Upcycled Mason Jar Herb Garden

There is absolutely nothing quite like cooking with fresh herbs, but buying those little plastic clamshells at the grocery store is both expensive and incredibly wasteful. Today, I am going to show you how to turn your recycling bin into a stunning, rustic indoor herb garden using old mason jars and glass food containers.

This upcycling project is fantastic because it costs almost nothing, looks amazing in any kitchen style from farmhouse to modern, and gives you a year-round supply of fresh basil, mint, and thyme right at your fingertips.

Let’s gather our materials! You will need 4-5 glass jars of roughly the same size. Old spaghetti sauce jars, pickle jars, or actual mason jars work perfectly. You’ll also need some small rocks or pebbles for drainage, activated charcoal (crucial for preventing mold in containers without drainage holes!), high-quality potting mix, and your herb plants or seeds.

Preparing the Jars

Start by giving your jars a really thorough wash. To remove those stubborn sticky labels, soak the jars in warm soapy water for about 30 minutes, then scrub with a mixture of baking soda and cooking oil. The labels will slide right off! Dry the jars completely before moving on to the planting phase.

The Drainage Layer

Because glass jars do not have drainage holes at the bottom, we need to create a false bottom to prevent the plant roots from sitting in soggy soil and rotting. Add about 1 to 1.5 inches of small pebbles or gravel to the bottom of each jar. This gives excess water a place to pool safely away from the roots.

Next, sprinkle a thin layer of activated charcoal over the rocks. This step is often skipped, but I highly recommend it! The charcoal acts as a filter, keeping the water fresh and preventing any musty smells or bacterial growth in your closed container.

Planting Your Herbs

Now it is time for the soil. Fill the jars about two-thirds full with a light, well-draining indoor potting mix. Avoid heavy garden soil as it will compact in the jars. Carefully remove your herb seedlings from their nursery pots, loosen the roots gently with your fingers, and place them into the jars.

Fill in the gaps around the plant with more soil, pressing down lightly to remove large air pockets. Be careful not to pack the soil too tightly, as the roots still need room to breathe and grow.

Care and Maintenance

Watering is the trickiest part of this project. Because there is no drainage, you must be careful not to overwater. I recommend using a small spray bottle or a watering can with a narrow spout. Water just until you see the soil darken, but stop before water starts pooling heavily in the rock layer.

Place your new herb garden on a sunny kitchen windowsill (most herbs love at least 6 hours of bright, indirect light) and enjoy snipping fresh leaves for your next culinary masterpiece!