Boo’s (Putative) Herb Garden
When I opened my Facebook account in 2007 and wrote up the ‘About Me’ section, right at the last paragraph, I said:
“One day, i’ll grow a herb garden on my balcony out of used tin cans, and I’ll make meals out of it. That’s a promise I’ve made to myself.”
It’s been 5 years since, but that noble thought still hasn’t seen the light of day. I have a tenuous relationship with plants. In essence, all I have to do is look at them, and they die. So you can imagine why I am on the hesitant side whenever I think about creating that long-dreamed-of balcony garden of mine.
But this year, something different happened. One day early in January, a friend of mine randomly left a baby strawberry plant at my doorstep. Actually, it’s more like he left it at my apartment’s security entrance, with a brief text message for me to find it there when I’m back from dinner. When I came home, there it was, in a small pot.. looking all frail and vulnerable. Nevermind the other plants that have previously perished in my care, I’ve decided that this year, I’ll make my balcony herb garden become reality if this baby strawberry plant survives Summer.
Fakegf nicknamed the plant “Strawberryboo” & has been documenting its growth on Instagram. Ha ha!
Here’s Strawberryboo today…
I know… it’s looking a little sad, malnourished, and tired… with sun-seared leaf edges. But main thing is, the plant has survived Summer!
Now in my typical fatboo high-standards way of dreaming, I really wanted my balcony garden to consist of old, idyllic (and cliché) things such as empty wheelbarrows and bathtubs bursting with herbs, and tins of sardines with succulents popping out juicily towards the sun. And olive trees flourishing in large pots! But let’s just take baby steps…
So instead, I bought these plants at the farmers’ market. Let’s start with these. It was quite a funny purchase, I looked curiously at all the herbs on display at $3 a pot, half-frightened, and asked if they were hardy. The ruddy-faced vendor grunted “they’re all hardy”, then added “basil’s not so hardy”.
I think I’m sharing this little project with you because it’s like a slight twist to my own arm to make this balcony garden happen. Pride dictates that I try my best to make this garden a reality, and to avoid the prospect of publishing a follow-up post with pictures of brown dead plants. I’m basically blackmailing myself by putting this post up online.
I’ll put these herbs (and strawberryboo) into proper pots this weekend and focus on **remembering** to water them. The used tin cans idea will have to wait for now as my main goal is to avert death. Anyone out there who’d like to give me a hand?
You know… give me a few tips… install a fail-proof irrigation system, perhaps? Hah!
I had the same herbs in my “garden” except for basil. Tried planting them and didn’t end up using much and died when I was away :/ I also have strawberry which is totally effortless in taking care. Have fun with your herd garden :D
Did you manage to get strawberries from it? That will be so cool! :D
I did! Quite a few small ones during summer and they are really sweet! Thought it won’t be able to survive thru the few bad days we experience during summer but it’s looking great again now.
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Thank you! I’m worried about strawberryboo actually… it’s still looking unwell even though I’ve been watering regularly. Let’s hope it will get better!
Yeah, I have herbs on my windowsill. They are surviving so far! I have some kind of irrigation system going on but it’ll probably keep them alive only for a week or so if I’m away. More than that I’ll have to ask housemate to help water them.
leaf (the indolent cook) recently posted..banana lime buckwheat pancakes (vegan & gluten-free)
Well done you!! Just beware the rosemary. My parents’ rosemary bush has been trying to take over the entire world (THE ENTIRE WORLD) since I can remember.
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Well my rosemary by comparison is still looking very mild-mannered. Shall check under my bed every night though in case it starts to gain murderous intent. ;)
I’ve always wanted a vegetable garden too :) and remember growing ‘bok choy’ as a kid and it was so much fun…until the bugs decided to take a bite so in the end… i had nothing left :( lol
Well done for buying the herbs ~ Looking forward to following you and your herb garden hehe
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Yes, possums, birds and pests can eat your crop. I hope that at least my rosemary survives, cos that’s the one herb I really use quite often. I also want to grow Vietnamese mint and coriander too….
If watering is an issue buy the pots with water wells built-in -although not as aesthetic as terracotta this will help- also use quality potting mix. I have a 1m2 strawberry patch and made a lot of jam this year- wonderful to eat throughout winter- if you want to grow a failsafe crop grow dutch cream potatoes in a large rubbish bin- amazing- order through diggers club online catalogue. If the basil dies don’t give up the other herbs are tougher.
Have fun and goodluck and I look forward to an update
I’ve got that exact pots you’ve described for my herbs. Let’s hope they don’t die, ha ha! Not sure how successful the strawberry plant will be, it’s still looking quite sickly, but I’ll keep watering it. Thanks for the advice!
The basil may die soon as it doesn’t like the cold – if you can be bothered, bring it inside at night and it will last longer. The best place to pick is to take the top leaves off right down to the first junction – you’ll see two baby leaves there at the junction of stalk and the next two branches. They will turn into more stalks and it will get bushy. But don’t give up as it’s really a summer herb – plant in spring and then chop it all down in summer and make pesto.
The others should be fine. The bigger the pot, the less you have to water so consider larger pots and they will grow into them. If you can be bothered, get some wetting agent crystals at Bunnings to put in the potting mix – they hold water and will release it if you forget to water. My rosemary, sage and thyme have been in my garden forever and I never water them (apart from when they were babies).
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Very valuable information, Lauren. I think I’ll just use the basil up before winter sets in proper. Currently they’re on a long trough next to sage in the middle and strawberry at the other end. Hope they can be friends in the same soil, instead of quarrelsome neighbours!
Nice one! They start small, but with a bit of TLC at the beginning (and a nice big pot to grow and store water, like Lauren suggested), they’ll be overgrowing and begging for picking before you know it.
Due to a ravenous possum population on our roof and surrounding trees, our herbs now live permanently in a greenhouse on our balcony. We’ve found that some of them like a dual inside/outside lifestyle. So if some of your seedlings appear a bit droopy, maybe they just need a change of scene (or more protection inside) for a while. Have fun!
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Thank you for the advice! They are still green at the moment, let’s hope I continue to remember to water them! :)
you could get herbs that are babies and arleady planted at garden centers at places like lowes or home depot.or you could start with seeds and plant them in some planters with some good soil and some water, with the sun coming it’s perfect time to start one. start with basil, or rosemary. be sure to label all of your pots.
I should’ve said on my other comment – make sure you’re watering the base of the plant, not the leaves…that’ll help with avoiding sunburn. And water either early in the morning; or in the late afternoon when the sun has gone down.
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That’s a fantastic tip! Thanks so much for that. Did not know water can burn leaves!