Now that we have the top two most popular actions out of the way (Get energy audit and Use a smart power strip), let’s get our fingers dirty! The third most popular action for Practically Green planners is Plant containers for herbs or vegetables. Estelle Hayes is here with her terrific personal tips. Maybe it’s because she was born in France — we don’t know for sure — but Estelle has a wonderful savvy touch when it comes to projects like this. Listen up!

Container Gardening for the Home Cook

I love the idea of an abundant garden where I can harvest fresh ingredients year-round, but if I’m being completely honest, I’ve got more of a fair-weather thumb. When the last frost hits and the days get longer I itch for some fresh soil and hearty seedlings. My gardening bug only lasts about 4-6 months and fortunately spring and summer can be kind to a novice gardener.

I highly suggest starting with an herb box full of mature seedlings from a trusted nursery and if you’re feeling daring, pick up a packet of organic carrot and radish seeds.

Each spring, I fill an old wooden wine crate with a cluster of my favorite organic herbs. (Most high-end wine shops will give the cedar boxes away as they typically get tossed once the bottles are unpacked. Drilling a few holes on the bottom for proper drainage is easy, but keep in mind that the wood will only hold up for a few seasons.) I pinch off sprigs of thyme and rosemary for roasted veggies and use spearmint for iced tea. Purple sage adds some lovely color to the overall planting and gives me an excuse to brown butter with my eggs. Bottom line, I’m convinced that having a nice selection of fresh herbs at my finger tips has made me a little more adventurous in the kitchen.

Recycled wine crate full filled with rosemary, thyme and spearmint in the front row and strawberries, purple sage and more strawberries in the back row.

This year, I threw in two tiny alpine strawberry plants to the mix of herbs and just discovered they are covered in aphids. I have it on good authority that unleashing ladybugs on the infestation is an organic way to take care problem, so I’ll be headed to the nursery to pick up a container of the little critters and I imagine my three year-old will be thrilled.

In my larger planter box, I’ve buried a handful of carnival blend carrot seeds and French blush radish seeds. I cannot recommend this enough — start with radish seeds if you are impatient in any way. You’ll be harvesting within a month of planting that first little seed. The carrots will take a bit longer but still, these two roots can be little overachievers in your first container garden.

The redwood box has organic carnival blend carrot seeds, french blush radishes and hopefully there will be some autumn beauty sunflowers in the back row.

Our guest blogger Estelle Hayes lives in Silicon Valley where she blogs at www.underapinkmoon.com. She’s also published regularly on Huffington Post.

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