Summer Vegan Pesto

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite summer recipes—a fresh, vibrant healthy pesto made with fresh herbs that I snip straight from the containers on my deck. There's something very satisfying about stepping outside, gathering a handful of fresh herbs, and turning them into a flavorful sauce in just a few minutes.

Growing Fresh Herbs in Pots On The Deck- Easy and Tasty

I enjoy growing fresh herbs in pots on my deck in the summer. It's so easy and fun and you get the benefit of fresh tasty seasonings all summer. I start with small little plants that I get from a nearby organic farmer. I plant them in pots and they start to grow rather quickly. I usually water them daily as anything growing in pots dries out rather quickly.

I use the herbs in salads, soups, tea, and other cooking all summer. At the end of the summer, when the herbs are in full bloom,  I cut them down and dry them for use all winter.

How to Plant Herbs in Pots on Your Deck

There’s something satisfying about stepping out onto the deck and snipping fresh herbs for dinner or iced tea. This week I picked up  organic herb plants — lemon thyme, basil, lemon verbena, rosemary, oregano, mojito mint, and sweet marjoram — I planted in containers on my deck.

Even if you’ve never grown herbs before, planting herb plants in pots is surprisingly easy. Most herbs thrive in containers, smell amazing, and provide a little outdoor kitchen garden.

Lemon Verbena - wonderful to make into tea

Here’s exactly how I planted mine.

The Herbs I Bought So Far

• Lemon Thyme
• Rosemary
• Oregano
• Mojito Mint
• Sweet Marjoram
• Basil
• Lemon verbena

 Most of them love sunny, warm conditions.

Sweet Marjoram - not sure what I'll use this for

Choosing the Right Pots

One of the biggest mistakes people make is using pots that are too small. Herbs may start tiny, but they grow quickly once summer arrives and have deep roots.

Rosemary

Rosemary can get big and bushy, so I plant it in its own pot.

• Pot size: 12–16 inches wide
• Depth: At least 12 inches deep

Mojito Mint

Mint spreads aggressively and likes more moisture than the other herbs, so it absolutely needs its own container.

• Pot size: About 12 inches wide
• Depth: 10–12 inches

Lemon Thyme, Oregano, and Sweet Marjoram

These herbs all enjoy similar growing conditions, so they can share one larger planter.

• Pot size: 16–18 inches wide
• Depth: 10–12 inches

The Best Soil for Potted Herbs

I use a lightweight potting mix rather than garden soil. Herbs hate soggy roots, so drainage is very important.

A few tips:

• Always use containers with drainage holes
• Don’t pack the soil tightly
• Add a little compost if you want, but herbs generally don’t need heavy feeding

How to Plant the Herbs

Planting them is very simple.

1. Fill the containers about two-thirds full with potting mix
2. Remove each herb gently from its nursery container
3. Loosen the roots slightly if they are tightly packed
4. Place the herb into the container at the same depth it was originally growing
5. Fill in around the roots with soil
6. Water thoroughly

That’s it.

Sunlight and Watering

Most herbs love sunshine. My deck gets plenty of sun, which these plants appreciate.

Egglpant, tomato, potato ,and zucchini Tien (link to recipe)
 topped with fresh herbs from my herb garden (before cooking)

Herbs That Prefer Drier Soil

• Rosemary
• Lemon thyme
• Oregano
• Sweet marjoram

I let the top inch of soil dry slightly before watering again.

Herb That Likes More Moisture

• Mojito mint
• Basil

Mint prefers evenly moist soil and may need watering more often during hot weather.

Not Done Yet- I still want to get some more basil and stevia plants

I still may go back and pick up some basil. For some reason, I never have any luck growing basil despite everyone I know says it grows like a weed. I'm also hoping I can find some organic stevia plants somewhere. 

Last year I dried my stevia and mint and then processed the dried herbs together in the food processor. OMG- I added it to tea- loved it.  

In the past, I used to grow sage, but I never used it. So I did not buy any this year. 

Roasted Summer Zucchini Basil Soup  (link to recipe)

Creamy Basil Pesto - Vegan, Low-fat Version

Got Lots of basil ? Enjoy a low fat basil pesto. 

Do you love the taste of fresh basil pesto? 

This is a tasty low-fat alternative that is a great substitute for those needing or wanting to reduce or restrict fat in their diet.

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Primavera

Looking for a delicious, light, and healthy pasta entree that is loaded with flavorful roasted summer vegetables, tasty olives, capers, and artichoke hearts? This easy vegan pasta primavera is it!!

How To Get Basil Plants To Grow Full and Bushy

Want healthy full bushy basil plants that will produce all summer? 

 

If you would like your basil plants to get full and bushy, instead of tall and spindly, you need to prune them (not cut them). In this post I will tell help you understand the need for learning how to prune. I also included 6 wonderful summer recipes that include fresh basil.

Cashew Basil Cream

I am excited about this simple cashew creamy sauce that not only can be made using a variety of ingredients, it also can be used on a variety of different dishes! I'm sharing my favorite way to prepare it which is the basic cashew basil cream.