The Windowbox Allotment
What herbs, etc. to plant
Below are mini guides as to what other edible or useful plants you could grow in your windowbox with instructions on how to grow them and recommended cultivars that are known for their ease of growing, good flavour, size or hardiness.
Fruit
Vegetables
Sage
A shrubby perennial, growing up to 60cm that needs full sun and well-drained, light soil. Highly aromatic leaves, used in meat stuffings and makes a nice detox tea.
Purple and variegated varieties are available, though the green ones tends to be hardiest.
Plant: Pot grown plants (Cuttings can be taken and propagated indoors)
Savoury
Winter savoury (pic1) is a shrubby perennial growing up to about 50cm, whilst Summer savoury (pic2) is an annual with softer, less intensely flavoured leaves. Both have pretty white or pink flowers in summer.
Sow seed: In spring
Division: Spring (Winter savoury)
Softwood cuttings: Summer (Winter savoury)
Sorrel
Relatives of dock are all easy to grow in a windowbox provided you give them deep, moisture retentive soil. Interesting flavours can be had from Buckler’s or French sorrel and common sorrel, whilst Bloody Dock (pic2) makes a colourful addition to salads.
Remove flowerheads to promote more leaf growth.
Sow seed: Mid spring, in situ
Sweet Cicely
Over time this herb, leaves of which were traditionally used to sweeten puddings and breads before the discovery of sugar cane, will grow huge (up to 1.5m), but being contained may be kept to no more than 1m. Needs a deep, moist soil in sun.
Sow seed: In autumn, in situ
Division / Root cuttings: In autumn
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