How to Make a Basil Planter - Grow Fresh Herbs Easily

Discover how to make a basil planter and grow fresh herbs with ease. Our guide covers all you need for a thriving herb garden at home.

Imagine transforming your culinary experiences with a touch of Italy, right in the heart of your condo. That's what we're doing!

Ever since we got back from Italy, we've been obsessed with basil. We’ve been putting it on everything!

We are making tons of caprese now and adding basil left and right. It's such a wonderful little herb.

But constantly buying basil can be expensive and we live in a condo – so we don't have a garden (except for the struggling little one hanging on the porch). 

We do, however, have this cool planter that I rescued from the trash a few years ago. 

It’s been overlooked since – so we finally decided to put it to good use and plant basil in it!

Transforming an Ordinary Planter into a Basil Haven

Here is our step-by-step to make a basil planter!

So, we began the makeover by carefully stripping out this lining.

We then sanded down the whole thing using 100-grit sandpaper sheets.

This took a while because we couldn't use our electric sander since it was all curves. We had to meticulously do it by hand!

A Lick of Paint

With the planter smoothly sanded, we moved on to painting. We chose a vibrant blue shade that reminded us of the Mediterranean skies. 

Spraying the planter with this color brought it to life. It took a couple of coats over two days, but watching the transformation was exciting.

The Tricky Barrel Hoops

Then came the most challenging part: the barrel hoops. 

These metal rings gave our planter a unique, pirate-ship-like appearance.

We thought about trying to restore them, but they were really in rough shape, so we decided to just paint them gold. 

The problem was, we’d already covered them in a layer of blue paint. 

As a result, our metallic gold spray paint just wouldn’t stick.  

Our solution? We carefully taped off the hoops and sprayed a heap of gold paint onto a paper plate. Using foam brushes, we applied the paint onto the hoops.

This technique worked wonders, giving the hoops a rich, golden sheen that contrasted beautifully with the blue.

Adding the Pot Filler

Before planting, we prepared the base of the planter. We placed a layer of pot filler and a plastic tray at the bottom. 

This was crucial to prevent water from seeping through and damaging the planter's base – a little trick we learned to extend its life.

Planting the Herbs

The most rewarding part was finally here – planting our herbs.

We decided to plant both basil and some cilantro – we also do a lot of Asian-inspired dishes.

They looked great! The green leaves certainly added life to our newly refurbished planter.

The Finished Planter

Now, our planter sits proudly on our porch, a little piece of Italy right outside our door. 

It really is nice being able to pick fresh basil whenever we want – we do it all the time!

And it makes us want to have a house so bad – so that we can plant a garden of different herbs!

Sadly, the cilantro burned up outside pretty quickly, so we ended up pulling it out, and it’s now rocking some green onions that are doing great. 

Expert Basil Planting Tips

• Easy Planting: Buy small basil plants from the supermarket for planting. It’s much easier than starting from basil seeds. 
• Optimal Soil Choice: Use high-quality potting soil for your basil planter, especially when growing basil in pots. This is for better drainage and nutrient absorption.
• Indoor Gardening Success: For growing basil indoors, put your planter in a spot with lots of sunlight. Basil thrives in warm, well-lit environments.
• Frequent Harvesting: Regularly trim basil leaves to encourage bushier growth and more fresh basil production. This method is essential in container gardening, as it helps keep the plant healthy.
• Moisture Management: When planting basil in a pot, ensure consistent moisture without overwatering. Basil prefers slightly moist soil, so a regular, moderate watering schedule is important.

Want More Garden Projects?

See these home how-to garden guides:

•     Building Your Own Raised Garden Bed
•     Creating a Whimsical Topsy-Turvy Pot Planter
•     17 Creative DIY Ideas for Outdoor Plant Stands
•     Crafting a Wooden Tomato Cage for Your Garden