If you’re like me, one of your favorite television channels is HGTV.
I’m always looking for ideas to add to, remove from, embellish, or improve my living space.
No matter where you live, kitchen counter space is always premium real estate.
But, I like the idea of having a kitchen herb garden, so I ventured out to my favorite channel’s web site to see if there was an idea for an herb garden that fit my needs.
I desired something small, easy to care for, and portable.
Portable because even though plants can grow well under certain lights, my kitchen does not have a window, and if I need to move it near a window for a daily dose of sunlight, it has to be easily portable.
Then as the last criteria was, I wanted something that was interesting or attractive to look at.
I think I found it, courtesy of HGTV author Sam Henderson’s great idea.
Materials Needed:
- 6 used food cans in a variety of sizes
- 2 basil plants
- 1 rosemary plant
- 1 thyme plant
- 1 oregano plant
- 1 parsley plant
- ribbon
- card stock
- old fork
- small scissors
- large terra-cotta saucer
- river rock or pebbles
- potting soil
- drill with small drill bit
- rubbing alcohol
- twine or string
- Prep Cans
Wash cans thoroughly and allow to dry. Use rubbing alcohol to remove any ink that has been stamped on the cans (Image 1).
Set the smallest can aside (this will be used later to keep scissors for snipping the herbs handy) then flip the remaining five cans over and drill several evenly spaced holes in the bottom for drainage (Image 2).
Wash cans thoroughly and allow to dry. Use rubbing alcohol to remove any ink that has been stamped on the cans
Set the smallest can aside (this will be used later to keep scissors for snipping the herbs handy), then flip the remaining five cans over and drill several, evenly-spaced holes in the bottom for drainage.
Prep Saucer
- Fill terra-cotta saucer with a level layer of river rock and small pebbles to catch any drainage.
Add Herbs
Fill the bottom of the five cans with a shallow layer of rocks for drainage (Image 1); top this with a layer of potting soil, only filling each can two-thirds full (Image 2).
Finally, remove herbs from their pots and loosen the roots slightly by breaking them gently apart with your fingers. Add both basil plants to the largest can then plant the remaining herbs in the other four cans (Image 3). Fill in around each plant with more potting soil if necessary.
Before adding herbs, fill the bottom of the five cans with a shallow layer of rocks for drainage.
After filling bottom of cans with a shallow layer of rocks, top with a layer of potting soil, making sure to only fill each can two-thirds full.
Add both basil plants to the largest can, then plant the remaining herbs in the other four cans. Fill in around each plant with more potting soil if necessary.
Assemble Herb Garden
Give all the plants a good watering (Image 1). Arrange the cans on the terra-cotta saucer, placing them near a sunny window that gets a minimum six hours of sunlight a day. Add the smallest can to the front center, and use it to keep small scissors handy for snipping herbs. Wrap a length of ribbon around all the cans and tie together to secure. Print then cut out the plant labels and tie each around its respective can with twine or string. Finally, slide the printed greeting through the tines of an old fork (Image 2) and add it to the smallest can (Image 3).
Article courtesy of:
http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/kitchens/grow-your-own-kitchen-countertop-herb-garden