DIY Spring Project: Mason Jar Herb Garden

Spring is in the air which means the weather is starting to warm up and the flowers are beginning to bloom. We've had some beautiful weather in North Texas, so I'm really excited to get our vegetable garden planted, and work in the flower beds. Once I get going it's always  so hard to stop.

Winter is finally over and the weather was crazy to say the least, so it's no surprise that were almost into May, and I'm just beginning my Spring planting. I've been wanting to try my hand at a herb garden for quite sometime, so when Walmart asked me to create a spring post I knew it was time to get started.  

I had a few ideas floating in my head, so off to Walmart I went to check out their Garden Center. They had a lot of items to choose from, but I had a indoor herb garden in mind instead of planting the herbs outside. I love having different herbs in arms reach, as well as bringing a little beauty of the outdoors into my kitchen.

After looking at quite a few options I settled on creating a DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden. Mason jars are perfect for organizing and entertaining, but they also add a vintage look to your home. I think a mason jar herb garden is the perfect fit for my kitchen. 

Another main reason for bringing my herb garden indoors is this cute little guy above. This is Mr. Sugar Bear and he will dig up everything in his path, so plants need to be far, far away. Last year he at my entire mint plant right out of the planter, so this year I knew I needed a new approach. I love this sweet boy, but he's such a toot! Let's get started and I will show you how to make this easy DIY Herb Garden. 

These are the items you will need: Quart size mason jars, small bag of potting mix/soil, herb seeds of your choice (I went with seedlings, but you can also use herb plants. I saw a several in the garden department priced at $3.58 each. Decorative ribbon, small rocks or gems, card stock (for printable tags) and reinforcement circle labels.

 

I was excited to see that Walmart carried the new Limited Edition Heritage Green Ball Canning Jars! I instantly fell in love with them and thought they would compliment the herbs beautifully once they started growing in. If green isn't for you Walmart also carries the Heritage Blue Mason Jars. I plan on getting those next to make a set of outdoor Mason Jar Lanterns.

Start by removing the lids from each of the jars. We wont be using those, so just put them aside for another use.  You will need some rocks on the bottom of each jar to allow for water drainage. I found these pretty decorative green gems for $4.77 back in the craft department. I think they match the green jars beautifully. 

Start by adding about 2 inches of rocks into each jar. 


Fill each mason jar with soil up to about two inches of the top of each jar. You want to leave enough room to add additional soil to lightly cover the seeds.

Add seeds to each jar following planting instructions on the seed packet. Or you can just sprinkle some into each jar.

After adding the seeds to the jars place the seed packet under each jar, so you don't mix them up before adding the identifying herb tags. 

Cover the seeds lightly with additional soil. Make sure not to plant the seeds too deep, because they need the sun (and water) to germinate. Add just enough water to each jar to wet the soil and the seeds.

Now it is time to label and decorate the jars. I used thin brown ribbon with green dots to match the mason jars. I found some printable herb tags online or you can just make your own. Another neat idea is to save the seedling packets and cut off the front cover with the photo and mod podge them to each jar.

Attach the ribbon around each jar and slide a decorative tag through the ribbon, so you can identify the herbs as they grow. I used reinforcement tabs on each of my tags so the holes would not tear. Tie off the ribbon and enjoy.

Place the mason jars on a sunny window and lightly water as needed. I have been watering mine every other day. After day seven the cilantro and parsley quickly started popping up. I still have a bit more time to wait on the others. 

What spring projects are you working on?

 

How to Make a Mason Jar Herb Garden 

6 - quart size mason jars (I used wide mouth jars)
Small bag potting soil - to fill jars
Herb seeds of your choice
Decorative ribbon
Small rocks or gem (for drainage)
card stock (for tags) 
hole punch
Reinforcement labels 
scissors

Add about 2 inches of rocks into each jar for drainage. Fill the mason jars with soil up to about two inches of the top of each jar. You want to leave enough room to add additional soil to lightly cover the seeds. 

Add seeds to each jar following planting instructions on the seed packet. Or you can just sprinkle some into each jar. After adding the seeds to each jar place the seed packet under each jar, so you do not mix them up before adding the tags.

Cover the seeds lightly with additional soil. Make sure not to plant the seeds too deep, because they need the sun (and water) to germinate. 

Add just enough water to each jar to wet the soil and the seeds.  Attach a a ribbon around each jar and slide a decorative name tag through the ribbon, so you can identify the herbs as they grow. Tie off the ribbon and enjoy.

Place the mason jars on a sunny window and lightly water as needed. I have been watering mine every other day.