Grow your own herbs in a pyramid

The team from Eckards recently had fun planting a herb pyramid pot as a DIY project.

Herbs are particularly well suited to being container grown and this cool pyramid idea will increase the number of herbs you can grow without taking up much space on a patio or balcony.

If you have the space why not plant different ones?

One for salads, one for cooking and one for fun.

This project can easily be done in a morning and is so easy it can be a garden project for kids too.

Plan to create

As with any great DIY project one needs a shopping list of what you’ll need.

•  Three pots that will fit into each other creating your pyramid. Clay pots are best as they allow the water to move through them but any pots will work as long as there are sufficient drainage holes.
•  Herb Mix and river sand.

It is recommended to use a ready-to-go herb mix as it is finer than regular potting soil and makes planting easier.

Do not use garden soil as this will go hard and will not drain at all.

The river sand will help overall drainage between the layers.

•  Your selection of herbs. Mix them up but try to keep the ones with the same water and light requirements together to ensure success.
•  Plant food. Nitrosol is an organic plant food that will greatly enhance the flavours as well as keep them growing strongly.

How to build your pyramid

•  To make the pyramid, start off with your widest container. A layer of river sand across the bottom will aid drainage and make sure that the water running out the bottom is clean water not muddy water. Fill the container halfway with herb mix and press it down firmly.
•  Next add your second pot. When placed it should leave a wide enough gap around the edge for planting. Fill in around the pot. Into the second pot again a layer of river sand and then herb mix. Repeat the process as before and then add the smallest pot.
•  Once you have your pyramid of pots plant your selection of herbs. Once planted give it a thorough watering till the water runs out the bottom of the container.
•  Place the pyramid in a sunny spot depending on the herb selection and remember to turn the pyramid every now and then to give all the plants enough sunlight. If you are using larger containers plant it in the place where you want to grow it as it can be quite heavy to move once planted.

Nothing tastes better than bright green healthy leaves and the only way to ensure that is to feed with a fertiliser that is higher in nitrogen.

It is recommended feeding your herb pyramid at least once a week to every alternate week with Nitrosol.

How about growing a strawberry pyramid or a lettuce pyramid.