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Home-grown herbs will bring your cooking to life, so why not make life really easy by planting them in a window box? Position it on your kitchen windowsill, then all you have to do is lean out to snip fresh pickings whenever you want them.
Plant it:
May - July
At its best:
July - August
Takes just:
30 minutes
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Drill holes in the bottom of the container and line the sides with bubble wrap. Add a layer of polystyrene chips to aid drainage. This will also prevent the pot becoming too heavy. -
Half-fill the container with John Innes compost, mixing in plenty of grit to avoid waterlogging. -
Arrange the plants in the window box while still in their pots. When youÂ’re happy with the overall look, remove them from their pots, gently teasing out the roots to help the plants establish quickly. -
Hold the herbs in place as you fill in around them with more compost, leaving enough space at the top for watering. Firm them in to get rid of any air pockets in the compost. -
Place the box in position on the windowsill before you water it. A planter of this size will need at least a couple of gallons to soak the compost and the plantsÂ’ rootballs. -
Top the container with slate chippings to make it look attractive and help retain moisture in hot weather.
"Choose herbs that you use a lot in your cooking - the more you pick them, the happier they'll be."
"Small plants are cheaper but take longer to establish. Choose large plants for instant impact."
