade and moist soil. It is also a great plant for containers and will do best there, so apartment dwellers can rejoice.

The fan-shaped leaves closely resemble flat-leafed parsley so if you have a starter plant, make sure you have the right one!

Starting from seed, the plant takes 50 days to maturity and will grow 6-10 inches tall. Start now and your plant will be ready by the end of September.

Basil

Basil is another herb that also well in containers. It is an excellent companion plant to Cilantro, as it also appreciates moist soil and will mature around the same time. Basil requires 6-8 hours of full sun. The snipped leaves are great in pestos and can punch up other dishes.

Parsley

This versatile herb also loves cooler weather and comes in two forms, curly and flatleafed. It makes a good container herb so it can be taken indoors on cold nights.

Soak the seeds to encourage faster germination. Avoid putting it near lettuce as it can cause it to bolt.

Avoid putting it near carrots as well as the two plants can potentially cross pollinate.

Cilantro is a great herb to grow in pots, Opposite page - Arugula, top left, Chives, bottom left, and Fennel, right

Arugula

Some say it isn’t an herb, some say it is. Either way, this fast growing cool season green is ready to be harvest in just 21 days and hits maturity in only 40 days.

It’s best to harvest the smaller leaves of this peppery flavoured green. Add it to salads, a wrap or punch it up as a pesto. Keep it well watered, the plant grows 6-12 inches tall.

Chives

This herb with the flavor of green onion grows 6-12 inches tall with spiky purple flowers that you can pop off and add to salads.

It grows well in containers and makes a good companion to carrots, as it can help to repel carrot rust flies.

Garlic chives are one type to grow that have a mild garlic flavour in the stems while the bulbs are more intense. Chives like the cooler season but also prefer full sun. This herb can be harvested more than other herbs.

Mint

This herb prefers growing in cooler weather in partial shade with moist soil. It has a tendency to grow fast and wild so it is best grown in containers and can grow up to two feet tall, so give it room.

Keep it well watered and fed, harvest the every week or two. It is often used in tea but makes a great jelly or pesto.

Fennel

This feathery herb with a sweet flavour is a great compliment to fish dishes. A tall plant that closely resembles dill, it grows 3-5 feet high.

Due to its strong aroma, it is best grown in a deep container allowing enough room for its root.

It should be kept away from other herbs. An old garden saying is to ‘plant fennel near your kennel’ as the strong scent is a repellent for fleas.