Starting My First Herb Boxes: Tips and Inspiration

Hello Bloomers!

I’ve always loved the idea of growing my own herbs ~ there’s just something special about snipping fresh basil or rosemary straight from your own garden. Over the years, I’ve dabbled here and there, growing a few tomato plants and even buying a pre-planted herb box from Home Depot once. But truthfully, I had never really stepped outside my comfort zone to build my own DIY herb boxes from (from a kit, but still)! It always seemed a little intimidating — until this year, when I finally decided to give it a try. And let me tell you, it was so much easier (and more fun!) than I ever expected.

If you’ve ever thought about planting your own herb garden but weren’t sure where to start, here’s how I did it. Note: I'm certified in being a self-proclaimed beginner expert — no official training, just positive vibesI I'm not sure I did it right, but so far so good ~ my herbs are sprouting :)

Step 1: Building the Herb Boxes

First things first: I needed something to plant in. I bought the two herb boxes by Expert Gardener from Walmart. Full disclosure, I didn't notice they were kits when I ordered them so I was a bit surprised when I showed up and saw they needed to be assembled! But it was pretty simple to do and I love the look of the natural wood so much, decided not to stain them.

TIP: Make sure to choose something with good drainage.

Step 2: Picking Out the Herbs

This was the fun part — but also a little overwhelming at first! There are so many wonderful herbs to choose from. Here’s how I narrowed it down:

• Think about what you cook: I asked myself, "What herbs do I actually use the most?" For me, it was basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage. I also hot peppers, and planted a few tomato selections in separate pots.

• Mix hardy and delicate herbs

• Consider sunlight: I learned herbs need a good 6 or more hours of direct sunlight

TIP: Don’t be afraid to start small — even 3-4 types of herbs can make a big impact!

Step 3: Planting the Herbs

Once I had my boxes and my herbs, it was time to plant! Here’s what I learned:

• Use good soil: I filled each box with a high-quality organic potting mix made for vegetables and herbs.

  • Our local garden shop expert recommend blending my soil with compost, which I did.

• Spacing matters: Herbs like a little breathing room, so I made sure not to crowd them together.

• Water wisely: I gave them a good drink after planting but made sure the soil wasn’t soggy. Herbs generally prefer soil that's moist but well-drained.

  • I bought these plant moisture meters from Amazon, which help guide me on when to water!

• Label them: I added cute little wooden markers for each herb — not necessary, but it made me happy!

TIP: Our local garden shop also recommended planting heartier herbs , like rosemary, in the middle of the box (because it will GROW!), and herbs like thyme that will drape, on the outside so the growth of one herb doesn't over take the other.

ANOTHER TIP: I learned a bit about 'companion planting'. For instance, rosemary will repel some pests on its own, but planting thyme nearby boosts your garden's pest-fighting power.

Few Lessons I Learned

Starting this project felt a little intimidating ~ I worried I would pick the wrong herbs, plant them wrong, or somehow end up with a sad, droopy garden. But you know what? It wasn’t perfect, and that’s exactly the point.

• It’s okay to be a beginner.

• Mistakes are part of growing — literally and figuratively.

• Getting your hands in the dirt is the best kind of therapy ~ truly. I spent about 6 hours planting my two boxes, hands in the dirt, sun shining down. At the end of the day, I felt great.

• Watching something you planted grow is unbelievably satisfying. Hence, my blog name ~ Designs to BLOOM ;)

Now, every time I step outside and see my herb boxes thriving, I feel a little surge of pride. It's a reminder that stepping outside your comfort zone is almost always worth it.