How to Plant a Mini Herb Garden for Your Porch
Skip the dried, store-bought herbs and pick yours straight from your own miniature portable garden.
![DIY Portable Herb Garden These handy little herb gardens are portable and completely charming. Give them to a friend who loves to cook or make a few for yourself.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Lead_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256541141.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Materials Needed
- planter box
- scrap trim
- 1/4" dowel
- ruler
- pen
- hacksaw
- drill with 1/4" bit
- potting soil
- mint, lavender, aloe (or other herbs of choice)
- marker
- soil scoop
Add Soil to Planter Box
Add several scoops of a high-quality potting soil into the planter. Consider amending the soil depending on what type of herbs you’re planting. For example, Mediterranean herbs, like rosemary, sage and oregano, thrive in sandier soils.
![DIY Portable Herb Garden Step 1- Add Soil to Planter Box](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step1-Add-Soil-to-Planter-Box.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256540588.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Transplant Herbs
Transplant a few herbs into each planter, giving each plant a little room to grow. If you’re planting several varieties in a larger planter, plant the taller herbs toward the back and the shorter ones toward the front. They’ll look better in the planter, and you’ll have better access when it’s time to snip some for meals and cocktails.
![DIY Portable Herb Garden Step 2- Transplant Herbs](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step2-Transplant-Herbs.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256547313.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Make Herb Stakes
Measure, mark and cut several 4-inch lengths of scrap wood with a hack saw (Image 1). Then, saw several dowels down into 6-inch lengths (Image 2). Next, drill a hole in the base of each 4-inch piece to accommodate the dowel (Image 3). Insert the dowel into the hole (Image 4).
![Step 3- Make Herb Garden Stakes](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step3-Make-Herb-Garden-Stakes_a.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256547896.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Image 1
![Step 3- Make Herb Garden Stakes](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step3-Make-Herb-Garden-Stakes_b.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256542661.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Image 2
![Step 3- Make Herb Garden Stakes](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step3-Make-Herb-Garden-Stakes_c.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256549915.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Image 3
![Step 3- Make Herb Garden Stakes](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step3-Make-Herb-Garden-Stakes_d.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256550637.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Image 4
Label Stakes + Insert Into Planter
Using a marker, write the name of the plant on the stake. You can go simple or fancy with your writing style (Image 1). Once complete, insert the stake next to the correlating plant for proper identification (Image 2). You can even make a few extra stakes and keep them blank for future additions to your mini herb garden.
![Step 4- Label Stakes & Insert into Planter](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step4-Label-Stakes-and-Insert-into-Planter_a.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256551043.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Image 1
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/3/17/1/HSH16_BPF_Portable-Herb-Garden_Step4-Label-Stakes-and-Insert-into-Planter_b.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1458256551288.jpeg)
Brian Patrick Flynn, Flynnsideout.com
Image 2