What's Cooking: Grow-Your-Own Kitchen Herb Gardens
Fed up with throwing out bunches of wilting parsley, mint and basil? Pick-as-you-go indoor herb gardens are a growing trend
Louise O'Bryan
18 July 2016
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content producer for digital and print media. Specialising in house tours, room renovations and decorating solutions, my previous clients include Inside Out (Aus), Ideal Home, The Times weekend supplement and Sainsbury's magazine. I never tire from the thrill of discovering a jaw-dropping, inspirational home to feature and having an insight into other people's spaces. Call me curious or just nosey!
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content... More
You don’t have to be a culinary expert to appreciate an indoor herb garden. Having plants within snipping distance will, of course, enhance your cooking, but even kitchens that don’t see much action will benefit from some ‘herb styling’. Who can resist such refreshing colours and delicious fragrances?
Whether you’re planting up some supermarket-bought herbs or trying your hand at seed-grown plants, look to these clever herb storage solutions for inspiration – even the smallest of kitchens will thrive with the addition of living, edible greenery. Here are some great examples to inspire your green thumb.
Whether you’re planting up some supermarket-bought herbs or trying your hand at seed-grown plants, look to these clever herb storage solutions for inspiration – even the smallest of kitchens will thrive with the addition of living, edible greenery. Here are some great examples to inspire your green thumb.
Sunken herb garden
If you’re renovating your kitchen, why not consider fitting a sunken planter into a bench or island? Designed to sit flush with work surfaces, an edible herb garden like this one will bring your new kitchen to life. Site the planter within a central island unit and the herbs become a centrepiece and a talking point. The only issue you’ll have with the herbs being in such a prominent spot is keeping them in tip-top condition – dry, wilting leaves won’t hold the same appeal.
If you’re renovating your kitchen, why not consider fitting a sunken planter into a bench or island? Designed to sit flush with work surfaces, an edible herb garden like this one will bring your new kitchen to life. Site the planter within a central island unit and the herbs become a centrepiece and a talking point. The only issue you’ll have with the herbs being in such a prominent spot is keeping them in tip-top condition – dry, wilting leaves won’t hold the same appeal.
Design your benchtop herb garden to sit slightly off centre on your island and you’ll have a pretty, visual barrier between the food preparation area and your eating space. This is a great idea for when you’re entertaining and cooking at the same time, and one that’s very much on-trend.
10 of the best trends from EuroCucina 2016
10 of the best trends from EuroCucina 2016
Try fitting a removable stainless-steel planter that can be lifted in and out of the purpose-built gap in your island, and maintaining your herb garden will be much easier. Display oils and vinegars alongside your herbs and you’ll look like a cooking pro.
Wall hanging planters
Sweet herbs cascading out of wall-mounted planters will perk up any plain kitchen wall and create an instant wow factor. Keen cooks will also appreciate an abundance of herbs growing at eye level. Try planting three or four hardy varieties you’re likely to reach for regularly, such as basil, oregano and rosemary for a Mediterranean mix, or dill, chives and tarragon for a super salad combo.
Sweet herbs cascading out of wall-mounted planters will perk up any plain kitchen wall and create an instant wow factor. Keen cooks will also appreciate an abundance of herbs growing at eye level. Try planting three or four hardy varieties you’re likely to reach for regularly, such as basil, oregano and rosemary for a Mediterranean mix, or dill, chives and tarragon for a super salad combo.
Indoor planter
Designed to make indoor gardening simple and rewarding, indoor planters come in a variety of depths and sizes so you can position a mini-garden on top of your bench, or to the side of your cabinets if you’re short on bench space. This Glowpear planter is deep enough for you to grow herbs and salad leaves, and is self-watering – great for busy cooks and beginners alike. Just make sure there’s enough natural light – herbs won’t thrive without it.
Designed to make indoor gardening simple and rewarding, indoor planters come in a variety of depths and sizes so you can position a mini-garden on top of your bench, or to the side of your cabinets if you’re short on bench space. This Glowpear planter is deep enough for you to grow herbs and salad leaves, and is self-watering – great for busy cooks and beginners alike. Just make sure there’s enough natural light – herbs won’t thrive without it.
