Hey everyone! This is my first time posting here, so bear with me. I'm excited to start gardening, and my husband thinks herbs are the best way to begin. I live in the North metro Atlanta area and will be using a three-tiered cedar planter on my covered balcony, which gets a good amount of sun. I'd like some guidance on how to set everything up right. I'm planning to put a layer of compost or fertilizer at the bottom, followed by an organic potting mix that doesn't contain any peat. Do I need a drainage layer, and are there specific brands of fertilizer and soil you recommend? I've got a list of herbs I want to plant in each tier, and I can share that if it's helpful. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Herbs are generally pretty easy to grow! Make sure to group herbs with similar watering needs—like thyme and oregano, which need less water, and basil and parsley that prefer a bit more moisture. Also, consider height when planting; tall herbs like rosemary and dill should go in the back, with shorter ones like thyme and oregano in the front. And definitely keep mint isolated in its own container, as it tends to take over!
For your herb garden, I recommend using Blue Ribbon organic compost. Avoid mainstream brands since they can lack quality. You might want to check out composting and vermicomposting forums to find some really good options. Also, having nightcrawlers in your compost can boost the quality significantly!
Not my img but the exact same quality, can’t get to pc rn.

This is really insightful, thank you!