There is a great resurgence in home gardening this year.

It's evident at the Farmers' Markets I attend, sales reports from nurseries, both on-line and physical, and from seed companies who report sales increases of 50% and more. Many people I sell plants to this year are new gardeners excited about the prospect of growing their own food, including herbs. Many know next to nothing about how to grow a garden and many are transplants to Texas from other parts of the country. Both types of people have very similar questions.

"How do I prepare the soil?"
"What kind of soil do I use for a container?"

These are excellent questions because gardening begins with the soil. If your soil is not rich and nutritious, your plants do not have the foundation they need. Whether you are a container grower or grow your plants directly in the ground, the soil is the first concern.

There is a misconception that herbs thrive in "poor" soil and can be neglected. Nothing could be more incorrect. Herbs, like most plants, thrive in soil rich in organic matter. It is true many herbs do not like too much water nor to have "wet feet", which means the soil needs to be well drained so the roots do not sit in soggy soil. This is especially true of many of our favorite culinary herbs that originate in the Mediterranean region such as rosemary, oregano and thyme. Whether you are growing in a container or a garden bed, these herbs need rich organic soil that drains well.

Once established in a garden bed, these herbs can thrive with infrequent watering. In a container, however, you may need to water every day in the summer and at least twice a week during the rest of the year. If your container is very large with only small plants in it, you'll water less often because the plants aren't using up the water very quickly in the large soil mass. As the plant grows the roots take up more of the space in the soil and you may have to water more often. The best advice is "Water your container when it's dry!"

"Do I need to fertilize even if I use compost in my soil?"

Even with rich soil, especially in containers, you'll need to fertilize occasionally. Growing plants for food is intensive for the plant and it need nutrition, just like you do when you've very active, or when you were a child. There are 3 main nutrients plants need. Nitrogen, which fuels growth and the green matter above ground. Phosphorus, which boosts root growth, fruit and seeds. Potassium promotes vitality and disease resistance.

These main nutrients are indicated by the numbers you see on a package of fertilizer and is usually displayed as such; 4-3-2, or 2-5-2. Organic fertilizers usually have lower number than non-organic types. This is because organic fertilizers get their nutrition from organic sources, not chemicals. When you use a soil rich in micronutrients and organic matter, you don't need fertilizers with high numbers. Your soil is doing a large part of the job.

Now, I know there are miracle fertilizers that will feed your plants regardless of the composition of the soil, but did you know that vegetables grown in soil low in organic matter and simply fed chemical fertilizers are not as rich in nutrients as vegetables grown in soil full of rich organic matter?

That's why it's important to add organic matter in the form of compost or humus every year or even twice a year if you garden intensively. The organic amendments break down and feed the soil which in turn feeds your plant. There are microbes in organically rich soil that help your plant uptake nutrients and micronutrients for the health of your plants.