Establishing an indoor garden is a great way to not only grow your food but also cut down on the grocery budget. Indoor herb gardening is an easy way to add flavor and spices to a meal as well. Growing any food at home, even if it is a small amount, can be helpful in becoming making the most out of what you have to use at home. Consider these tips on how to start your own do-it-yourself indoor herb garden.
5 Tips for a DIY Indoor Herb Garden
Find A Spot
Indoor herb gardens are usually quite small in size and don’t require much room to grow. A perfect spot would include the windowsill of your kitchen window or a sunny place somewhere else in the home. Consider choosing a south facing window if you live in a colder area as that will help keep the plants warm enough to survive all year long. Selecting a spot in the kitchen that is also easy to see will increase your use of the herbs while you cook and may inspire you to try a new combination or two.
Related: Plant a Garden Even if Don’t Have a Green Thumb
Create the Base
There are plenty of indoor herb gardens that you can purchase from the store, but there is no need to spend extra money on these overpriced items. Find containers that you can use from recycled materials at home like tin cans, milk jugs, or even old Tupperware bases that have lost their lids. Anything that can hold a little bit of soil, and can drain excess water, will work when creating your own do-it-yourself indoor herb garden.
Drill or poke holes in the bottom of the clean recycled containers and place them on a plate or tray that will protect your home from any excess water. If you want to spruce up the look of your garden, consider painting the containers or adding mod podge to them to make them more appealing.
Related: How to Plant a Garden for the Beginner Gardener
Add Your Soil
Purchasing a small bag of potting soil is an excellent way to ensure that your herb garden will flourish with the right mix of nutrients. It is best to use purchased soil, so you don’t introduce any outside pests to your indoor garden. Scoop the potting soil into the containers that you have chosen and make sure to leave enough room at the top for some seeds. Also, keep in mind that potting soil tends to float when watered so allow about 1-2 inches of space at the top of the container to prevent dirt from spilling over.
Choose Your Herbs
One of the most exciting parts of creating your own do-it-yourself indoor herb garden is choosing the herbs that you will be growing. Herbs come in a wide variety of flavors and can differ significantly in their growth habit and time to germinate. Many edible herbs also have the side benefit of repelling pests and other pests. Choosing to grow fresh herbs that you already enjoy will add a punch of color to meals as well as a vibrant and fresh taste compared to dried herbs. Don’t be afraid to try something new and grow an herb that you haven’t regularly used before. You might surprise yourself with how much a new spice can add to a meal.
Related: How to Create a Beautiful Hummingbird Garden
Label, Water, Harvest
One of the most critical parts of growing your own do-it-yourself indoor herb garden is to know how and when to harvest the herbs once they have matured. Label your containers with the seed packets so that you can easily reference what the herb is and also how to care for it as it grows. Watering is an essential part of herb growing but be wary of overwatering that could ultimately stunt the plant’s growth. Harvest herbs that are ready to be used and make sure to continue planting seed as you use the plant as well.
Creating your own do-it-yourself indoor herb garden is an easy way to add natural beauty to your home as well as offer fresh ingredients to your meals. Growing your food also helps cut down on the grocery bill and will increase your likelihood to add liberating flavors to your diet. Consider all of these frugal ways to quickly start your very own do-it-yourself indoor herb garden.
All else fails there are always the container garden starter kits to get you going
Kristina Phelan is a freelance writer and her parenting column, Mama Bear Moxie, is printed in a few newspapers across the country. She lives on a farm in the Midwest with her husband, three kiddos, and too many animals.
Such a lovely ideas and tips! I will definitely try this at home and it is always a good idea to have fresh herbs at home.