How To: Kitchen Herb Garden

With the ‘grow your own’ trend experiencing an unprecedent surge over the last year, there’s never been a better time to create a kitchen herb garden.

People are increasingly conscious of where their food comes from, and growing your own, whether in a garden or a balcony, is the safest way to control what goes into it and ensure a fresher taste. Combined with the health benefits of spending time outside nurturing plants and the satisfaction of picking fresh produce, it’s no wonder homegrown food is enjoying a resurgence.

Whether after crisp leaves, fiery chillies or a constant supply of herbs, the trick is to grow small amounts of different crops that offer big rewards.

It doesn’t matter if space is limited – building a kitchen herb garden is as easy and creative as upcycling an old piece of furniture.

Tips to transform an old wooden dressing table into a bountiful herb garden

1. Begin by removing the table top and inverting the supporting wooden planks to create a soil bed.

2. As with all upcycling, preparation is key. Start by sanding down the surface – we recommend a very light abrasion using P180 or P240 grade sandpaper. Abrade in the direction of the grain, as you might leave visible marks if brushing across.

3. Dust off the surface using either a cloth or a brush, wiping or brushing across the grain, as well as up and down.

4. Degrease or clean the surface using methylated spirits on a lint-free cloth.

5. Apply the first coat of Superdec Opaque Wood Protection and let dry for 3-4 hours, then reapply a second coat.

6. Fill bed with soil and plant herbs in rows, leaving 5cm gaps between plants.

Matthew Brown, Sadolin Technical Consultant