Young House Love

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Planting An Herb Garden In A Metal Tub

Our (continued) indecision about where our vegetable and herb garden should permanently go at our new place means we missed the boat on planting anything this spring (check out our edible gardens of years past here and here). But in an attempt to grow something this year, we’ve come up with a temporary solution. And it involves this galvanized tub:

Herbs Galvanized Tin

We figured we’d just do a potted herb garden this year, with only a few “edible essentials” for our kitchen. Which is why we picked up a foursome of local and organically grown herbs (parsley, oregano, basil, and mint) at the farmer’s market this weekend for $12. Speaking of which, you can read more about our trip to the market on BabyCenter today as part of their “Big Day Out” this Saturday.

Herbs At Market

But back to the tub. It was about $8 at Lowe’s (way cheaper than any planter of that size) and to turn it into our herb pot, we figured it could use some holes for drainage in the bottom. They were a cinch to make with my little cordless drill.

Herbs Drilling Heart

To make them a bit bigger, I also wiggled a big nail around in them too. Oh yeah, and I made the holes in a heart shape. Maybe I was feeling romantic? Maybe I was subliminally professing my love for galvanized tubs? Or it was an ode to the L in YHL? Either way, this photo is about the most any of us will ever see of it.

Herbs Nailing Heart

Update: A few savvy commenters recommended that we test for lead just to be sure it wouldn’t leech into our food if it was randomly present in the metal. We just used one of those $4 Lead Test Sticks from Home Depoton to test the seams, the inside, the outside, the bottom, and even the holes that we drill and it was negative. Whew. So that’s definitely something to test for if you’re not sure how pure your galvanized tin is (and you’re using it for edible herbs)!

Also for drainage, we put a layer of gravel on the bottom (they were leftovers from the patio project). Hopefully they’ll keep the majority of the soil from dripping out of my hidden hole-y heart.

Herbs Rocks In Bottom

Before adding any dirt, we did a quick “dry run” of the herb placement. The taller guys (basil and parsley) went in the back, and oregano got some special space on the side – since my oregano tends to get bushy. Yeah… not so sure I like the sound of that last sentence.

Herbs Dry Run

Of course, if things do well (i.e. grow big and strong) this tin could soon get a bit cramped. But hopefully we’ll achieve “full” and not go as far as “so full it’s bad.” But if so, we can always transplant things into their own larger dedicated pots. You know if anything gets all diva on us. And we’re keeping the mint from spreading like crazy by separating it in a buried pot (a tip we learned a while back at the farmer’s market from a friendly local gardener).

Herbs Mint Pot

You can see dirt in the bottom of the pic above. That’s some organic potting mix that we snagged at Lowe’s. It was about twice as much as the regular stuff ($10 vs $6, I think) but we figured since we’ll be consuming these plants it was worth going the slightly more natural route (since they were organically grown up to this point).

Herbs Potting Mix

We usually would use our nutrient rich compost pile, but since moving our DIY compost bins got a little jumbled while we got settled so we don’t appear to have enough “ready” soil to use just yet (aka: things are still breaking down).

Here are the plants all in and soil-ed up:

Herbs Full On Patio

Since the patio (which also got a bit soil-ed, as you can see) isn’t very sunny, we decided to put the pot on our balcony-to-nowhere (right off of our living room and kitchen). Despite being between two sections of house, it gets a remarkable amount of light – almost the closest thing to full sun that we have on our mostly shaded property. Plus it’s pretty darn convenient to the kitchen.

Herbs Thru Window

The beauty of having our herb “garden” potted this year is that we can move it around to test other sun spots if we find that this one isn’t doing the trick (since we’re still trying to wrap our heads around sun patterns here). Heck, it might even help us decide where to put a more permanent garden next year (gotta find that sweet spot). And if we decide to keep this potted version around, it’ll still look good on the larger deck that we plan to build out here eventually. Maybe even as an oversized centerpiece on an outdoor table?

Herbs On Balcony

And since no herb garden story is complete with an artsy close-up of your plant labels – here we go!

Herbs Col Oregano Close

If you’re wondering, Colonel Oregano is not some weird variety of oregano. It’s just me being weird. I decided it’d be funny to take our simple popsicle stick labels and give them the Clue-character treatment. You know like Miss Scarlet and Colonel Mustard? Here’s my whole cast of made up herbs / suspect names. Yes, I’m what Sherry’s dad likes to call “a strange bird” (he’s also the man trying to single-handedly bring back the term “sick puppy”).

Herbs Labels Close Up

Next year if we decide to grow peppers it will be tough deciding whether to give it the “Sergeant” or “Doctor” title. Though the idea of a Dr. Pepper plant sounds pretty awesome, so maybe I’ve already made my decision.

What are you guys growing this year? Anything sprouting up particularly well or deliciously? Anything not showing as much promise as you’d like? Anything murdering someone in the conservatory with the lead pipe?

Psst- Don’t forget to check out the rest of our Farmer’s Market adventures here on BabyCenter.

