As seedlings emerge and their roots outgrow their starter pots, I find myself in massive need of containers. I've always gardened on apartment balconies and so while decorative for some, a good pot becomes the only ground I can sow and an absolute necessity to ensure I always have home grown herbs and veggies. A couple of summers ago, I had great luck with my seeds and had 50 basil plants alone!
So earlier this week I found myself down to my last pot with 7 plants still to go. I visited a local high school plant sale on their last day and so everything was 50% off
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| Herb Medley $2.50, aw yeah. |
And after going up, down, and all around twice- I settled on this recent find. It's a woven basket discovered at a long abandoned fruit stand. I'm sure it was once filled to overflowing with wonderful, seasonal treats but it now had a spider living in it.
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| Lonesome Basket |
I didn't want all the dirt I just bought (less than $4 or FOR FREE outside. Use a spoon like i do if you no have shovel) to fall through the holes of the open weave so I grabbed some cotton shirts from my box of yucko and lined the bottom of the basket. I tried to get the sleeves (both long) to lay up the sides which you can also place there as you add the dirt.
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| Old cotton shirts from the Goodwill Box |
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First layer- will hold in dirt but allow rainwater to drain.
Then you just start adding dirt. Do this over a box top so you can catch the dirt that misses the basket. It also makes the clean up quicker. |
Going up to just above sleeve level.
Then you put your plants in!
I've read that people use chicken wire and moss to make planters but i dont have those items. i had shirts and a basket already so this cost me the $2.50 for plants and used a small portion of my $3.something bag of dirt.
You know what? While I'm at it...
Did I tell you about this most amazing planter I rigged out of a chair I found at the dumpster??
It had nasty rotting wicker so I pulled it all off while I was by the trash (and inspecting other goods) to reveal a VERY decent frame. I had intended on redoing it but as it sat on the balcony, plant season came before refurbishing season.
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| Chair from Dumpster |
I had gone by the drugstore and there were a couple planters I really wanted. One was shaped like an urn vase with a detachable pedestal and I thought, man I hope I'm here when they're half off. And a week later I was!
So it turns out it the lip part is wide enough to suspend on the seat frame.
I filled it with dirt and planted little "volunteers" that grow long tendrils to drape over the edge and framework of this wonderful, simple chair.
The volunteers I found growing out of the ground below my mom's plant. I've seen those cascade down a few feet.
This is when they were pretty small. Hopefully I have a picture of them in late summer to compare it!
This would be at about one week's growth.
Chair was free, dirt was from a yard, plants were free, and the pot was $3.50
Also, dont be afraid to buy beautiful tea pots because their lids are missing. This one I used for cilantro:
I got it for free
37 plants so far, and way more after this weekend's Herb Fest.
Time to start converting some more planters for the bounty.
