Our ongoing indecision about where to place a permanent vegetable and herb garden at the new house meant we missed the ideal spring planting window (you can see our previous edible gardens on the blog). Still, we wanted to grow something this year, so we came up with a temporary solution: a galvanized tub turned into a compact herb planter.
We decided on a simple potted herb garden with only a few kitchen essentials. At the farmer’s market we bought four locally and organically grown herbs — parsley, oregano, basil, and mint — for $12. They felt like enough to keep the kitchen supplied without committing to a large permanent plot this season.
The tub itself was about $8 at Lowe’s, much cheaper than a planter of comparable size. To convert it into a planter we drilled drainage holes in the bottom with a cordless drill, then slightly enlarged them by working a large nail around the openings.
For a little personality, I arranged the holes in the shape of a heart. It was mostly for fun, a small, quirky touch for a temporary project.
Update: After some helpful comments, we tested the metal for lead using inexpensive lead test sticks from Home Depot. We checked the seams, the inside, the outside, the bottom and the drilled holes — all tests were negative. If you plan to grow edibles in galvanized containers, testing for contaminants is a good precaution if you’re unsure of the metal’s purity.
To improve drainage we added a layer of gravel to the bottom—leftovers from a previous patio project—to help keep soil from washing out through the holes.
Before filling with soil, we did a dry run to plan the layout. The taller herbs (basil and parsley) went to the back, oregano got a spot on the side because it tends to spread, and we kept mint contained in a separate buried pot to prevent it from taking over — a tip we picked up from a gardener at the farmer’s market.
There’s a chance the tub will get crowded if the herbs thrive, but that would be a good problem: we could transplant any overachieving plants into larger pots later. For now, the separate mint pot should keep it from becoming invasive.
We filled the tub with organic potting mix from Lowe’s. It cost a bit more than the standard mix, but since we’re eating these herbs, we preferred to use organic soil that matches how the plants were grown at the market.
We typically use compost from our DIY compost bins, but the pile isn’t fully broken down yet after the move, so we opted for ready potting mix this season.
With the plants planted and soil in place, the tub looked ready to move to its new spot.
Because our patio gets limited sun, we placed the tub on a small balcony off the living room and kitchen. It’s surprisingly sunny for the property and is the closest thing we have to a full sun spot. Plus it’s convenient for snipping fresh herbs while cooking.
Using a movable container is helpful while we learn the sun patterns around the yard — if this location doesn’t work, we can test other spots. The flexible setup may also inform where we place a permanent garden next year, and the tub would still look good on a future deck or as a centerpiece on a larger outdoor table.
No herb garden post would be complete without close-ups of the plant labels. We used popsicle sticks and gave each herb a playful name. For example, “Colonel Oregano” was a silly nod to the Clue characters — just a bit of harmless goofiness while we get the garden started.
If we add peppers next year, I’m already joking about whether to call the plant “Sergeant” or “Doctor.” The idea of a “Dr. Pepper” plant almost seals the deal.
What are you growing this year? Any plants thriving or struggling? Share what’s working in your garden — tips and stories are always welcome.
Psst — we also shared some of our farmer’s market adventures on BabyCenter as part of their “Big Day Out.”