Planting season will be upon us very soon. More time spent in the garden, kneeling down and bending over in order to fill our little patches with colour come the summer. Cassia Beck has captured a scene from summer; the season that doesn’t seem to hang around Scotland for too long for a couple of weeks between the months of June to August.
And being able to be green-fingered, even when you don’t own a garden is possible by Creating a kitchen herb garden in a planter on the window sill. Most herbs are minimal effort plants and don’t require a lot of TLC.
“Annual” herbs (aka herbs that only last a season) are cilantro, basil and chervil and are probably some of the more high maintenance herbs – they will need to be re-planted every spring.
“Evergreen” herbs (aka herbs that won’t die back in the winter months) are the herbs that will remain green all year round; lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme are examples of evergreens – and they will make your home smell wonderful!
“Herbaceous” herbs (aka plants that will die back in the winter months but grow back strong and healthier than ever before) are the herbs like tarragon and chives and require the least effort – plus they are brilliant for seasoning and flavouring food!
These gorgeous and sturdy planters from Andrew’s Reclaimed Shop are crafted with care; made from mill end waste cut cedar and waterproof food grade glue.
If you’re planning on creating a herb garden make sure you put it into an area with good air circulation and light – most herbs require little effort but they still love the sunshine, good soil and pruning – depending on which variety of herbs you decide to add to your planters.
If you do have a garden spare a thought for your left-overs.
Vegetable peelings work as a great alternative to shop bought fertilizer; simply wash out a left-over ice cream tub and store veggie peelings in there, place the lid back and over time the peelings will break down into compost for your garden.
Milk cartons also work as multi-purpose/make-shift garden tools. Watering cans are created by piercing the milk tops several times, filling the milk carton with water and screwing the pierced lid back on. Or why not create a scoop for your fertilizer from a milk carton? Cut from below the handle, cutting diagonally until you achieve the scoop shape – and viola you have your very own little scoop instead of the carton going out to be trashed.
The daffodils usually spring up in April here; peeking their little yellow heads through the bulbs just in time for the UK Mothering Sunday. Currently we’re waiting for the Big Freeze to end and would be very welcoming to some sunshine, spring flowers and all the lovely things a garden in bloom brings.
Until then, I am tempted to fill my walls with home decor stickers like this:
It would save us hundreds in re-decoration costs – and we’d be able to un-stick these vinyl stickers and take them wherever we were instead of having an eternal mural we’d have to leave behind. Plus it would make my garden-less and bare walled household a cheerier place to be while everyone else enjoys their gardens in the upcoming months.
Jeannette Scott says
February 15, 2011 at 8:13 amOh I love all these ideas & whilst I do a few,the compost in an ice cream carton sits on the windowsill until it goes into the larger garden compost bin for example you have stimulated a few ideas.
I have grown potatoes in pots for the past couple of years.I have used really big pots half fill with soil mixed with compost plant a few seed potatoes cover up & water when you remember! I am embarrased to admit it was that easy.The first year I planted within a week of each other & they all came up about the same time.The next year I left about three/four weeks & it was a bit more staggered.
Much easier than the potato trenches & the garden pests did not go near them.They tasted yummy especially with a few snips of garden mint or chives snipped onto them.
We also place gro-bags against the back graden wall for the tomato plants-even with a poor Summer you get a good harvest.Much of them go in with the apples & pears from the garden to make chutney,sauces etc.
Erika Jurney says
February 15, 2011 at 8:52 amThose are great ideas – thank you!
elizabeth says
February 15, 2011 at 8:19 amLove the reclaimed wood herb planter, can just picture on my kitchen window ledge.
I like the idea of using old milk cartons in the garden, I use mine as quilting templates.
Our main living room needs decorating and was kind of baulking at the cost of redoing the whole thing so the beautiful vinyl stickers would be a more frugal and effective way of really transforming the room.
Thanks for brightening up my Tuesday x
Erika Jurney says
February 15, 2011 at 8:55 amHere’s a great place to start your search for vinyl wall decals: best of handmade!
(Oh, and by the way… I’ve been adding the ‘.com’ to the end of the URL you’ve given when you fill out the comment form. If you do that, then the link to your site will work properly :)
LittleBatch says
February 15, 2011 at 12:28 pmGreat timing! Today I’m sitting down with my garden notebook and planning what I’m going to grow this year, whether by seed, cutting, or transplant, and when to do each one. It’s such an exciting time of year, full of hope and promise, even when the winter’s snow is still on the ground.
By the way, I have a soap dish and business card holder from Andrew’s Reclaimed and they’re both fantastic! He’s got a great shop and amazing handcrafted products.
Cara Quinn says
February 15, 2011 at 1:51 pmThat’s brilliant to hear (about Andrew’s Reclaimed products!) I loved the craftsmanship on his work, it just seems incredibly high end.
I love the thought of spring! :). I’m awaiting the arrival of daffodils and can’t wait to see lush grass once again. Bye bye frost, we’ve had our fill for the year!