Urban jungle bloggers

A happy coincidence happened a few weeks ago: I discovered Urban Jungle Bloggers, a monthly series aimed at bringing green into our homes, and then I was lucky enough to be sent a lovely LSA cheese dome by Pavilion Broadway. Maybe not an obvious connection, but I decided to use my new cheese dome as a mini green-house to help me grow herbs for my windowsill and balcony (this was the Urban Jungle Bloggers’ April  theme – late, I know!).

Growing herbs if you don't have outdoor space www.apartmentapothecary.com

I dream of having my own garden and especially the potting shed that will be so pretty! In the meantime, however, I am lucky enough to have a two bedroom flat with a balcony and a communal roof terrace so if I want to grow plants, flowers or food I can. Herbs are the thing I put most effort into growing; they are easy to grow and so useful in everyday cooking. The only problematic bit is growing from seed, which is the cheapest way of planting. Trays of seedlings in your home can be unsightly and require space and I don’t have much of that and I know lots of other people have the same problem.

Growing herbs if you don't have outdoor space www.apartmentapothecary.com

The solution is to choose the herbs you use the most, plant these and use containers for planting that can form a centrepiece in your kitchen, on your coffee table or windowsill instead of ugly plastic planting trays. My LSA cheese dome from Pavilion Broadway was perfect for this as seedlings need to be covered in their early stages. The dome looks great and is big enough to house my key plants: Parsley, Mint, Tarragon, Tomatoes, Coriander.

Growing herbs if you don't have outdoor space www.apartmentapothecary.com

The dome can take pride of place on the kitchen table, worktop or coffee table as it looks so pretty. It’s also a bit of a conversation point.

Growing herbs if you don't have outdoor space www.apartmentapothecary.com

A peek out onto my balcony beyond the windows in my sitting room. I’m growing: Sweet peas, Hydrangea, a terrarium of ferns, Camelia, Wisteria and Rosemary.

Growing herbs if you don't have outdoor space www.apartmentapothecary.com

Once your seedlings are ready to be planted out, if you don’t have outdoor space, you can use old tins and put these on your windowsill. Have a look at my recycled planters tutorial for ideas.

Growing herbs if you don't have outdoor space www.apartmentapothecary.com

Thank you so much to Igor and Judith for the Urban Jungle Bloggers inspiration. Thank you, also, to Pavilion Broadway for the lovely cheese dome – there is 20% off LSA gifts perfect for your dad in the lead up to Fathers’ Day, so pop over!

Katy x

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9 Comments

  1. 6th May 2014 / 4:41 pm

    What a fun & cool coincidence and I love your way of thinking and finding new ways of interpreting things! Lovely little greenhouse idea and I really like how genuine everything looks! Love the olive oil containers as plant pots, too! Fab post! Thank you so much for joining our green family!

    • katy
      7th May 2014 / 7:15 am

      Thank you, Igor! Really looking forward to May’s theme 🙂

  2. Katie
    6th May 2014 / 8:13 pm

    This is such a great idea! I am definitely going to do this. Is it too late to sow seeds?

    • katy
      7th May 2014 / 7:16 am

      No, it’s not too late! Just check the back of your seed packets – lots of herbs can be sown in May or even June. Get growing! 🙂

  3. 7th May 2014 / 11:23 am

    Love this. I am growing spinach and basil from seed at the moment but my plastic pots don’t look quite so pretty x

  4. 7th May 2014 / 8:56 pm

    You have so much dainty green around your house! Best use of a cheese dome I’ve ever seen,)

    • katy
      17th May 2014 / 8:29 pm

      Thanks, Rusty! Cheese excluded though, right? 😉

  5. 8th May 2014 / 12:21 am

    Wow Katy this looks so good and tasty! I’m intrigued by the faceted dome on your balcony. Is it a greenhouse? Your previous roundup on recycled containers is super useful & hands-on by the way. And I love the clever use of your new cheese dome too: it’s so classy! See you soon 🙂

    • katy
      17th May 2014 / 8:31 pm

      Thank you, Judith. I’m so pleased that I’ve discovered UJB! I’ll pop a pic on IG of the terrarium that’s on my balcony 🙂 x

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