Comments

  2. Becky says

    Have you thought about using this sunny space as your garden for the future? It could be your secret garden. Plant flowers (for butterflies) and vegetables so you have a pretty view. :)

    Reply

  3. Kacee says

    I didn’t read the comments but remember that oregano is also a perennial so it should come back next year. That’s if your pot doesn’t freeze too bad or if you transplant it into the garden. We’ve also had parsley come back for 2 years (it’s a biannual, 2 year life cycle) I think it came back because it was planted near my parents chimney so it was protected from the cold a little bit.

    Reply

  4. Amanda says

    I love the look of that, and I might have to do the same next month when we move! I’m dying for a garden, but I think it’ll be a little too late in the year to start up a full one…this might be the perfect solution!

    Reply

  5. Amber Wallace says

    Love the pot! I’m going to Lowe’s fr one later for sure. We are trying to put together our garden with starts instead of seeds this weekend. They say it’s not too late here because it has been super rainy. We just had to shell out for sprinklers and sod though. The upfront cost of doing the garden has me wanting to wait until next year to build it right.

    Reply

  6. Meggan Britton says

    I love this post! I actually have spent the last two days doing almost the exact same thing, except we used 5 gallon buckets (also drilling and filling with gravel). We even got the same kind of potting soil. My husband and I recently moved to NYC, and while we are lucky enough to be living in a house with a yard, there are only one or two spots that actually get sun, so we decided container gardening would be our best best. I am excited to see how it works out, and hopefully enjoy some delicious herbs and a few veggies. Good luck!

    Reply

  7. Julie says

    Heh. Many, MANY people have said what I was going to already! Gently pull that mint plant out of that tub and put it in its own pot, because the other herbs don’t stand a chance! Mint is sooooo invasive. My mom once made the mistake of planting it in the ground, and it took over that whole corner of her garden.

    @Laura – I live in CA, and I got 18 months out of a cilantro plant before it finally bolted. I have no idea what I did to deserve that but I definitely appreciated it. :)

    Reply

  8. Aimee says

    Love you guys!! Random question – what stroller do you have for Clara? I need a new one, my 7 month old has outgrown his car seat, so we want to ditch the ‘travel system’ and get something beefier than an umbrella stroller. Thanks!

    Reply

  11. Leslie says

    Miss Mint is a TOTAL diva, as previously mentioned. I’ve experienced her wrath first hand. But I never knew oregano was a mint; it has been well behaved for me. Agree you should try cilantro and chives next time. Mmmm. Also a big fan of rosemary, dill and lavender. (Lavender lemonade is the BEST!)

    Reply

  12. Lane says

    oooh, i’ve been eyeing up some galvanized tubs just like this at our local store and wanted to do this, thanks for the kick in the butt. Also, good to know about the lead, that was one concern I had as well.

    Reply

  15. Felicia says

    I vote for Sergeant Pepper – it reminds me of The Beatles “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”!

    Reply

  16. Megan W. says

    We are garden nerds! We both grew up with sizable gardens and couldn’t wait to have one of our own. When we bought our house almost 2 years ago, the backyard had a small 8×8 foot plot. We promptly found out that it wasn’t enough room after our first spring garden, so doubled it to 16×8 rectangle for summer and fall. Believe it or not, we are expanding yet 1 more time and now have a grid of 4 raised cedar “boxes” for beds (7×7 foot each). So now we’ll have a dedicated tomato bed, a pepper variety bed, squash/zucchini bed, and lettuce/greens/miscellaneous bed. So far we’ve grown broccoli, yukon gold potatoes, bell peppers, jalepenos, tomatoes (many varieties), tomatillos, squash, zucchini, spinach, lettuce, shallots, garlic, carrots, butternut squash! Not to mention our separate herb bed with cilantro, basil, mint (spear and orange), lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives, parsley, lemon balm, and lemon verbena…and this is all in a smallish backyard with room for a small patio and green space/landscaping! We love our garden and cook from it almost every meal…we are in Texas, so we have a “3-seasons” garden=) But it’s SO HOT here (almost 2 weeks straight of 100+ degree weather), so everything is burning up sadly…Good luck!

    Reply

  18. Macon says

    I still love your curtains btw!

    My husband planted the garden this year and was insistent on planting 3 mint plants in the midst of peppers, eggplants, cucumbers and watermelon. I tried to warn him of ms mints ways but they fell on deaf ears… So we’ll see what happens

    Reply

  20. Tasha says

    Betterafter.blogspot.com had a post named “gone to pot” also, but there’s was posted a day before yours! Weird!

    Reply

  21. Marla says

    My hubby made me Martha Stewart’s herb tower from clay pots–it is the prettiest thing on our patio and the herbs are going crazy! Best part it was cheap to make and holds lots of plants.

