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Makeshift herb garden

August 1, 2007 by Andrea Bellamy 7 Comments

After months of searching for an affordable modern trough for my herbs, I was getting desperate, and my herbs were getting leggy in their little starter pots.

fniss%20to%20planter.jpg

Enter the Fniss wastepaper basket, discovered while standing in the Ikea checkout line. At $2.99 each, they make great little planters, non?

herb%20garden.jpg

I bought five and lined them up where I had wanted a trough to go – I think it’s a great solution.

herbs.jpg

Here’s how I did it: I carefully drilled three holes in each bottom using a 5mm (1/4″) drill bit (the plastic is thin so you have to apply gentle pressure with the drill or the bottom may crack). I filled each one with a mixture of Coco Earth (to retain water) and Sea Soil, a gorgeous dark soil that practically matches the black of the containers.

Thanks, Ikea!

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Filed Under: How To, My garden, Veggies & Edibles

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kevin says

    August 1, 2007 at 11:44 am

    Great idea! My brother has also used the white ones as discount modern lampshades.

  2. Crafty Gardener says

    August 1, 2007 at 3:25 pm

    Who says you have to use flower pots to plant in? Great compromise using the Ikea containers. Large rubbermaid totes work really well too and they are very often deeper than flower pots.

  3. bright says

    August 1, 2007 at 9:49 pm

    very cute! i’ve got a freezer tray with strawberries in it, but it isn’t nearly so cute!

  4. Andrea says

    August 2, 2007 at 9:51 am

    Thanks all! I’m not always the best at thinking outside the box (or, in this case, outside the flower pot), so this is a good reminder to do so more often.

  5. Jak King says

    August 3, 2007 at 9:16 am

    Good idea. Even cheaper is what we use — old olive or industrial soap containers. They are plastic containers about a foot and a half tall, with handles. Santa Barbara on Commercial always has a few to sell at 50cents a piece or free if you smile nicely. They take a good scrubbing but are then great for tomatoes, herbs, whatever.

  6. gloria bauguess says

    August 5, 2007 at 3:44 pm

    love the idea, why not use what we can.. and it works great.. i was sick, but now working in my back yard.. love it …i use lots of containers.. take care

  7. Homebasics says

    July 17, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Cool idea. It’s also important to remember what herbs go with which type of light.
    For a sunny site, try a combination of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage or summer savoury. For part-shade, choose chervil, parsley, mint or tarragon.
    Hope this helps

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