[sunshineband]

Don't forget fennel - I've got seeds if you want some.

[scabs]

 

I forgot the fennel! You already sent me some, thank you! 

Thanks for all the advice guys, and for the link, I'll check it out now.

[sunshineband]

Sorry Scabs, a senior moment there!

[scabs]

For you and me both! 

[andreadon]

i think you should still go with lemon balm: but in a pot, not the ground.
i had a pot of lemon balm in the porch once - it grew for one year and was lovely, then it died over the winter.
don't know what happened to it(but i suspect my dad <not a gardener> saw a pot with nothing but soil in and threw it out....)
but if you catch it before the flowers go to seed then it shouldn't be a problem.

ps : it's very medicinal too, culpeper's herbal has quite a lot on it, i think.

[woodburner]

French tarragon.  :happy:

Bay trees do grow big if left. We have one in a pot that is quite well behaved though. It does have to be top dressed and fertilised every year though, so probably better to keep in the ground and keep it pruned really.

[HLS]

I've been thinking about a bay tree in a pot - how big a pot does it have to be?  I'd rather have it in the ground, really, but the spot I want to use as a herb patch isn't big enough and the borders are all pretty shady except the one that's full of roses.

[scabs]

I do like Bay and its tempting, but there is a young morello cherry tree (on dwarf rootstock) in fairly close proximty, will that cause me problems later on?

[sunshineband]

Our bay trees are in 12 inch pots.. both are lollipops about 4 feet tall. We refresh their compost very other year and they are doing well in part shade, with sun only for an hour or two in the mornings during the summer. Pots are heavy terracotta so they don't blow over. If you are going for plastic, I'd put a brick in the bottom!!!

We aslo have a four foot tall strigth one in a nine incher and it is fine, even when we forget to water it.

[tallulah]

Has anyone mentioned coriander?  Such a great herb.  Thing is it goes to seed really quickly, and it needs successional sowing, and thereby taking quite a bit of space.  I can't do without parsley (both flat and curly leafed), chives and basil.  And this year I'll have borage - its truly a beautiful herb with its blue flowers, and I'll try dill.    Enjoy your herb bed!