I looked out my window this weekend and to my great delight I saw a few green nubs sticking up from the earth. Feeling inspired by this first sight of spring, I decided to get a start on my herb garden. There are several starter herb kits available from home building centres and garden stores that you can use to grow plants indoors, or do like I am, and use them to get a head-start on your outdoor crop.

Basil ended up being my herb of choice, but the container that came with the set was doing nothing for my sense of style (see the bright blue pot below).  After rummaging around the basement through my terracotta pots, some in better shape than others, I decided this was the perfect time to use one of my old and battered pots and spruce it up a bit.

Spray paint was the most cost effective and dramatic way to change the look of my soon-to-be herb pot.  Available in a myriad of colours and textures, the hardest thing about spraying pots is making a decision on what type of look you are after. I love the aesthetic of metal pots – but not the price – so I grabbed a can of hammered metal brown.

I set up shop outside spraying the pot with a few light coats allowing for dry time in between. A few minutes outside with a can of spray paint did wonders with my old scuffed, chipped and rather dreary looking terracotta.  

After everything had dried, I planted my seeds and found a nice bright spot for my basil plant to call home. Although the hammered metal effect didn’t show up as well as it did on the top of the spray can, I’m still pleased with the results. My larger garden pots are on next weeks to do list!

Tips for spraying:

• Spray the top with a very light coat, let dry and then flip over to do the outside. Once the outside is dry flip over and do the remainder of the inside.  This allows you to maneuver the pot around without getting paint on your fingers
• When using heavier paints, such as the metal finishes, point the spray can a bit closer to the object -- it helps to give better coverage. But remember to keep the can moving or you'll get drips.
• Keep temperature in mind -- it needs to be at least 10C outside for paint to cure properly. If you do spray when the temperature is cooler, bring the piece inside to dry, if possible, in a ventilated area.

Other ideas for your pots:

• Chalkboard paint can be tinted to various shades. It's perfect for herb gardens as you can write on the pot what is growing and when you planted it.

From our friends at Foodtv.ca: Tips on how to start an indoor herb garden