How to grow a herb garden in a unit
Living in an apartment does not mean you cannot have access to fresh herbs.
“It’s great to grow my own food and see the reward for my labour as seedlings emerge and plants grow. It also saves me money, particularly on herbs I would otherwise use only now and then,” says Sara McGregor.
She grows herbs as well as vegies, such as carrots, spinach and spring onions on her apartment balcony and micro greens in her kitchen.
“Even though I don’t have much space, gardening in pots still helps me relax in the fresh air when I’m planting and watering,” says McGregor, who is PR manager at Planet Ark. “It is that moment of ‘time out’ for my brain in a busy world.”
McGregor started with cuttings from her parents’ vegies and herb garden, as well as with some packets of seeds. “I bought some micro greens which I keep in my laundry. As they grow, I cut them off and use them in salads, and then put a new lot in.
“I’ve got a thing called a Bokashi bucket in my kitchen which recycles food waste. I put all my food waste in there and it breaks it down and it becomes fertiliser for my plants.”
Sal Bua, who lives in a three-bedroom apartment in Sydney, also has his own eco system.
His herbs are in the balcony, while one of the apartment’s windowsills is a seed-germinating area.
His eco system also includes recycling two-litre milk plastic containers as mini pots, and a worm farm for green waste.
Bua, who owns the La Unica Salon, says tending to his herb garden is relaxing. “It’s a hobby. It’s a passion as well as we get our own herbs to cook with and eat as well.”
The original mint plants were given to him by his father. The parsley has been grown from seed.
He expanded from herbs – he now has two mango and two cherry trees.
Dino Talic, VP of product at hipages, Australia’s largest marketplace for booking home improvement experts, says even though herbs are delicate plants, most are quite hardy.
“They are equally happy on a balcony, courtyard or indoors on a windowsill with some sun exposure,” he says. “Just don’t assume that all your herbs are going to want full sun all day. Luckily, many of our most common herbs – basil, dill, coriander and parsley, like full sun. Others like chives, mint, tarragon and oregano are quite happy with less.
“Your herbs will be happy anywhere – as long as they have light, nutrients and water. You could try mounting a vertical garden on a balcony wall – a great space saver that might just become a conversation piece.
“You could also try a mini-greenhouse that could live on your kitchen windowsill. Old jam jars and tins are another rustic option that won’t take up too much space and can be placed anywhere. Simple terracotta pots or planter boxes will also do the job.”
David Hardie, National Garden Care Buyer at Bunnings, lists these herbs as good to grow indoors as long as there is adequate light and fresh air, and are grown in a suitable-sized pot: basil, chives, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, tarragon and coriander.
David Hardie’s tips on how to set up and maintain a new herb garden:
- Herbs need plenty of sunshine to help them thrive. Set up your herb garden on a windowsill or on a sunny ledge in the kitchen as most plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
- If it’s your first time growing a herb garden, it’s a good idea to start with basil as it is easy to grow and doesn’t require as much watering as other herbs.
- You can prune herbs after they have three full sets of leaves. Harvesting them regularly will make them grow back bigger, stronger and tastier.
- Give your herbs a little compost or fertiliser once every couple of weeks.
- You can check the moisture content of soil by simply poking your finger into the pot – if the soil is a little dry below the surface, it’s time to top up the water.
Written by Christine D'Mello. First appeared on Domain.com.au.
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