How to Build an Herb Garden Container

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Aug 262010
 

Herb gardens make a wonderful small space garden and add color and most of all flavor to your backyard, patio or balcony area. Herb gardens are also great for the beginner gardener as they are easy to care for and are not bothered by insects as much as other plants.

Sage Advice
Creative Commons License photo credit: garryknight

One way to create a small space herb garden is to select your favorite herbs to use in meals and bouquets. For a small space garden you can pack them into a large container. This will create a full and stunning pot. You can then nestle them along a garden border, directly into the garden for a creative focal point or place near the house or even in the kitchen.

If you want to create a small herb garden that will become a focal point in a backyard or garden you may want to make an herb container

How to create an easy herb container

Create an outline of the herb container to help you plan the mini garden and plant layout. Choose a large container to hold the herbs, at least 1 foot by 1 foot.

I have found an old dresser drawer makes a fast and cute mini garden. Add legs, drill drainage holes and its ready to go. If you don’t have small legs brickes work well and you can vary the height of the container.

Place a 1-inch layer of broken pot pieces down on the bottom of the herb container. This help to prevent the water from flooding out the bottom and ensures a gradual drain and no wet feet for your herb plants.

Next place equal amounts of compost and potting soil into the container until it reaches 5 inches from the top of the lip of the container.

To plant your herbs you will want to gently pull apart each root ball on the herbs. This allows the roots to spread in the pot, which encourages growth.

Dig one hole per herb plant with a small garden spade to make space in the container for each plant. Dill and fennel will do best in the back of the pot and add height to the container and container arrangement. Tarragon and thyme will do best in the front of the container, as they will tend to spill and cascade over the pot. Insert the herbs into the hole and gently press down to ensure a snug fit and to cover the roots with soil. Most herbs take 6 inches of space to grow thick and full.

Place the herb container in full sun or if indoors near a window or add additional lighting. Make sure the herbs receive between 4 and 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

If you add a 1-inch layer of mulch around the herbs in the plants in the summer the soils will stay moist and the plants will require less watering.

By pinching back the herbs you will stimulate new growth and free up nutrients to young shoots. Dry the herbs you pinch to use in the winter months for seasoning soups and other meals.

The Gardener’s Rake is sponsoring a kitchen herb contest with the support of  Hometown Seeds. It begins August 27, 2010.

Posted by Denise at 9:23 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Create a Kitchen Garden

 Backyard Garden  1 Response »
May 082009
 

Kitchen gardens were always a part of the backyard plan in the past and with the return of the recession gardens and popularity of the outdoor kitchen area the kitchen garden is again becoming popular. 041709 023
Creative Commons License photo credit: themissiah

A kitchen garden was set up to be small and easy to access from the home and preferably near the kitchen area.

It was also set up to include the favorite vegetables, herbs for cooking and a few fruits.

Basil, oregano, garlic, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, rhubarb and strawberries are a few of the items most often selected.

Kitchen gardens can be set up in a very small space or even on the balcony or patio. They are often grown in containers if space is limited.

Here are a few ideas to consider if you plan on creating your own kitchen garden area.

Choose a site that receives full sun during the growing season. This would be at least six to eight hours of lighting. If you live in a cooler climate try to select a site that thaws early. You will be able to work your soil earlier and get in your lettuce and other small vegetables.

Raised beds, using windowsills or container gardening would also help you plant earlier if your climate is cooler

Select a site that will permit access to a storage shed and water so that your gardening supplies will be close by.

The garden area should drain well and have the proper soil mix. Both drainage and soil can quickly be improved if you add compost, peat or fertilizer.

Design your kitchen garden to include the vegetables you use the most but also to be ornamental garden. This way you have the benefits of fresh garden produce but the beauty of a unique garden landscape. This is easy to do with vegetables of different colors, the use of vining plants and including flower, which can be edible, in your garden.The garden one year on
Creative Commons License photo credit: tristanf

One other advantage of a kitchen garden is that it is usually is within easy reach which makes weeding and picking the harvest easy. And if it’s close to the house you shouldn’t have to worry about damage to your crops from deer or other small wild animals.

Add a kitchen garden to your backyard or patio area.

It will add color to your garden oasis and fresh produce to you table. And with planning it will take very little room or time to maintain.

Posted by Denise at 9:52 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
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