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Check out Offbeat Homie Christie’s “balcony herb garden,” which is a fancy way of saying coffee cans, hung with zip ties. When asked how plants performed in coffee cans, she explained:
They did extremely well in the cans! We actually had to move some of the mint it got so huge. We have a house and an acre of land now but if I was to do this again, I would leave more room at the top so when watering, it did not spill out so easily.
So start saving those cans this winter so you can start growing those herbs next spring!
is there a hole in the side to loop the zip tie through?
Is this possible to do with plastic coffee “cans”?
Do you have to make holes in the bottom of the cans?
This is genius, by the way. We have a balcony and no yard and we’ve been dying to grow herbs.
Yes, definitely make holes — otherwise water just gathers in the bottom of the can and the roots of the plant will get diseased/rotten.
That will rust in no time at all.
Depends on what the cans are made of.
Line with plastic bags. Make sure you put holes in bag.
I’m so glad you covered this! I’ve pinned the idea on Pinterest, but so many of the “cool ideas” I’ve found there are hit or miss when it comes to actually working well. If Massachusetts’ never-ending winter from hell ever goes away, this will be a part of the deck garden I’m dreaming up.
This is a super cool idea. I have a balcony facing North and we get a few hours of sun in the morning and a few in the evening, BUT only on the front 18″ or so of the balcony. This would be great to free up space on the floor for my attempt at lettuce.
Coffee cans with flowers in them would be a great gift for someone too, maybe tie the can with some raffia or ribbon and BOOM insta-gift.
I love this idea! I’m definitely putting this on my list. I’ve been wanting to start an herb garden for the longest.
It is a great idea, but with holes at the bottom of the cans, where does the water drip onto? You would need to catch the water in something, but what would one use to create an appealing floor area?
I would hang them over the outside of the railing so they drain down off the balcony. Love this idea. Thanks for sharing!