Sometimes, your beautiful plants cannot grow that well in your home just due to the bad potting compost, which does not provide exceptional nourishment to your greens, thus preventing them from growing an unhealthy rooting system.
To avoid this bad scenario, you’d better know how to choose the best potting soil for herbs as well as some of the finest products available in the market.
- Black Gold 1302040 All Organic Potting Soil – Best Organic Choice
- FoxFarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil - Best For Beginners And Busy People
- Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix – Unique Ingredient
- Miracle-Gro 70733430 Potting Soil - Best Expanding Soil
- Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix – High Water Retention Ability
- Premium All Purpose Potting Soil - Top Rated
What Type Of Soil Is Best For Herbs?
Though soil dramatically varies from one area to another, herbs of all kinds share a lot of specific requirements in common.
Ideally, you should select a garden site in a sunny, sheltered location with a quality loam soil that can drain well without losing moisture and nutrients. Otherwise, you can add peat moss, compost, or aged animal manures to improve the soil.
Though a lot of herbs can tolerate and even thrive in slightly acid soil, the best pH-level for growing almost all types of herbs is neutral to alkaline (the fairly broad pH range from 6.0 to 7.5).
To make your soil less acidic, add some lime to raise its pH to keep your herbs happy. And if you want to lower pH, mix elemental sulfur into your soil.
There are some kinds of herbs that can grow particularly well in coastal gardens such as rosemary, basil, sage, coriander, thyme, chives, and lavender.
Best Herbs To Grow In Pots
Container herbs are the best choice for those having limited growing space. You can either grow them indoors or put them on your patios for maximum sun exposure.
Good characteristics for pot plants are easy-to-grow and drought-resistant herbs such as mint, basil, cilantro, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, lemon balm, parsley, dill, oregano, and sorrel.
Who Makes The Best Potting Soil For Herbs?
Burpee
Burpee is among the most famous brands when it comes to the best certified organic seeds and potting soil in the market.
By strictly following organic guidelines, this American company has been manufacturing Oregon-Tilth-certified products to make organic gardening possible.
Espoma Organic Fertilizer & Potting Soil
With 90 years’ experience in the organic fertilizer & potting soil industry, Espoma has set standards for other brands out there. If you want to grow luxuriant herb gardens without harming the earth, you will never go wrong with organic products by this New Jersey-based company.
How To Choose The Best Potting Soil For Herbs?
Organic vs. Non-organic
Potting soil options available in the market are classified into two main categories including organic and non-organic. The former type, which does not consist of genetically-engineered chemicals and pesticides, is more preferable.
Since natural materials in the organic soil can provide your plants with all nutrients essential to their flourish, it is way beneficial than any regular soils.
However, organic vs. non-organic – which is better? It all comes to your personal preference. If you go with a reliable manufacturer, your non-organic soil still can work well.
Ingredients
It is advised to purchase a potting soil which features a wide range of nutrients for feeding vegetables and herbs. Find all ingredients included written on the bag.
Tip: Don’t select a potting soil just saying ‘fertilizer' on its bag because it does not seem to provide your greens with all essentials they require.
Nutrient and Moisture Retention
Whether you prefer organic or non-organic potting soil, make sure to check the product’s description or the ingredient list to know if it can retain moisture and nutrients essential to your plants’ growth.
For instance, as peat moss retains both moisture and nutrients, the more peat moss non-organic soil has, the more moisture and nutrients it can retain.
Black Gold 1302040 All Organic Potting Soil - Best Organic Choice
Pros:
- Made in the United States
- Premium quality at an incredible saving
- Certified by the organic materials review institute
- Both indoor and outdoor usage
Cons:
- Potential spore growth in wet soil
Richly mixed with organic fertilizer, perlite, pumice, and earthworm castings, this 6.85-lb bag of organic soil is used for growing your raised beds, houseplants, or potted plants wherever you want whether it is indoors or outdoors.
Since there is both perlite and pumice in this loamy soil, your vegetables and herbs will have optimum pore and the right amount of space for air circulation for their sturdy growth.
Despite the Black Gold 1302040’s affordability, there is a proven track record of the performance of this potting soil. Expect your herbs to start growing quicker and their blooming period to come faster than what you might’ve imagined!
Some gardeners reported that there was the potential mold growth when the soil gets too wet, though.
