
Herbs and Dianthus in wooden boxes – ‘A Woodland Kitchen Garden’ Show Garden, Silver Award, Malvern Spring Show 2013 – © Michael King/GAP Photos
Herbs do really well in containers inside your home or in the garden. Some of the perennial herbs will spread out of control if left to roam in your garden, so they are much better contained anyway. You can really enhance your space by planting a combination of delicious herbs in a decorative recycled container or vintage find. Create a really individual display with recycled objects like an old wooden crate or rustic cabinet drawer so you and your herbs can really stand out from the crowd.
With so many different colours, textures and scents available, herbs make great displays for your dining table or you could take this even further by creating a planter that is embedded in your outdoor dining room. Harvested herbs placed in glasses of water on a table bring summer freshness to your meal times.
Strawberry planters are perfect containers for herbs to show off lovely layers of plants and make them easy to harvest. Upright herbs like chives and mint will give height and the silvery foliage and flowers of marjoram will trail over the sides. You can combine your herbs with favourite flowering annuals to make a colourful display.

Old tea pots planted with herbs – Sage, Thyme, Mint, Parsley and Rosemary – © Pernilla Bergdahl/GAP Photos
You can choose whatever container you like for planting herbs, so why not show your personality and humour with some quirky pots. Keep a cooking theme going by using colourful pots and pans from your kitchen to plant your favourite herbs in.
If you are short on space but still want to grow your own herbs, a hanging basket can be a great solution. Choose a variety of herbs to really use the space afforded by hanging baskets. You can hang this fragrant and decorative basket anywhere, enjoying the scent as you go through the back door, harvesting the culinary delights whenever you like.