Our ongoing indecision about where to place a permanent vegetable and herb garden at the new house meant we missed the window for spring planting. Instead of letting the whole season pass, we decided to try a temporary solution: a simple container herb garden using an inexpensive galvanized tub.
We wanted just a few kitchen essentials rather than a full bed of edibles, so we picked up four local, organically grown herbs at the farmer’s market: parsley, oregano, basil, and mint. The plants were a modest and satisfying find for about $12, and they seemed perfect for a compact, moveable setup that would let us experiment with placement before committing to a permanent garden.
The galvanized tub itself was roughly $8 at a big box store — far cheaper than most planters of that size — and made a great container once we added a few simple modifications. First, we drilled drainage holes in the bottom with a cordless drill and widened them slightly by twisting a big nail in each one so water could flow freely. I even made the pattern of holes into a heart shape, mostly for fun.
Update: After the tubs were set up, a few readers suggested testing for lead in galvanized metal used for edible plants. We used a lead test kit on the seams, inside, outside, bottom, and even around the drilled holes. All tests were negative. If you’re unsure about the purity of a metal tub you plan to use for food plants, it’s a good idea to check.
For additional drainage and to keep soil from escaping through the holes, we added a layer of gravel at the bottom — leftovers from a recent patio project. On top of that we used an organic potting mix from the store. It cost a bit more than the standard mix, but since these herbs are going into our kitchen, choosing an organic potting soil felt like the right move. We would have used compost from our own pile, but after the move our compost bins were still settling in and didn’t have enough finished material yet.
Before adding soil, we arranged the plants to make sure everything fit well. Taller plants like basil and parsley went toward the back, oregano occupied a side spot since it tends to spread outward, and we kept the mint contained by setting it in a small buried pot inside the tub — a simple farmer’s market tip that prevents mint from taking over the whole container.
With the herbs planted, the tub went on our small balcony just outside the living room and kitchen. The patio area at the back of the house is mostly shaded, but this balcony is tucked between two sections of the house in a way that captures a surprising amount of light — almost full sun by our property’s standards — and it’s very convenient for snipping fresh leaves while cooking.
One of the biggest advantages of a potted herb garden is mobility. If the chosen spot doesn’t provide enough sun, the tub can be moved to test different locations and find the best light pattern. This flexibility will also help us decide where a permanent garden might go next year. If the herbs thrive and we decide to keep the container approach, the tub will still look at home on the larger deck we plan to build, possibly as a centerpiece on an outdoor table.
We labeled each plant with simple popsicle-stick markers, and for fun I assigned playful character-style names to them — a small, silly touch that makes the little garden more personal. It’s not practical gardening advice, but it does make the setup more fun when you’re checking on growth each day.
There’s room for the plants to grow before the tub gets too crowded. If any of them become too large or showy, we can transplant them into larger individual pots. For now, we’re aiming for a full-but-healthy look rather than overcrowded chaos.
Are you planting anything this year? Whether you’re tending a container garden, a raised bed, or a full backyard plot, herbs are an easy and rewarding place to start. They’re low-maintenance, useful in the kitchen, and portable if you need to experiment with light and placement. If you try a galvanized tub, consider the lead test if you have any doubts, add drainage and gravel, and keep mint separated to avoid a takeover.
Psst — if you’ve been to the farmer’s market lately, it’s a great place to find small, organic herb starts that are ready for containers.