Micro-Gardening Projects

The garden centres are opening again, Hooray!. If you are looking to grow some low maintenance edibles in your garden this month why not have a go at these quick and creative projects to get you started?...

You don't need a lot of space to grow some vibrant & nutritious summer salad and herbs for your kitchen. Today we'll introduce two easy peasy micro-gardening projects for you to try, perfect for the garden, patio or balcony ...
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Mini Herb Tower 

This is a fun project and a great way to recycle some old plant pots. For this planter I have used 3 different sized pots, but you can add more. Stack the pots up and plant your favourite kitchen herbs to keep with in easy reach of your chopping board....

What you will need:

3-5 plant pots 
Compost
Herbs

I planted sage, parsley and mint from seed sown earlier on in the year, but now is a good time to sow directly. If you are sowing seed directly, sow thinly to allow the plants space to grow. 

Fill each pot 3/4 full with a peat free multipurpose compost and stack each one inside the next. When you are happy fill in the edges around each pot with more compost until they are all nice and snug. When you are ready plant them up and water in. (as they grow, some herbs will require more moisture than others)

As a suggestion other herbs you can try growing are marjoram, oregano, thyme, lemon balm & basil...I also popped in a few rebel nasturtiums in my planter to add some colour  :-) Enjoy !
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Micro Salad Box 

Calling all salad fans big and small!... this is a really fun micro planting project to get started with this month, with a germination time of around 2-12 days you'll be picking leaves in no time. For this salad box I have sown a 'Salad Bowl' seed mix which gives a good variety of red and green leaves, and it also looks great. Once your leaves are ready to harvest, pick from the outer leaves as this will ensure your salad keeps growing...I keep this salad box by my back door for quick and easy pickings...Salad can be sown up until July ....

What you will need:

An old wooden box or drawer
Compost
'Salad Bowl' Lettuce seed​

Before you start, if your container hasn't already got them you will need to drill some drainage holes into the bottom of your box. When you have made your drainage holes, fill your container with a peat free multipurpose compost. Before sowing make sure that the soil is moist. Take some seed and scatter thinly around the surface of the container, then cover the seed with a light layer of compost and press down gently. When you have finished, water the seeds in. Be careful not to let your containers dry out, especially in warm weather. I find it helpful to keep my containers by the door so I can keep an eye on them.....Happy salad planting :-)

We'd love to know how your projects go....If you'd like to share yours please email us with some pics ;-)