Hanging pot herb garden
No windowsill? No problem. Create a row of hanging herb pots by fitting a rail in front of a window. Such an arrangement makes the most of the light and creates a natural privacy screen from neighbouring houses.
No windowsill? No problem. Create a row of hanging herb pots by fitting a rail in front of a window. Such an arrangement makes the most of the light and creates a natural privacy screen from neighbouring houses.
Herb pots can also be mounted along the wall above the benchtop so they’re in easy reach of the stovetop – adding fresh herbs on the go couldn’t be easier.
Small space solution
Another clever trick for making the most of compact kitchens and saving bench space is to use the side of a unit and fit a hanging rail for a couple of herb pots. Just make sure the pots won’t be in a spot that keeps getting knocked around, and that the pots are high enough that pets and little fingers can’t play with the soil.
Browse more small kitchens
Another clever trick for making the most of compact kitchens and saving bench space is to use the side of a unit and fit a hanging rail for a couple of herb pots. Just make sure the pots won’t be in a spot that keeps getting knocked around, and that the pots are high enough that pets and little fingers can’t play with the soil.
Browse more small kitchens
Indoor wall garden
Mounting a vertical herb garden creates a utilitarian look that will complement a contemporary or industrial-style kitchen. Continue the cool, edgy vibe by potting up weathered vintage tubs, and hang the pots in uneven numbers to keep the display casual and relaxed.
Mounting a vertical herb garden creates a utilitarian look that will complement a contemporary or industrial-style kitchen. Continue the cool, edgy vibe by potting up weathered vintage tubs, and hang the pots in uneven numbers to keep the display casual and relaxed.
Tin can herb garden
Less is definitely more in some cases. For a simple injection of life, colour and flavour, pot up some tin cans and display your favourite herbs along an open shelf. Pop on some chalkboard stickers for a touch of pantry charm, and team the tin pots with stainless-steel kitchen accessories for a unified display.
Less is definitely more in some cases. For a simple injection of life, colour and flavour, pot up some tin cans and display your favourite herbs along an open shelf. Pop on some chalkboard stickers for a touch of pantry charm, and team the tin pots with stainless-steel kitchen accessories for a unified display.
Dried herb garden
Often associated with traditional country kitchens, herb drying racks enable you to dry out your home-grown plants and trap their essential oils for future use. It also works for drying out bunches of wild flowers to bring some instant cottage chic to your space.
How to feed yourself for free
Often associated with traditional country kitchens, herb drying racks enable you to dry out your home-grown plants and trap their essential oils for future use. It also works for drying out bunches of wild flowers to bring some instant cottage chic to your space.
How to feed yourself for free
Plants and herb combo
Create a cohabiting indoor plant and herb hanger to transform your lifeless kitchen into a lived-in one. Perfect for bringing instant colour and interest to a plain wall.
TELL US
Do you grow herbs indoors? Tell us about it or share your favourite photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more kitchen ideas
Create a cohabiting indoor plant and herb hanger to transform your lifeless kitchen into a lived-in one. Perfect for bringing instant colour and interest to a plain wall.
TELL US
Do you grow herbs indoors? Tell us about it or share your favourite photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more kitchen ideas
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I've up-cycled some light weight plastic tubes / pipes of similar size diameter to wine bottles that I've simply cut some wedged shaped cut outs that allow them to be pushed into the soil easily then use the upturned wine bottle that I've punctured the cap with a few holes so the water can gradually filter into the soil. ( push neck of bottles in soil a little way for extra support )
The use of plastic tube allows the bottles to be held upright under the most windy conditions as well.
The plastic tubes can be camouflaged with paint etc to make them less obtrusive visually and protect the plastic from sun degrading them or use some steel / aluminium & copper cylinders as an alternative support bracket .
Whilst there are commercially made plastic
Devices to screw onto plastic drink bottles with a spike end , I've generally found there variable hole sizes tend to clog up easily and need more regular maintenance so I've found this bottle ideal far better .