When we’re asked about our favorite healthy cooking tip, without hesitation we answer, “Grow and cook with fresh herbs!” A handful of these fresh and healthy leaves can brighten up just about any dish, from savory to sweet.
In Indiana, the itch to plant starts this first or second week in May: the days get longer, and there’s enough sun in the morning to make you want to jump out of bed and get outside. We got the itch last weekend, and picked up some herb starts from a local farmer’s market.
This year, we decided to snazz up our pots a bit. If you like the look, here’s what you need:
- Standard clay pots (from any local hardware store)
- Metallic gold spray paint (same as above)
- Alphabet stickers (we got ours at Staples)
The painting process is simple:
- Apply the alphabet stickers with the names of your herbs.
- Apply one coat of gold spray paint and let dry for at least 2 hours.
- Apply a second coat of gold spray paint and let dry for another 2 hours.
- Remove the stickers.
After drying, filling the pots with plants takes almost no work (see our How to Grow Herbs post). Just put a few stones in the bottom of the pots for drainage, add some potting soil, and plant the starts. We recommend using starts over seeds because you’ll get to use them a whole lot sooner! Our finished pots are now sitting in the sun on our front porch — a few quick steps from our kitchen, and a bright green and gold welcome to all visitors.
In addition to these pots, we have more in the garden this year! Duplicates of all four of these (just in case), as well as lavender, cilantro, chives, lemon thyme, mint, sage, and some newcomers: cutting celery and epazote.
About the Authors
Sonja Overhiser
Cookbook Author and writer
Sonja Overhiser is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best healthy cookbooks of 2018. She’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the food blog A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Sonja seeks to inspire adventurous eating to make the world a better place one bite at a time.
Alex Overhiser
Cookbook Author and photographer
Alex Overhiser is an acclaimed food photographer and author based in Indianapolis. He’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the recipe website A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Alex is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best vegetarian cookbooks by Epicurious.
7 Comments
Ellie
May 11, 2015 at 12:44 pmWhat a fun and fruitful DIY – can’t wait to do this!!
xo, ellie
With Love From Ellie
Erica
May 11, 2015 at 2:36 pmSo pretty! My roommate and I are starting a balcony garden this summer, arugula is starting to pop up out of the soil and we’re so stinking excited. I love this idea, simple and totally upscales your garden!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
May 11, 2015 at 2:40 pmI can’t wait until we buy our herbs!! (aka mint for mojitos and basil for pesto) These gold pots are soooo up my alley. You guys are the cutest.
Alex
May 12, 2015 at 1:14 pmYou should definitely make some golden pots! I can’t believe it’s nearly mojito and pesto season already :)
dixya@food, pleasure, and health
May 11, 2015 at 8:47 pmthis is so pretty.
Sasha
May 12, 2015 at 10:20 amOoh epazote, how cool! I’ve only ever used the dried stuff, would be interesting to find out how that goes :)
Alex
May 12, 2015 at 1:12 pmI know! We’ve never tried fresh epazote either. I look forward to tossing it in with beans :)