My wife and I have never been good at keeping any plants alive. That’s why Christy looked at me funny when I said I wanted to grow some herbs. We even joked about how long it would take me to kill them off. The good news is I was able to grow basil, mint, thyme and onion chives for about three months. I planted them in small containers, as I didn’t want to waste much money if I wasn’t able to take care of them. Unfortunately, these small containers couldn’t keep moisture around for very long in the Texas heat. We went on a short vacation recently and we didn’t have anyone to come by and water the plants for us. Why? Well… we never have needed anyone before and I completely forgot about them (neglect). While we were gone the temperature averaged around 100 degrees. The only thing that survived was the Basil.
I decided not to give up on the herbs, so I setup a larger container for my next attempt. I really like the look of the galvanized water tanks that I have seen used as planters, so I located a Tractor Supply store and purchased a 1 x 2 x 4 foot water tank.
I didn’t want the tank sitting directly on the cement patio so my Father-in-law cut up some 4×4’s that he had been saving and I placed those under the tanks.
Next I drilled some holes in the bottom and put a 1-inch layer of gravel in the bottom so that water could drain out.
Then I layered some organic dirt on top of the rocks and I soaked it down to see how well the water would drain out. I am very pleased with the way it looks and I am excited about planting some new herbs.
This weekend I will go to the Antique Rose Emporium and purchase the new herbs. I will update you in a later post on the new plants I choose for my next attempt.
What are your favorite herbs? Do you have any growing advice for a first timer?
awwwwww, your poor herbs! i like your new setup– stylish and functional. try mixing some of your gravel (i used decomposed granite) with the soil for better drainage. all your herbs, except for the mint, don’t like to get their feet wet. i would recommend you go to the Natural Gardner for your herbs. for whatever reason, the herbs i get from there always thrive! good luck and let me know how it goes!
Comment by connie ding — June 30 @ 2:26 PM
Thanks for the info Connie! As you can see I am first timer with any gardening
Comment by kefoster — June 30 @ 5:44 PM
I’ve been wanting to plant some herbs for a while now, so I’ll be keeping an eye on your next attempt!
Comment by Sues — June 30 @ 8:39 PM
I’ve always find it best to let the kids do it. Think about: What farmer do you know does not have kids?
Comment by RJ Rivera — July 12 @ 9:26 PM
Dad would be proud
Maybe it will translate into a garden someday.
Comment by Sis — September 28 @ 12:40 AM