Product Specifications
Primary Ingredient(s) | Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Composted or Aged Bark, Compost, Earthworm Castings, RESiLIENCE, Horticultural Grade Perlite, Pumice, or Cinders, Organic Grade Fertilizer |
pH | 6.3-6.8 |
Container Size | 8 quart |
Feeds up to | AN/A |
Weight | 6.85 pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0.05 – 0.0 – 0.0 |
Highlight Features | Rich, loamy mix, perlite and pumice added to ensure optimum pore and air space for sturdy growth |
Black Gold 1302040 All Organic Potting Soil is an all-purpose product that can fit in specific requirements of gardeners in different regions with different climate and soil composition.
FoxFarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil - Best For Beginners And Busy People
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Good value for your money
- Ready to use right out of the bag
- No bad odor inside your house
Cons:
- Not good at holding the water as other organic soils
If you want to plant vegetables and herbs in a small balcony garden or a lovely terrace garden, then the FoxFarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil is the best choice.
Not only possessing everything required by your plants in just one 11.9-lb-bag, but it is also ready to use right out of the bag.
The biggest plus, though, is the light texture and formulation for drainage and aeration of fertilizer that can last for at least 30 days in this mix. It means that you no additive addition is needed once the soil starts to break down, making it best suited for beginners and those not having much spare time doing gardening.
What’s disappointing is that this organic potting mix does not hold water as perfectly as others.
Product Specifications
Primary Ingredient(s) | Premium earthworm castings, bat guano and pacific northwest sea-going fish and crab meal, composted forest humus, sandy loam. and sphagnum peat moss |
pH | 6.3 to 6.8 |
Container Size | 12 quart |
Feeds up to | 3 months |
Weight | 11.9 lbs |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0.05 – 0.0 – 0.0 |
Highlight Features | Optimum fertilizer uptake, a perfect blend of good things from sea & earth. |
FoxFarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil saves beginners and busy homeowners much time taking care of their lovely indoor gardens.
Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix – Unique Ingredient
Pros:
- Made from unique ingredients
- Suitable for raised bed and container gardening
- Feed plants quickly & instantly
- Provide a slow release plant food
Cons:
- Not suitable for these greens thriving well in dry and rough soil
This 5.2-lb bag of organic mix by Burpee is enriched with a unique plant food diet which packs everything from all the basic essentials like phosphate, nitrogen, and potassium to a renewable resource - coconut coir.
Unlike other kinds of potting soils, this sustainable resource helps maintain the soil’s moisture within any watering schedule for fragrant herbs and delicious vegetables while protecting the Earth.
As a plus, it can immediately release an essential plant food stream for at least 3 months.
Though the Burpee Organic mix can be used both indoors and outdoors, never use it with herbs that can thrive much better in rough soil.
Product Specifications
Primary Ingredient(s) | Coconut coir |
pH | 6.3 to 6.8 |
Container Size | 8 quart |
Feeds up to | 3 months |
Weight | 5.2 lbs |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0.12 – 0.12 – 0.12 |
Highlight Features | Omri listed for Organic use, enriched with Burpee plant food, formulated with coconut coir |
Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix works well for herbs that thrive better in wet soils like rosemary, parsley, cilantro, mint, basil, and thyme.
Miracle-Gro 70733430 Potting Soil - Best Expanding Soil
Pros:
- Grow up to 3X bigger plants
- Hold up to 50% more water
- Used in raised beds, in, and in-ground containers
- Work well with various kinds of plants
- Mulch and Soil Council certified
Cons:
- Not organic
- Wood chips in the soil
This 2-cubic-feet Miracle-Gro 70733430 Potting Soil provides an amazing mixture of air, nutrients, and moisture that helps your herbs grow three times in size than other plants’ usual growth.
This magical expansion means that 0.33 cubic foot of this concentrated planting mix stuff can get gardeners up to 3X expansion!
Whatever your favorite greens are, you will be satisfied with the soil amount in the package. However, some users reported that these wood chips found in their soil can cause some minor issues with gnats.
Product Specifications
Primary Ingredient(s) | Compressed coir, peat moss, perlite, and fertilizer |
pH | 6.3 to 6.8 |
Container Size | 0.33 CF |
Feeds up to | 6 months |
Weight | 5.05 pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0.16 – 0.21 – 0.11 |
Highlight Features | Expand up to 3X when water absorbed & create up to 90% more air space |
With the magical expansion, the Miracle-Gro 70733430 Potting Soil is great for those with large-sized gardens.
Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix – High Water Retention Ability
Pros:
- Made from organic materials
- Perfect fertilizer ratio
- Great for all indoor and outdoor containers
- No bugs spotted
- Safe for use around pets
Cons:
- Not budget-friendly
The Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix is enriched with nutrients guaranteeing your vegetables’ good growth and a much bumper harvest.
What makes this product by Espoma outstanding is the Myco-Tone formula determining the amount of water that your plants need.
As this 8-quart organic potting mix retains a huge amount of water, the soil is always moist enough for your greens to grow and flourish.
Moreover, this formula makes use of up to 11 mycorrhizae strains to multiple the growing speed of your herbs without any stress. Also, it comes in handy when you want to move your container outsides or to another pot.
Though this rich blend of organic materials is the best option for commercial planters for indoor plant growing, most gardeners will find it pretty expensive.
Product Specifications
Primary Ingredient(s) | Peat moss, peat humus, Espoma's Myco-tone, worm castings, and perlite |
pH | 6.3 to 6.8 |
Container Size | 8 quart |
Feeds up to | 6 months |
Weight | 4.9 lbs |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0.02 – 0.07 – 0.02 |
Highlight Features | High water retention ability & enhanced with myco-tone water saving formula. |
Espoma AP8 Organic Potting Mix works well for commercial planters who want to grow vegetables and herbs indoors.
Premium All Purpose Potting Soil - Top Rated
Pros:
- Easy and ready to use from the bag
- Designed to improve herbs’ performance
- Suitable for all outdoor gardening requirements
Cons:
- A bit heavier than other products
If you are in search of something expansive to use with almost every single potted plant, whether it is perennials or annuals, shrubs, vegetables, or herbs, the Premium All Purpose Potting Soil is your best bet.
What we have to praise about this potting soil by Proven Winners is that it is fertilizer-free. Just a small amount of it can sweeten up the soil some more, thus giving your greens a healthy perfect start.
What matters, though is the medium weight of the Proven Winners premium soil. Unlike other light and airy potting soils that can be effective without any difficulty, this a bit heavier soil is less appealing than others as it might require some extra care.
Product Specifications
Primary Ingredient(s) | 50-60% Canadian sphagnum peat Moss, processed softwood bark, perlite, dolomite lime, a controlled release fertilizer, and a wetting agent |
pH | N/A |
Container Size | 1.5cu ft |
Feeds up to | 6 months |
Weight | 8.45 lbs |
Fertilizer Analysis | N/A |
Highlight Features | Medium-weight mix with excellent air porosity and drainage |
Premium All Purpose Potting Soil is a cost-efficient product for various kinds of plants and potting situations as well as any DIY plant projects.
FAQs
Can you use potting mix for herbs?
Garden soils - black earth or topsoil, even they are rich with nutrients, are just too heavy and dense for any potted herbs. To make them fluffier and lighter, you can well mix good, sterile potting soil with perlite at the 2-1 ratio.
Can I use cactus soil for herbs?
Rich in nutrients and able to retain a decent amount of water with a perfect acidity level for herb’s optimal growth, cactus soil can be used for different types of potted greens.
How often should herbs be watered?
Adjust the watering schedule according to the season and each type of herb’s need. For example, mint, sweet cicely, parsley, angelica, lovage, and bergamot prefer soil which is fairly moist while the Mediterranean herbs such as sage, rosemary, and thyme do best in slightly moist soil only.
Normally, you should water more moderately and regularly on hot summer days and less in the rainy season (about once a week). Bear in mind that watering herbs is to keep your soil constantly moist, but don’t overwater to make it soggy.
Rather than frequently light soaking, you should water your herbs occasionally enough to not make them wilt or stressed without drawing their roots to the ground.
What herbs can you plant together?
Parsley, cilantro, tarragon, and basil share requirements for lots of moisture in common while sage, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, lavender, and thyme are sun lovers that you can plant together.
Can you mix garden soil and potting soil?
Though garden and potting soils boast distinct compositions, you can mix some garden soil with a homemade potting soil for bulk contribution without encouraging nutrient deficiencies and pH changes.
Can you reuse potting soil for herbs?
Old potting soil can cause your herbs some drainage problems. Fortunately, it does not take you much time and effort to rejuvenate it.
Conclusion
No matter how severe the weather in your area is, if you know how to choose the best potting soil for herbs, your greens will absolutely have much potential for thriving.
