Growing herbs is a great way to step into gardening, and having a portable patio herb garden makes the process convenient and easy. If you’d like to start growing your own herbs in a mobile raised garden bed, here’s how!

Create a Portable Patio Herb Garden in 4 Easy Steps

*Thank you Better Choice Products for gifting me this mobile raised garden bed to facilitate this post.*

Herbs are often overlooked when people think about growing a garden. They shouldn’t be though! Many herbs are seriously easy to grow and are attractive to pollinators. They also help you take your cooking game up a notch! 

Choose the right type of container

Herbs are the perfect plants to grow in containers, raised gardens, or window boxes but there are a couple important consideration when choosing the right container. Drainage holes in the bottom are a must for any type of herb container garden you plan. It’s also important that the container you choose be big enough to give the herbs room to grow.

I’ve been gardening for a long time and finally made the switch to raised garden beds a couple of years ago. I like raised beds for a number of reasons, but this mobile raised garden bed from Best Choice Products takes gardening to a whole new level. 

I love that it is on wheels, I love that I don’t have to bend over to take care of my fresh herbs, and love how quick and easy it is to move my herb garden from one place to another.

In addition to being convenient, my new herb garden adds a nice aesthetic to our back patio. We just finished our patio last fall and making it appealing and a comfortable place to relax is one goal for this summer. The next thing we want to do with our patio is add in some comfy seating and lighting.

Choose types herbs you like for your patio garden

Making your own patio herb garden is not hard. When deciding what herbs to grow, I consider a couple factors. My first priority is to choose herbs I enjoy using in cooking. However, it’s not always a waste to grow food you won’t eat if the herbs are good for pollinators or natural pest control. I also like herbs that thrive on neglect – nothing seems to kill basil, thyme, and oregano.

Herbs make great companion plants to include in your garden so I add grow of herbs that I don’t necessarily plant to eat. In my patio herb garden, though, I want to focus on herbs I plan to use in the kitchen. 

My favorite herbs for cooking are fresh cilantro, oregano, thyme, basil, and chives. I start some herbs from seed but always end up picking up more herbs at garden centers as well. There’s just something about garden centers – can’t stay away in the spring. 

My herb garden contains: basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, lavender, sage, and Mexican thyme as well. I’ve never tried Mexican thyme, but I like its flowers and I know my honey bees will too!

What you need to know about planting and harvesting herbs

It’s very important to plant your herbs in a good quality potting soil that provides nutrients and helps with drainage. You’ll want to have enough room for the herbs to develop a strong root system. To plant, dig a hole larger than than the plant, add in a bit of compost, and then cover the roots well with the potting mix. 

After you’ve planted, make sure to give all the herbs a good drink of water. Keep them watered according to growing directions.

As the herbs grow, you will want to pinch them off to encourage bushier growth. The more you harvest, the more they will grow so harvest early and often, leaving enough behind that they will continue to grow. 

Location is key

Most herbs need at least 6-8 hours of sun so make sure to put your herb garden in a nice, sunny spot. I love how easy this wood planter is to move around. I’ve already wheeled it from front porch to back patio, trying to find the perfect spot. 

I also tucked the entire planter safely back inside last night after a severe thunderstorm hit our area promising damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and the potential for hail. This morning, I wheeled it back outside again. Easy peasy. Now the big question is, where do I keep my new herb garden? Front porch? Or back patio?

More information about my mobile raised garden bed from Best Choice Products

I really like this wooden planter! Shipping was fast and free, and it was easy to assemble. I have assembled my share of furniture and appreciate that the instructions for this planter were clear and easy to follow. I definitely recommend using a cordless drill. There are so many screws – using a screwdriver would take a lot longer.

The directions said it should take about 30 minutes to assemble, and I was skeptical. It did take me a little a little bit longer, but I managed to put together (by myself) in under an hour. I also decided to protect it with a oil-based outdoor varnish so that did add another step, but I think it will be better for the planter in the long term. At under $150, I think the planter is reasonably priced. You can learn more about this elevated wood planter here. 

Want more gardening posts? You may like these:

How to Care for Sun Tolerant Hostas

Growing a Cut Flower Container Garden

Shade Loving Perennials for Show Stopping Containers

I’m so excited to watch my herbs grow on our new patio! What are your favorite herbs to grow?