Create your own mini herb garden
What you will need:
- Trowel
- Watering can
- 4 Terracotta pots (39cm, 32cm, 27cm & 21cm diameter)
- Drainage material (broken crockery, pebbles or gravel)
- Potting compost
- Herbs of your choice or see our suggestions below
Simply follow these steps:
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Place drainage material into the bottom of the largest pot (39cm) to cover the base
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Add a layer of potting compost on top to cover the drainage material.
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Place the next smallest pot (32cm) on the layer of compost on one side and with it’s rim above the lip of the first pot.
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Fill the gap between the bottom and top pot with compost and plant your first row of herbs into the compost.
- Do the same again with the third and forth pots, keeping them all on the same side of the pot stack and planting into the compost layers as you go.
- Water thoroughly and protect from bright sunlight.
- Herbs
Why not try using some of the following combinations in your miniture herb garden:
A Traditional Herb Selection
Use Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Chives, Parsley, Thyme and Mint.
A Spicy Herb Garden
Use Tarragon, Oregano, Coriander, Lemon Balm and Rocket.
A Winter Herb Garden
Use Rosemary, Sage, Bay and Thyme in your container, as these can all survive outside in the winter if looked after properly.
Some Clever Hints!
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Space the herbs out when you plant them so that they have room to spread.
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Use trailing herbs in the upper pots so that they can trail over the side of the stack.
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Why not try using a Strawberry Pot (a terracotta pot with cusped holes) and have your herbs trailing down the sides of the drum.
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Make supermarket herb pots last longer by easing them out of their pots and potting them up into a container with the plantlets more spread out.
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Herbs such as parsley also grow well on window sills in a warm, sunny position.
Three great ideas for using your herbs:
Refreshing Ice Cubes
Place a few fresh leaves of a herbs such as Mint into an ice tray before filling it to give your summer drinks a lovely fresh flavour.
Herb crusted Lamb
Sear a joint of lamb and coat with 2 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary, 2 tbsp fresh chopped thyme, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil and salt & pepper before roasting it in the oven.
Home made Pesto
Blend 2 cups of basil, 3 cloves of chopped garlic, ¾ tbps salt, pepper, 4 floz olive oil and 1½ oz of toasted pine nuts in a food processor until smooth and then add 3 oz of grated parmesan cheese and pepper to taste.
Material courtesy of www.the-hta.org.uk
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