There’s something empowering about growing your own food—even if it’s as simple as a handful of fresh herbs plucked from your garden. Not only is it healthy and cost-effective, but it also adds flavor and variety to your meals. And the best part? You don’t need a large backyard or a green thumb to start your own herb garden.
Nicole Johnsey Burke with @Gardenary shares that with just $60, you can create a year-round herb garden that will supply you with fresh herbs in all seasons.
The $60 Herb Garden Blueprint
Burke shares on her YouTube channel how to create an herb garden on the cheap. Here are her recommended tips:
1. The Container ($25):
The foundation of your herb garden begins with a versatile, budget-friendly metal container. Metal containers not only look chic but are also durable enough to last year-round. You can often find these at your local hardware or home goods store. Burke chooses a metal container that appears to be approximately 3 feet wide. She then drills a few small holes in the bottom for proper drainage (this is essential to keep your herbs happy and healthy).
Commenters on the video shared that to save even further, they found plastic containers at the dollar store or repurposed items around their homes, like old garbage cans or storage bins.
2. Homemade Soil Mix ($15):
Soil can often be the most expensive component of a garden. You can grab store-bought soil if needed (try to grab it when it’s on sale). However, there are many other alternatives to try.
For example, look for composting programs in your community where you can get free or discounted compost. You can also get creative, creating compost from your own kitchen scraps, finding farms in town that offer free manure to mix into the soil, and using tree leaves as mulch. Adding these elements to your soil can create a nutrient-rich mix that will help your plants thrive. Remember, plants don’t care where their nutrients come from as long as they’re available in the soil.
3. Store-Bought Herbs ($20):
Seed starters can be much cheaper (even free at your local library) when starting a garden, especially if they’re bought in bulk or as a variety pack. However, for a new gardener, it may be easier and more convenient to purchase pre-grown herbs from a store. Do whatever will help you achieve your gardening goal of growing herbs.
Most grocery or garden stores carry small starter plants. With proper care, they’ll multiply quickly, giving back way more than their initial cost. They tend to have established root systems, which can help with faster growth and stronger plants.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
The Return on Your Investment
The idea of spending $60 to yield over $400 in fresh herbs might sound too good to be true, but the math checks out. If you’ve shopped for fresh herbs at the store, you know how quickly the costs add up. Small bundles of basil or mint often cost $3–$5 each, and they don’t last long in the fridge. When you grow your own herbs, you’re not just saving money on grocery bills; you have constant access to fragrant, flavorful ingredients whenever you need them.
Imagine mint for mojitos in the summer, cilantro for tacos on Taco Tuesdays, and rosemary for hearty winter soups. All of this can come from a single metal container filled with flourishing greens.
Everyone Needs a Mini-Garden
If you’ve always wanted to garden but felt you didn’t have the space or resources, try a small herb garden. You can follow the steps given by Burke, throw some herbs on a windowsill, or try whatever method fits your comfort level and needs. Regardless, there’s something therapeutic about watering your plants or watching the first new leaves unfurl.
Read more:
Stop Wasting Money on Store-Bought Herbs — Grow Them for Pennies!
Turn Your Trash into Treasures with Upcycling
