PLANT THE HERB TOWER:
1. Place the pot in its permanent position
before planting. Once filled with soil and herbs, the container may be too heavy to comfortably lift.
2. Fill the pot with potting mix to just below the lower planting holes. Lower an herb through the top opening of the pot, then gather the foliage in a “ponytail” and push gently through the planting hole. Once the herb is in place, firm the potting mix around the roots, adding a little soil if necessary.
3. Plant the other lower-level pockets. Tamp the soil in the middle of the pot to discourage the development of a channel when watering. Continue planting herbs into each opening. Repeat the process of planting and tamping the potting mix.
4. Add a final plant or two at the top of the pot. Tamp.
5. Carefully water the container. To prevent lightweight potting mixes from washing from the planting pockets, tuck dampened sphagnum moss or pebbles along the lips of the holes. This is especially helpful until the herbs establish.
TO CARE FOR YOUR HERB TOWER:
• Display your potted herb garden so sunlight hits all sides, if possible. If not, rotate the container every few days so all the herbs will receive an abundance of light. If your pot is large and too heavy to rotate, plant herbs that tolerate less sun on the back side of the container.
• Porous terra cotta drains and breathes well, which discourages overwatering and helps keep roots cool. Glazed terra-cotta strawberry jars are more prone to drying out. Constant watering can leach nutrients from the soil, so add a balanced fertilizer frequently to invigorate your herbs.
• Harvest your herbs frequently. Pinch pruning will keep plants in better proportion to the pot, too.
• Avoid pesticides.