Planting in a Burlap Sack

Want to have a kitchen herb garden at the ready? Planting in a burlap sack allows water to drain quickly while giving you a beautiful rustic planter you can enjoy all season long.

Often you'll find people growing potatoes, peppers, or tomatoes in burlap sacks. However, I'm sticking with herbs. This also makes a great gift for those who like gardening and cooking. It can be set near a door for easy access, so you can snip what you need quickly, even if it's raining outside.  

The burlap fabric allows the excess water to seep right through. Perfect for herbs that typically enjoy well-drained soil and arid climates. The height will keep the rabbits away, and if you have it close to the house, it may deter the deer, too.

Make one for yourself or give one away for Mother's Day or as a housewarming gift to your gardening friend. Maybe a group teacher appreciation gift. Who wouldn't love this rustic compact garden?

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Making an Herb Garden in a Burlap Sack

Create the Burlap Planter

Step 1. Start by creating a bottom to the sack. Simply gather the corners of the bottom of your burlap bag.

Using a large needle and heavy thread (I used a thin twine), sew the tips of the corners and through the bottom of the sack.

Step 2. Next, because this particular bag was so long, I folded it in half and then flipped it inside out.

Step 3. Add some rope handles. Use grommets to give the bag a nice look and to hold the cotton rope.

Step 4. Tie a double knot on the inside of the bag to secure the rope.

Add a Graphic Label

For an added decorative look, you can print out the word Herbs on an inkjet printer and apply it to the bag.

It came out pretty light when placed on the burlap.

You can use a black Sharpie pen to fill in the graphic.

Note: You are welcome to use this one. Simply right click to save, copy or print. If you create your own, don't forget (like I often do) to reverse the letters in a mirror image. I use wax paper taped to a piece of card stock that I run through an inkjet. The ink sits on top of the wax paper. Then you can flip it over and press it onto the burlap.

Fill the Planter with Herbs

Even with the bag folded over, this was still a large container, so I added a bunch of old plastic nursery cells (see above) to fill in the bottom of the bag.

The herbs I purchased came in these pretty biodegradable pots. You could try to grow some herbs from seed, but I find that those grown in small containers are inexpensive and easier to work with from the get-go.

They will break down, but I personally like to remove them before planting.

Herbs to Choose

I chose thyme, chives, oregano, flat-leaf parsley, and cilantro because they are popular for cooking. Don't worry about crowding them. Planting several herbs together in the bag is fine for the season and will help keep out the weeds.

Basil would be another great cooking herb, but it is a little too early here to plant basil, which hates the cold weather. I may consider switching out the cilantro, which hates the hot weather, with basil down the road.