A tea pot garden is beautiful and utilitarian when grown in containers. Make yourself a great cup of tea by harvesting right outside your back door.
Flower Gardens and Herb Gardens in pots can be themed. Try an interesting pot garden: the Tea Pot. No, not the kind that boils water and whistles, but containers that grow all herbs or flowers that are good to make tea. Just pick some leaves or flowers and steep them in boiling water covered for about 10 to 15 minutes. Strain, sweeten if necessary, and enjoy.
- Lemon Verbena has a vibrant lemony taste and scent. One leaf is good enough for a cup of tea. Lemon Verbena doesn't tolerate cold. Bring it in if the temperature goes below 50 degrees. Re-pot in the winter and bring it in placing it near a sunny window. It might loose all its leaves but keep watering it when dry and it may come back again in the spring.
- Bee balm - Get the type with red blossoms. This is also called Oswego Tea. When Britain taxed tea to the colonists the Native Americans taught them how to make tea from the leaves and red blossoms. Use one blossom and a few leaves for a cup or two of tea.
- Peppermint- This is very invasive so follow the instructions above for mint. Also watch the drain holes to make sure no runners get out that way. Combine a few leaves with verbena or catnip or chamomile; or drink it plain.
- Lemon grass is also a lemon flavored herb used in Thai cooking. Chop up some strands and steep in boiled water.
- A cup of thyme tea will help a stomachache or indigestion. It tastes good too. Grab a few sprigs and steep away.
- Catnip tea will help you unwind from stress of the day. Catnip is also a bit invasive so watch for runners. Watch for cats too. It is probably better to plant catnip in hanging plants where cats can’t get to it. While it makes cats go wild, it makes humans relax with a few leaves in boiling water. Add something else to the tea for flavor like chamomile or lemon flavored herbs.
- Chamomile is relaxing and will promote sleep. It has a pleasant apple taste. Use only the tiny daisy like flowers; a handful will do. This grows tall and has a tendency to fall over if not gently tied up to a bamboo stick.
Pot gardens are very convenient and easy to take care of. There is no weeding and just a little clipping here and there. They are perfect for a small space.
The copyright of the article Tea Pot Garden in Plants & Bulbs is owned by Deborah Harding. Permission to republish Tea Pot Garden in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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