Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

With black soil and shards of pottery and pretty pots all in a row. :)

Ok. So. My past gardening experience pretty much peaked at growing a lima bean plant in a Styrofoam cup in elementary school. And I don't even like lima beans. But, I'm trying my hand at growing herbs as I mentioned in the previous post. Please note, my experience and/or terminology is that of a newbie, so if I am not quite a Gardener to the Starz, pardon me.

First things first: Here's what you need. Four terra cotta pots, four herb plants of your choice, potting soil, un poquito de extended release fertilizer pellets, pieces of broken pottery, H2O, and two nimble hands.

Um, I already planted the mint. 'Cuz I done stoled it from my parents' front yard. Did you know mint is a vine?? Yeah, those suckers will take over your yard if you let 'em. Anyway. I clipped a few leaflings and planted them before we left Charleston, so I kinda had a head start on this whole endeavor. The leaves are to keep moisture in. Just so you know. It ain't cute but it does the job. (Not sure why I've switched into Grungy Farmer mode...must be the fertilizer...juss kidd'n'.)

Moving on. Potting soil, pieces of pottery. And a large kitchen spoon thingy. In case you lack a spade like I do. I ended up using my hands, so it was kind of superfluous.

Step numero uno: place pottery shards in the bottom of each pot over the drainage hole. This will allow for oxygen to enter and water to escape more easily once the plant and all it's tangly roots get in there.

Fill each pot with a little bit of potting soil and then sprinkle some fertilizer over that. Mix it all around, if it makes you happy.

Tap each herb plant out of it's temporary home, being careful not to mangle it's beautiful foliage with your nubby hands. If you find that the roots have grown through the holes in it's plastic container, (like I did), do your best to perform emergency surgery causing as little damage as possible. Bottom line: get the thing out. Place the plant in it's new and permanent 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home. Fill in the sides with potting soil.

Rinse and repeat. Water the plant enough to saturate the soil and enough so that water drains out of the bottom of the pot. You're actually supposed to have those plate thingies to catch the water, but beggars can't be choosers. And I stole these pots from my parents. (Aren't they nice?) Repeat this process until all of your plants are lovingly nestled in their new pots.

Bonus: I also received a flippin' sweet valentine strawberry pot from my dearest friend Lauren. It had this little pellet of dirt that you add water to and then sow the seeds. Amazing. And realllllly cute.


Yep. It's tiny. If this thing grows, I'll be amazed.


From left to right: Bernice, Alma, Gertrude, and Myrtle.

Siiiiike.

Mint, thyme, basil, rosemary.

Yummy, yummy, in my tummy.

And that is how it's done.