[MargeSimpson]

This year I tried growing herbs for the first time. I got one of those terracotta pots with the multiple openings around the pot. I was wondering how much success do people have with these containers. I found it continuously dried out to the determent of the herbs. Even though I made sure to water/feed it regularly.
Maybe these containers just aren't that suited to herbs?

[verge]

Hi Marge. I had one of those pots, Ithink it is called a strawberry pot. They truly are very thirst but I kept a good eye on it. My herbs did really well in it though. Many herbs like a dryish soil anyway.
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Q. What is the best soil for growing plants?
A. Your soil.

[MargeSimpson]

strawberry pot....that's it I think.
Actually I have strawberries in a smaller version of my herb pot. I planted strawberries in a plastic container also. The strawberries have done much better in the plastic pot then the terracotta one.
I was wondering if the soil gets too hot in the terracotta container? They look so good in all those magazine photos, but I don't think I have had much success with them.

Can I take that pot indoors over the winter and continue to grow herbs - parsley - chives - basil - fenil?

[GPI]

Plastic Vs terracota.
Terracota Vs plastic.

You are right terracota looks much nicer.

You see the thing about terracota is that it is porous.
On a dry day splash some water on terracota pot and listen to it "sing" as all the pores suck up the water.
Marge, what probably happens to you is your pot is absorbing quite a quantity of water, making it inaccesable to the herbs.

Solutions.
The next time you buy a terracota pot, buy some sealer in a paint shop as well.
Paint this onto the inside of the pot, preventing valuable water entering the pores.
The next time you plant a terracota pot invest in some water storage granuales.
These crystals swell up with water and provide a reserve if needed.
You mix them into the compost as you fill the container.
"Swellgel" is a commonly available product.
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Remember, a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.

Garden Consultation & Design in Ireland!

[verge]

[Bugs]

Its always important to soak a terracotta pot in water preferably overnight before planting anything in it . Ordinary P V A glue will seal it
Bugs
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Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
Carpe Diem

[MargeSimpson]

[Bugs]

One of my first jobs as an apprentice gardener was to get the pots from the water barrel every morning . I had to break the ice on the top of the barrel , roll up my sleeves and into it . It was a bit like the beer ad on telly now .
The apprentices always got the lousy jobs but that's how we learned
Bugs
_________________
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
Carpe Diem

[verge]