Magnetic Herb Garden
As winter arrives, many gardeners are not ready to give up the fresh herb garden and, instead, start moving those herbs indoors. An indoor herb garden is pretty easy to create since many herbs overwinter best indoors. With an indoor herb garden, you can enjoy the bright flavors and health benefits of fresh herbs even as winter rules outdoors. If kitchen space in an issue, you can start an herb garden on magnets and build a refrigerator garden. The key to building an herb garden on magnets is to get or make magnetic planters and place them on the refrigerator. A refrigerator garden of herbs is a terrific space-saving idea for keeping your favorite herbs right near the cooking area. Several companies make and sell magnetic planters for refrigerators. These are plant pots attached to magnets big enough to hold them onto the refrigerator or some other metal appliance. You’ll need to find a spot with some sun, since all herbs need some sun to grow. But it is equally possible for you to make DIY planters and cluster them together in a little vertical garden. It’s easy and fun.
How to Make a Refrigerator Garden
One way you can design your own refrigerator garden is with metal coffee or tea containers. Some of these sold in yesteryear are still available in antique stores and make lovely herb planters. Line each tin container with a plastic bag. Apply glue to the inside walls and floor of the tin and press the sides and bottom of the plastic bag into it. Add packing peanuts or foam balls for drainage. Select small container herbs to transplant into your magnetic planters. First, put in a little potting soil, then add the root ball of the herb plant. Finish up with enough soil to tuck the plant nicely into the tin. If you aren’t totally up on your herbs, you can add little labels to keep you on track. Now buy some strong magnets at a hardware store. Use one magnet for each plant, attaching it first to the tin to make a magnetic planter, then moving it to a great site on the refrigerator. And that’s it! All that’s left is to water your herbs occasionally and let them grow. Note: If you’re not into herb growing but still like the idea of having a magnetic garden, you can also try your hand at growing succulent plants in hollowed out corks or other quirky containers. Just glue on your magnet and pot the plants. These also have the added benefit of not requiring as much water for up keep.
