Gifts for Herb Lovers: Planters, Scissors and Winter Windowsill Kits
Gifts for a cook who grows herbs: herb planters, herb scissors, a windowsill setup for winter, and which herbs can share one pot.
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Good gifts for someone who loves herbs are a planter with drainage holes for the inside of the rail, a pair of herb scissors, and a windowsill setup that keeps a few herbs going through winter. Group herbs by water: rosemary, thyme and sage can share a pot, basil gets its own kitchen pot, and mint grows alone.
These are containers and tools, so the cook can pick the herbs at a local garden center. More ideas are in our gifts for balcony gardeners.
Herb planters that suit a balcony cook
A herb planter is the core gift for a cook, because it puts fresh leaves a few steps from the kitchen. Size matters more than style. Illinois Extension recommends containers at least 6 inches across, since a 3-inch pot is quickly outgrown. Iowa State Extension says every container needs drainage holes and a well-drained commercial potting mix, and that herbs want at least 4 to 6 hours of sun a day.
On a small balcony, a box on the inside of the rail or a vertical pocket planter keeps herbs off the floor. Our guide to growing herbs in pots covers pot size, sun and watering in more detail.
Herb planters for a balcony or windowsill
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Which herbs share one planter
Iowa State Extension advises grouping herbs with comparable water needs in the same container, which decides how many pots a gift should include.
| Pot | Herbs | Why they go together |
|---|---|---|
| Dry-soil pot | Thyme, oregano, sage, marjoram, bay, rosemary | UMD Extension says the first five need to dry out between waterings; Illinois says rosemary likes the dry side |
| Kitchen pot | Basil | Picked often; kept apart from the dry-soil group |
| Its own pot | Mint | Illinois Extension says it spreads aggressively by underground rhizomes |
A long window box can hold the dry-soil group, with a second smaller pot for basil and a separate one for mint. That makes a set of two or three planters a thoughtful gift.
Herb scissors and harvest tools
Herb scissors make a small add-on to a planter, and regular cutting keeps herbs compact on a small balcony. Illinois Extension says pinching basil stem tips gives a bushier plant, and that flower buds should be pinched off as soon as they form. Iowa State suggests harvesting leafy annual herbs when flower buds first appear, and taking only the top third of perennial herbs.
Plant markers, a narrow-spout watering can and a pair of light gloves round out a small herb kit.
Herb scissors, hand tools and gift sets
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A windowsill setup for winter herbs
A windowsill setup lets a cook keep picking after the balcony season ends, which makes it a strong December gift. University of Maryland Extension suggests a south or west window with at least five hours of sun a day, and says grow lights or fluorescent lights for 14 to 16 hours a day are necessary in winter. It also advises keeping herbs away from drafts and dry heat vents.
Some herbs make the move better than others. Maryland Extension says basil can be grown indoors year-round, and that rosemary, bay, lemon verbena, oregano and marjoram can be overwintered inside. Illinois Extension calls basil easy to grow as a windowsill herb for fall, winter and early spring harvest.
Tip
A compact windowsill planter with a saucer, plus a small grow light for a dim window, makes a complete winter gift. For outdoor herbs through the cold months, see overwintering container plants.
More gift ideas by person
For a renter who cannot drill, see our gifts for apartment gardeners. For a spring occasion, our Mother’s Day garden gifts include herb planters ready for the season.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for someone who loves growing herbs?
A herb planter with drainage holes, at least 6 inches across per herb, is the core gift. Herb scissors, plant markers and a windowsill setup for winter make good extras. Leave the plants to the gardener, who can buy them locally.
Can herbs grow on a windowsill in winter?
Some can. University of Maryland Extension suggests a south or west window with at least five hours of sun, and says grow lights or fluorescent lights for 14 to 16 hours a day are needed in winter. Illinois Extension says basil is easily grown as a windowsill herb for fall, winter and early spring.
Which herbs can share a pot?
Group herbs with similar water needs, as Iowa State Extension advises. Bay, marjoram, oregano, sage and thyme need to dry out between waterings, according to University of Maryland Extension, so they share well. Mint spreads by underground rhizomes, and Illinois Extension recommends growing it in a container.
Should I bring a balcony rosemary indoors for winter?
In colder areas, yes. Illinois Extension says rosemary is not reliably hardy in zone 6 or colder and is best brought inside just before frost, to a cool, sunny spot with the soil kept on the dry side.
Sources
- Growing Herbs in ContainersIowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Growing Herbs in ContainersIllinois Extension
- Growing Herbs in Containers and IndoorsUniversity of Maryland Extension
- BasilIllinois Extension
- MintIllinois Extension
- RosemaryIllinois Extension
Filed under Gifts for Balcony Gardeners: Ideas by Person and Space.
