Getting your fingers knuckle-deep in some rich, dark soil is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Of course, I’m talking about gardening.

If you recently moved into a condo, or have been in one for a while, you might have started to really miss having the chance to till or weed a garden. Filling your place with bright, crisp arrangements doesn’t require an expensive, outdoor space!

Enter mason jar growing. It takes up very little space and can you give you that natural gardening fix you’ve been longing for.

A simple, quick and fun project that will add not only a decorative touch but doubles as a useful culinary staple.

What is it?

Some of the best and easiest things to grow in a mason jar are herbs. Not only do they add some natural elements to your household, but you can also snip off a leaf and add it to your latest dishes. All your friends and family will be super impressed when you serve them something with fresh home-grown ingredients.

You can put the mason jar garden in a bookshelf, resting on a windowsill, or like hang it on your balcony.

Suitable plants for herb jars include:

• Basil
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Chives
• Thyme
• Rosemary

The How To:

1. Invest in some mason jars. Since they’ve recently expanded in popularity, you can find them in pretty much any grocery or hardware store. You can even use recycled pasta or pickle jars with the labels soaked and the jars thoroughly washed to save some money.

2. Do not start your mason jar herbs from seedlings. Use transplants instead. These will have roots that are a little larger and will be sturdier and grow faster.

3. Drainage. To make sure your herbs receive appropriate drainage drill a few holes in the mason jar. This step can be dangerous, so be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves. Use a diamond cutting drill bit and cover the jar with cutting oil. Use even pressure and drill slowly to prevent breakage. Make several 1/8 to ¼ inch holes in the Mason jar. If you don’t like the idea of using a drill you can fill the bottom of the jar with an inch or so of stones or marbles.

4. Fill the jar with a bagged potting mix or your own mix of equal part sphagnum peat, compost, and sand to about 1 inch below the jar’s edge. Fertilizer can be added into the soil medium at this point or use a soluble fertilizer after planting.

5. Plant the transplanted herbs so the root ball is level or slightly below the surface of the potting medium. Moisten the potting medium first with a bit of warm water, then add the mix, covering the tallest transplant root ball so it sits with its top surface a ¾ inch below the rim of the jar. Water the Mason jar herb garden thoroughly.

6. Place your makeshift garden in a sunny area where they get at least six hours of sun per day. Keep the jar of herbs moist but not sodden. As the plants outgrow the jars, replace them with new transplants and move the bigger herbs into larger pots.

And there you have it. An insanely easy, 6 step process to bring some life and flavor to your life.
What are you waiting for?