A great weekend craft for anyone who uses herbs in the kitchen or anyone who wants to spruce up their yard.
Tip: This craft makes use of old bricks. They needn't be perfect; actually the more character the better!
Approximate Time to Complete: 60 minutes or longer depending on size of garden
Lay out: Before beginning, decide how you will lay out your garden. Use the picture as a guide. Also take into consideration if the plants require full sun or partial shade when deciding on a garden plot location.
Preparing garden plot: If you already have an area to place the garden, add manure and soil only if necessary. Go to the Assembly instructions.
If you do not already have an area to place the garden, you must pull up and remove sod, add sheep manure, and add new soil to the garden. You will make use of the garden tools at this stage of the project.
Assembly: Once the garden plot has been prepared, you will began to place bricks in the format you have decided on. Make sure to level the soil before beginning. Start with the inside bricks first to ensure you have enough space on the inside. Create 7 separate sections, each divided by 2 bricks placed on their sides.
Enjoy your new easy herb garden and with a little tender loving care, you should be able to harvest herbs for cooking in no time at all.
By Lisa from Halifax, Nova Scotia
This page contains the following solutions.
It can be very expensive to buy herbs from the grocery store. The next time you need to buy a bunch for a recipe, purchase a potted herb plant from the home improvement store instead.
Nothing is better than harvesting homegrown fresh vegetables, but to really "spice" things up in the garden, consider setting aside a small corner for cultivating herbs.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I would like to know how to grow herbs, and how and when are they ready to use.
Hardiness Zone: 10a
By huguette from FL
I'm in FL too. Are you wanting to grow them from seed or starter plants from a store? I always buy mine at Publix ($2 a plant is the cheapest I've found, (even cheaper than Walmart or HomeDepot.) You can start using them immediately. And the more you use the better. (I tried to grow cilantro from seed without success, so I just stick with buying the plants.) I put mint in my water or tea.
What is the best way to grow a herb garden outside? Last year, I put several in a planting box, but did not use them often enough and it became overgrown.
Hardiness Zone: 6a
By Becky Muehl from Madison, OH
Becky, I grow herbs each year and never use them enough as there is just me and my husband so I trim them anyway and then I dry them in the dehydrator for about 20 minutes and crush them, put them in the freezer in a left over butterbuds bottle or any small container and when I need them they are just like fresh. You can dry them in the microwave to. Better than going to the store in georgia to find them.
To NEATLY grow herbs, I use 3# margarine tubs, cut out the bottom and that is the perimeter of what ever herb goes inside. I leave about 1 inch above the soil, stick the plant/seed inside. They get trained to stay in their own pots where without the tub, they would wander and get unsightly in the garden. I harvest when necessary, encourages growth.
This picture is from spring 2007. I grow flowers and cucumbers here also. This area is about 6 ft x 7 ft.
I purchased 12 comfrey cuttings and planted them on April 20, 2016. It has been about 3 weeks and nothing is growing. Am I being impatient or should they have sprouted by now? Also, I would appreciate any advice on making this a successful venture.
Thanks.
When you plant your comfrey cutting you need to plan them in soil that is well worked. It is good to plant them in spring, summer and fall.
You planted early in the season. If the spring has been cold they might be a little delayed.
I live in Mesa Arizona. Can I plant basil and tarragon together?
By Lisa
Many commonly used herbs are grown as perennials. These plants provide herbs for cooking, flowers, and fragrance for potpourri and other crafts. This is a page about growing a perennial herb garden.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I'm sure you have noticed the high price of herbs at the grocery store; a small bottle can sometimes run $4 or $5 or more.
What is the best way to grow an herb garden outside? Last year, I put several in a planting box, but did not use it often enough and it became overgrown.
