I need your help! How do I start an apartment garden?
by
Hillela G.
+3
I know that some people use mugs, which is great because I have an abundance of mugs ( I couldn't throw them out because I thought "Maybe I'll find a good upcycle use for them")!
Where do I begin? What should I plant? What kind of herbs can flourish in a more shaded area? How often do they need to be watered? Pruned?
Help!
Would love to hear you helpful tips and advice!! 
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Mugs are a cute idea but you'll have to drill a hole in the bottom as excess water needs to drain out. Make sure you have larger pots available when your plants outgrow the cups.
You can use coffee cans or vegetable cans to make your garden. Just drill a few holes in the bottom for water to drain. Have a blast as you can decorate them with paint and or the little wooden emblishments you can find in a craft store such as flowers, butterflies, etc. If you plan on making these gardens for a shower, such as for a baby shower, you can also use the little wooden zoo animals that are already painted. I did this for my daughter's baby shower and they were so cute and they were the centerpieces for the tables and the person with the lucky number under their seat got to take the centerpiece home.
Great suggestions here! If you want to go with mugs but not drill a hole, toss in some sand or pea gravel in the bottom for drainage. Then use a good potting mix, I use Miracle Gro Organic, and either start seeds or buy at a local nursery. Do not over water! Stick your finger in about an inch or more down to check. Parsley, chives, basil, sage, oregano should all do well in a sunny window. And you do not actually "prune" - just pinch off what you need for your cooking and baking needs. They all grow back. Kind of like deadheading flowers, you pinch off and they bloom beautifully. Basil can grow quick, so use lots or repot into a larger container and start over. Hope this helps!
I put some potato cuttings eyes in a bag of soil and poked holes around the bag. turn the bag top down. had some potatoes in the fall.
i would use a container with at least a 4-6 inch top. the larger container will not dry out so quickly. it's still small enough to be manageable. herbs prefer full sun
to grow well, you can use a full spectrum light bulb to supplement the light.
the classic herbs- parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme- my sage is 2 ft tall, the rosemary a close second. thyme stays close to the ground, parsley is about a ft. tall. herbs like about 6 hr. of sun a day. make sure you have room for the full sized plant(s)
when i bring them in for the winter , the get full spectrum grow bulbs. you water herbs when you can't hit damp soil when you stick your index finger in the pot up to the 1st knuckle. most herbs don't like "wet feet" too much water will rot the roots.
if you go on a trip for a week or 2, you can make a self watering system from a scrap fabric. the fabric wick is tucked into the dirt of your potted plant, and thru the top of a water filled milk jug. keep the jug a bit below the plant.
oh 1 more thing- not all "Herbs" are edible. there are some herbs grown for their fragrance only. these are called "strewing herbs". They were mixed in to the straw that covered the floors of mid evil dwellings in the winter.
leave pennies in cola over night to clean