Let’s Get Gardening: How to Grow Your Own Herbs
by the Brightly Editors
Looking for a fun, at-home activity you can do all year round? Try growing your own herbs! You can easily do this on a kitchen windowsill, on a balcony, or in your own backyard. For even more easy gardening projects for kids, be sure to check out Let’s Get Gardening: 30 Easy Gardening Projects for Children.
Growing Herbs
Herbs such as oregano, parsley, and thyme can easily be grown from seed. In winter, however, it’s best to grow them on a sunny windowsill using potted herbs.
Fun Fact: Herbs like to be in warm, sunny places outdoors. A little shade is okay, but don’t put them somewhere that is always shady.
You Will Need:
- Cartons
- Scissors
- Pen or pencil
- Large paper clips
- Stones
- All-purpose compost
- Paper or cardboard
- Herb seeds
Instructions:
- Collect a number of fruit juice cartons. These will make colorful containers for your herbs. They also have a waterproof lining and will not fall apart.
- Using scissors, cut off the top quarter of the carton. Next, make drainage holes in the bottom using a pen or pencil.
- Join your containers together with large paper clips. Arrange them in a pattern — they look best if you place the side with writing at the back.
- Put a few stones at the bottom of each carton for drainage, then fill the cartons with all-purpose compost. It may be easier to do this if you make a cone out of paper or cardboard.
- Sprinkle a few oregano, parsley, and thyme seeds into separate cartons. Cover with a thin layer of compost. Water the soil and leave the seeds in a well lit place to germinate. Keep the herbs lightly watered.
- Thin out the seedlings if they get crowded. You can eat the little plants you’ve pulled out. Don’t let your herbs dry out.
