Now you don’t have to be a purist and put one herb plant in one pot like some folks. You can stretch your imagination and try a few herbs in the same pot. This will add more visual interest to the containers, including pops of color and texture.

If you do want to get started with container gardening, make sure that you are selecting herbs that have similar water, dirt and sunlight needs as well as similar purposes.

Plant these herb plants that will do well in your pots:

• Sage: There are so many types of sage that you could grow only sage in your garden and still have a lot of colors, textures and sizes. Sage grows well from seeds, which can give you a jump on the growing season if you start early inside. It prefers well-drained earth and lots of direct natural light. This is one of those that I cultivate for the foliage, so I clip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the plant focus on the foliage, which I then lop off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.

• Scented geraniums: I enjoy the bright, vibrant colors and scents of the scented geranium. I have an unnatural attachment to red geraniums, so I’m not the right one to talk to, but I’m positive that the other colors are nice too. They grow nice in pots, so drop by your nursery or home improvement store to buy these. Put your plants in a container that has great drainage and put it in a spot that will give your scented geranium a lot of sunlight. You can harvest the stems and leaves for cakes and teas. The blooms are lovely in pressings.

• Cardamom: Cardamom is a nice herb for you if bad breath is an issue for you. This large houseplant-like herb will get big in the summer and will need to be brought inside during winter to persist, so use a large container. You can harvest the seeds to add a little taste of India to your rice and chicken dishes, soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can help with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell better.

• Lemon verbena: This is one of those necessary herbs to have in your garden because you can use it in so many ways. Don’t even think about starting with seeds. I recommend that you buy your lemon verbena and get it established in a pot with a wide brim that will support its stem development. Lemon verbena can take the full sun and does well if the soil has good drainage. Watch your foliage for signs of drought because the foliage is the best part of the plant.

There are plenty of other herbs that you can use in your container plant garden, such as thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.

Good luck with your plant gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.