How to Start a Vertical Herb Garden on a Budget (No Green Thumb Needed)

If you’ve ever dreamed of snipping fresh basil right outside your kitchen door or adding homegrown mint to your iced tea without needing a full backyard garden, you’re not alone. For many of us, space is tight, time is short, and budgets are real — but the desire to grow something nourishing (and a little bit pretty) never fades. Lucky for us, there's a simple and satisfying solution: the vertical herb garden. Even better? You can start one without spending a fortune. Whether you’ve got a sunny balcony or just a free wall indoors, we’ll walk you through exactly how to start a vertical herb garden on a budget — step by step.

Step 1: Take Stock of Your Space and Light

Before grabbing a trowel, the first thing to do is figure out where your vertical herb garden will live. This will help determine what kind of setup you need, and whether you'll be growing herbs indoors, outdoors, or somewhere in between. Don’t worry — herbs are surprisingly adaptable!

Indoor Spots to Consider:

• A sunny kitchen wall or windowsill
• Near a patio door that gets regular sunlight
• Unused wall space with grow lights

Outdoor Options:

• Balcony or porch railings
• South-facing exterior walls or fences
• Apartment patios that get a few hours of sun

As a general rule, most culinary herbs like 4–6 hours of sunlight daily. If you don’t have a consistently sunny spot, don’t worry — a budget-friendly grow light like the Ankace Grow Light for Indoor Plants can give your herbs the boost they need. It clips easily onto shelves or ledges and even comes with a timer, so your plants get the perfect amount of light each day.

Step 2: Choose an Affordable Vertical Planter

When space and money are both limited, your planter does a lot of heavy lifting. You want something vertical, compact, and multi-tiered so you can grow more without sprawl. One of the simplest budget solutions we love is the Mr. Stacky 5-Tier Stackable Vertical Garden Planter. It’s compact, surprisingly sturdy, and each tier holds multiple herbs. Best of all, it’s equally at home on patios or indoors by a window.

“I started with just one vertical stack to save space on our balcony and ended up growing enough basil to make pesto all summer long.” — Jasmine, reader in Oregon

Already have containers or hanging planters you love? You can also DIY your vertical garden using inexpensive materials like:

• Hanging shoe organizers with drainage holes
• Wooden pallets converted into pocket planters
• Upcycled tin cans or mason jars mounted on a wooden board

Keep things lightweight if you’re mounting them on a wall or balcony, and always make sure water can drain — nobody wants soggy oregano.

Step 3: Pick the Right Herbs for Easy Care

Here’s where the fun begins: deciding what to grow! Herbs are some of the most forgiving plants to start with, and many grow happily in vertical setups with basic care. To keep things budget- and beginner-friendly, choose herbs that:

• Thrive in containers
• Don’t require constant maintenance
• Repay you well with lots of use in the kitchen

Top Picks for Vertical Herb Gardens:

• Basil – Loves warmth and sun, perfect for sauces and salads
• Parsley – Cool-weather tolerant and high-yielding
• Mint – Grows fast; just keep it in its own section (it spreads!)
• Thyme – Drought-friendly and aromatic
• Chives – Hardy and flavorful, great for eggs and soups

You can start from seeds (the most budget-conscious route) or grab a few small starter plants at your local farmer’s market or garden center. Even grocery store potted herbs can be coaxed into long-term success if transplanted gently and given room to grow.

Step 4: Use the Right Soil and Fertilizer

Container herbs aren’t picky, but they thrive with the right growing mix. A light, well-draining potting soil works best—avoid digging up garden soil, which compacts and holds too much moisture in containers. You can stretch your soil budget by mixing in some perlite or coconut coir to increase drainage and aeration.

As your herbs grow in their vertical setup, they’ll also benefit from regular feeding — once every 2–4 weeks is usually perfect. One of the most trusted (and organic) ways to do this is with Espoma Organic Herb & Vegetable Plant Food. It’s gentle, affordable, and just right for edible plants with no synthetic chemicals.

A Few Low-Cost Soil Tips:

• Shop for soil in late winter or early spring, when sales are most common
• Reuse soil from last season — just refresh with compost or plant food
• Use egg cartons to start seeds, then transplant to your vertical setup

Step 5: Water Smart — Not Hard

Watering is where many indoor and vertical gardeners run into trouble, either by forgetting or overdoing it. The trick is consistency. Most herbs like moist (but not soggy) soil, and in small containers, they dry out faster — especially in warm, sunny spots.

Practical, Budget-Friendly Watering Tips:

• Use a plastic ketchup bottle for a gentle DIY watering tool
• Water in the morning to avoid overnight dampness and mildew
• If outdoors, collect rainwater in a bucket to save on your water bill
• Stick your finger into the soil — if it’s dry an inch down, it’s time to water

Using a tiered planter like the Mr. Stacky Vertical Garden can also make watering easier — excess water from the top tiers trickles down to the lower ones, conserving both water and effort.

“Once I got used to watering from the top down, I barely needed to think about it — the planter does half the work!” — Leo, reader in North Carolina

Bonus Tips for Keeping It Budget-Friendly

A vertical garden is already a win for small spaces, but you can stretch each dollar further with these extra budget-smart tips:

• Thrift stores are great spots for cute second-hand pots or shelving cores.
• Community swap groups often have free plant starts or soil from neighbors.
• Repurpose items like coffee cans, milk crates, or spice racks for creative planters.

Also, keep a simple garden journal or notes app to track your watering and feeding — it helps avoid buying replacement plants due to overwatering or forgetting a feeding schedule.

Helpful Tools from This Article

• Mr. Stacky 5-Tier Stackable Vertical Garden Planter – Indoor/Outdoor
• Ankace Grow Light for Indoor Plants, Full Spectrum Clip Lamp with Timer
• Espoma Organic Herb & Vegetable Plant Food 8 oz.

Starting your own vertical herb garden on a budget isn’t just doable — it’s deeply satisfying. With a few smart choices and a little creativity, you can enjoy fresh, flavorful herbs right at home, while keeping costs low and your green thumb growing strong. We’d love to see how your setup turns out — tag @PorchLightPicks and show us your garden!