One of the greatest pleasures I’ve ever had in life was growing my own garden. I had plenty of space in my backyard, and sometimes, I ended up growing so many tomatoes and peppers that I couldn’t give them all away. Along with vegetables, I always had a hearty patch of herbs growing as well and they often occupied the areas around the deck on the back of my house and even my front porch.
These days, I’m downsizing and enjoying the benefits of living a smaller life. At the same time, however, I can’t help but miss that big garden in my backyard. Fortunately, I can bring some of that gardening experience into my home, regardless of the size, thanks to an indoor herb garden. These days, I’m growing everything from dill to basil to rosemary and I’m doing it all year long!
Growing herbs indoors does not need to be difficult. In fact, it can just become a regular part of your kitchen routine. The one problem that I have run into in the past is finding enough suitable containers to transplant the herbs from the outside porch to the kitchen, but these days, I’m discovering the benefits of Mason jar gardening.
Mason jars are easy to find, relatively cheap, and add a rustic appeal to your indoor living space. Using either new Mason jars or recycling jars from sauce and other canned goods makes it a no-brainer when it comes to starting one of these gardens. You can get started as well by following the steps below. Not only will you be adding some rustic indoor gardening appeal to your living space, but you will also have fresh herbs all year round.
Materials
1. Quart Mason jars
2. Small rocks or gravel
3. Potting mix
4. Herb plants or seeds
5. Jar labels
Step 1: Put Rocks in Jars
Jars don’t have holes to allow drainage so if you add a 2-inch layer of rocks, gravel, or marbles to the bottom, it will keep the roots from rotting.
Step 2: Add the Potting Mix
Potting mix isn’t like regular soil, it’s a planting medium that includes compost, peat, and at times, perlite. You want to make sure you use “potting mix,” not potting soil. It allows for moisture to be retained and is perfect for container gardening. Continue to fill the jars with potting mix until it is one or 2 inches below the rim of the jar.
Step 3: Transplant Plant or Herb Seeds
Using Mason jars in your kitchen garden is an excellent way to transplant herbs from outdoor planter boxes. You can also use them for planting herbs from seed indoors. Just use the instructions that are provided by the seed company carefully to get the best results. In most cases, you will simply sew the seeds on top of the potting mix, cover with a little more potting mix and then water lightly.
If you are transplanting herbs to Mason jars, pull the roots apart gently to encourage growth. Plant the herbs in the jar and pack the mix firmly around the roots at the base of the plant. If the plants have more established roots, you may need to remove some potting mix from the jar prior to planting them. Keep the roots exposed to the air for a minimal amount of time, and once they are replanted, continue to water them as needed.
Step 4: Label Jars
You can use a craft stick placed in the dirt to label the herbs or affix a sticker at the neck of the jar. The Mason jar garden is typically going to be in plain sight so using a pretty label helps to make the space much more appealing.
Step 5: Maintenance
You can move the Mason jars around as needed. Make sure that the herbs get at least six hours of sunshine every day, whether it is on the countertop or windowsill. Make sure that the herbs are watered regularly, but don’t water them too much. Harvest as needed to add flavor to whatever you are making.