Growing an Herb Garden from Grocery Store Starts

How to Start Your Garden

• Start by purchasing hydroponically grown herbs from your favorite grocery store.

• We will start with Basil, but you could also use Mint of any type.

• Purchase one pack or container of hydroponic (grown in water with nutrients) plants.

• Each pack may yield up to 12 plants.

Basil in container from grocery store.

Each container consists of many plants

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Carefully tease clump into individual plants – with roots intact.

Each pack should yield up to 12 plants.

Place soil – bagged potting soil or clean soil from garden into containers. Make hole in soil to place division.

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Shake to

release soil

Carefully place basil division into prepared hole - don't push in soil or you will r ip tender roots right off.

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Hold plant gently while you fill hole with soil.

Cover hole with soil, patting gently.

Water new plants very well

Put newly potting plants into a larger container with an inch or so of water. Place the plants in a shady spot in the garden or covered patio - no direct sun. The plants were grown in just water and need time to adjust to living in soil. Slowly - over 4 or 5 days reduce the amount of water in the outside container till the soil is very moist and then over the next few days it can be drained out completely.

Tips to Insure a Successful Herb Garden

For the first month or so, make sure the new plant is quite moist but not soggy. Once the new plant is strong, you can put it in morning sun and later – all day sun, but if it looks like it is wilting, back into the shade it should go. (This is called ‘hardening off’ and may take a little time!) The new plants can be harvested by removing the top few inches or by removing the bottom 2 or three largest leaves. Remove the top if blossoms start to form. You want the energy of the plant to make new roots, not flowers. Your plants will continue to grow all summer and fall. Late fall, the plants can be brought in to a cool spot (they will die if they freeze) and may regrow next spring.

Tips to Insure a Successful Herb Garden

• Plants can be transplanted into larger pots and combined with other herbs. • Water containers only when soil is dry to the touch. • The new plants can be harvested by removing the top few inches or by

removing the bottom 2 or three largest leaves. • Pinch out the top if blossoms start to form. You want the energy of the plant

to make new roots, not flowers. • Your plants will continue to grow all summer and fall. • Late fall the plants can be brought in to a cool spot (they will die if they freeze)

and may regrow next spring.

Growing On and Potting Up