Starting your own kitchen garden in your home is not only simple but enjoyable to put together and maintain. Kitchen gardens are designed to be indoor and outdoor spaces that promote the fresh use of fruits, veggies, and herbs. Whether you are cooking for one or ten, Having fresh produce at your disposal can change any culinary creation in seconds. Here are our top 5 ideas for starting your own kitchen garden that are both fun for the family and great for cooks and gardeners alike.

 

1. PIZZA GARDEN CONTAINER – 

A pizza garden is a container or bed that consists of herbs and vegetables great for making pizza! It’s an easy way to show kids where food comes with the added benefit of creating tasty meals. Our recommended plants:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Onions
• Spinach
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Basil
• Cilantro

You can either use all or some of these edible plants in your pizza garden. Remember that some of these veggies and herbs have different light and watering needs. Ask one of our Green Team members to help pick what pizza garden plants are best for your space. 

PRO TIP: For the budding gardener, start with a pizza herb garden indoors with bright light or grow lights to have herbs available all year round! See our seminar on kitchen gardening with herbs here.

 

2. MOSQUITO REPELLANT CONTAINER – 

We are moving into May, and being outdoors comes with the territory. Enjoying our outdoor patios, decks, and porches comes with a price: mosquitos! Why not make a container that not only looks great but deters mosquitos naturally? One natural way to combat these irking insects is through mosquito-repelling plants. 

Our recommended plants:

• Marigolds
• Lemongrass
• Mint
• Citronella Geranium

PRO TIP: Making a stylish container to put your pest-repelling plants will disguise your device as a beautifully potted container! See our seminar on containers for more info on planting the perfect arrangement here.  

 

3. TEA GARDEN CONTAINER – 

Served hot or cold, herbal teas are a delicious way to experience the refreshing flavor of herbs that can be grown in your very own garden. Have tea time anytime with your very own tea garden container. 

Our recommended plants:

• Lavender
• Mint
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Verbena
• Ginger
• Thyme
• Chamomile

PRO TIP: Mix and match different tea ingredients to make your own creative drink. Try lavender and chamomile for a sleepy time mix or ginger with lemon balm to start your day energized. 

 

4. COCKTAIL GARDEN CONTAINER –

For the adult gardener, create and plant your own cocktail garden to ensure a fresh supply of ingredients for all your favorite cocktail creations. Fresh herbs are an essential part of great cocktail mixing and having them all year-round can give you a fresh, delicious drink whenever you need one. 

Our recommended plants:

• Mint
• Basil
• Lavender
• Sage
• Rosemary

PRO TIP: You may notice some of our container garden ideas have overlapping plants. Feel free to plant different types of gardens together to create a huge, super garden of all your favorite themes. Picking plants that you use often is the best way to utilize your kitchen garden container.

 

5. SUMMER STRAWBERRY CONTAINER - 

Summer is just around the corner and creating your own container for strawberry picking is a must for the Hampton Roads area. Strawberry containers are very easy to maintain and can be arranged multiple different ways.  

Our recommended plants and products:

• Strawberries 
• Terracotta strawberry pot
• Coco liner hanging basket

PRO TIP: Use your strawberries for jam, canning, or eating immediately in one of your favorite desserts! Strawberries have many uses and can even be combined with your favorite garden veggies and herbs for a fresh summer salad. 

 

MORE KITCHEN GARDEN TIPS:

 

Indoor Light Requirements – 

Sun is essential to any plant growth, but especially with edible plants indoors. Finding a sunny spot to place your plants in is key. South-facing windows generally get sun most of the day, if there are no obstructions by the window. This would be the best spot to grow indoors due to it being the most amount of light indoors. Some edible plants need to be outside to grow efficiently and have enough sunlight. Herbs are the easiest to grow indoors.

If you have no sun at all, don’t worry! You are still able to achieve an edible kitchen garden with grow lights. These are artificial lights that provide a full UV spectrum for plants as if they were growing under the sun. Check out our seminar on grow lights here if you would like to learn more.

 

Containing Edibles Indoors – 

Creating an edible kitchen garden in your home requires you to pot your plants in some type of container. Terracotta or pots with lots of drainage is a good place to start with edible plants. Making sure that the water filters all the way through the plant and out the bottom of the pot is key to a healthy root system.

 

Indoor Temperatures – 

Edible plants like temperatures between 65-75 degrees indoors.

Keep in mind, when placing your indoor herb garden in windows, that windows fluctuate in temperature. So, if you are growing a plant like sweet basil, you will want to make sure that it is not touching the window or feeling those temperature changes.

PRO TIP: Touch the leaves of your plants to feel for temperature. If the plant leaves feel cold, the plant may be too cold!  

 

Outdoor Light Requirements – 

Generally, herbs, veggies, and fruits outdoors need at least 4-6 hours of full sun every day to grow efficiently.

 

Containing Edibles Outdoors – 

Growing edible plants outdoors is extremely versatile. You can plant them in the ground, raised beds, and even containers.