    Reply

  22. Darcy says

    Can you tell me the brand of the lead test? I went to home depot today and the only one I could find was 27 bucks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s called Lead Check (they’re these little sticks that look like cigarettes that you crack and shake and then rub against a surface you want to test). We grabbed them a few months back. Hope they still have them!

      xo,
      s

  23. Lilli says

    Just an FYI, if you’re interested in buying organic products, I wouldn’t go with MiracleGro in the future. MiracleGro is owned by Monsanto which is the bio-tech company responsible for poisons such as Agent Orange and Roundup as well as the genetically modified food industry. Don’t waste your money on MiracleGro’s “organic” soil because it’s not anything special or safe for you or your kid.

    Reply

  24. Lindsay says

    I am now harvesting spinach and lettuce and my radishes have long been harvested. Colonel Peas are looking good, but their grubby little tentacles have started strangling a Miss Spinach plant (in the library) and I’ve had to do some re-training up the supports I have in place.

    Reply

  26. SallyHP says

    This is great! We’re in the first year of our house and totally dropped the ball on raised beds. What a fun alternative; I may just have to copy you.

    Reply

  30. Jessica Z. says

    Just wanted to give you all a shout-out of gratitude for exposing me to all sorts of great resources out there in the “interwebs”! I just read last week’s Babycenter post, which let me to Modern Parents Messy Kids, which led me to Playful Learning. I was so excited since I am currently in the process of looking at our home with an eye toward Montessori-inspired spaces for our 10 month old daughter. Anyway, I have found some amazing resources thanks to that journey down the rabbit hole that began with your Babycenter post. I love your blog for the design inspiration, but also for the fantabulous sources and references you all find. So another big thank you for what you all do day-to-day!

    Reply

  33. Steph N says

    Funny thing is, the mint variety I’m growing this year is “Kentucky Colonel”. I though maybe y’all had the same kind at first glance.

    Reply

  34. Anna says

    OMG!! (I have been looking for a place to use that :) ) I have been wanting to make a vegetable garden in a galvanized tub for a while now. I want to do it on a larger scale though. The only place we get sun is on our driveway and obvisouly I can’t plant my veggies there. I was thinking about going to a feed store and getting a huge trough and putting casters on it so I could move it if needed. I might just have to work on that project this weekend!

    Reply

  35. Annie says

    Maybe someone has already suggested it but I just had a lightbulb moment! You’re looking for a garden spot and you have the awkward outdoor space leading off from the balcony to nowhere that gets full sun…ding! Garden spot! It’d be perfect for growing and convenient for harvesting. Small walkway down the center, flanked by long garden beds.

    Reply

  38. Jolene says

    I had to chuckle that the picture of your new “garden” through the sliding glass doors is probably the best curtain picture!! The fabric shows really well and looks gorgeous!

    Reply

  39. Trisha says

    I’m an antsy grower who just can’t wait for last frost. I start the seeds inside in late February. No “real” garden just a few pots containing; sweet basil, thai basil, sage, rosemary, thyme, jalapenos, and a few flowers. My basil is taking over! Planning on cutting it back for the first batch of pesto.
    Our pots live right on the front porch, which is our full sun location. The hardest part of container gardening is that the soil dries out much faster than the ground. Must. Water. Often.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- some of it can have chemicals and additives and fertilizers so it’s not certified to be made only of organic materials (meaning it could have weed and feed in it, etc). When were eating something (and feeding it to the baby) we prefer not to have that stuff in the dirt that it grows in. But it’s definitely one of those personal preference things for sure!

      xo,
      s

  42. Meredith says

    We planted an herb garden on our deck earlier this spring with 9 different herbs! I love it. Herbs are pretty easy to grow and I love walking by and smelling them. Here’s a post: http://newlywedmcgees.blogspot.com/2011/05/herb-garden.html but you can see how big everything’s gotten in my most recent post about our deck reveal.

    Have fun using your delicious herbs. You reminded me that I need to get some oregano, which is my fave.

    Reply

  44. Bea says

    Good thing you got warned about the mint spreading…
    In case you have too many stems, you can always start drinking fresh mint tea : cut three inches long heads and dip two or three of them upside down in a boiled water filled mug. Can it be more simple?

    Reply

  45. Jeanine says

    First, love love LOVE the blog. A co-worker of mine intro’ed me to it and whoa mama I got little-to-no work done in the 2 days that followed. However it has inspired me to step up my own decorating game at home. My hubs would like to curse you for all the paint samples I’ve thrown in front of him over the past month.

    Anyway I HAD to share my fave garden markers with you guys. I found them perusing through Etsy early last year and low and behold the seller got picked up by Anthropologie in the spring and now she sells for them as well. Regardless the idea is just so clever so here’s a link. I totally see this as one of your future projects… or perhaps you already tackled it in the past and I haven’t made it back that far in the blog yet. :)

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/62782301/vintage-silverware-garden-marker-mint

    Reply

  46. Adriana says

    Did you use a regular drill bit to drill the holes? I had a similar idea and bought some awesome colorful ones @ Home Goods over the weekend.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Nah, we just clipped it back and used it and it was great. That was last year so the annual things didn’t come back and we have yet to replant them since we’re so busy with the front landscaping stuff we’re taking on though!

      xo,
      s

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