Veritable Herb Garden - Should I Buy One?

How does the Veritable Herb Garden work?

Putting the lingots into the Herb garden was super simple, easier than I thought it would be!  The instructions are really clear with diagrams and word descriptions to walk you through the process, but all I had to do was pop in the 4 lingots into the slots, plug the bits into the back of the herb garden and then fill up the water tank. 

The water tank did take a lot of water so I was refilling my watering can a few times before it was full!  The floating piece of plastic really helps you know when to stop filling it with water, when it reaches the top, I knew I was done!

How long does it take for Veritable Herb Garden to grow?

It took about 2 weeks for the lingots to germinate, I checked them every day in case they sprouted early, a few did pop up before the 2 week mark but the herb leaves weren't large enough to harvest.  I waited longer than I needed to to snip off my first basil leaves, I wanted to see the full bunch together but as soon as the leaves are larger you can start snipping them and using them and they'll keep growing!

A few spots of fuzzy white bits began to grow on the surface of the lingots, below the stems of the herbs.  It was harmless organic material from the humidity of the grower indoors, so I scraped it off lightly with a spoon.  To be extra cautious, whenever I used any herbs in my cooking, I made sure to give them a good rinse first!

After the 2 week mark, the herbs were growing so fast!  I only needed to top up the water once a week or so, when the lever fell below the top, I filled it so that it floated up again. 

There were so many large bushels of herbs I had to harvest some so that it wouldn't get to crowded, even though I had adjusted the lights to be taller to accommodate for the growth! 

MORE: Feeling inspired? Try this kitchen composter too!

I snipped the herbs down and packed them in baggies in the freezer to store them for when I'm ready to use them. I also gifted some to some friends who came around for dinner one evening, they were tickled!

How do you refresh Veritable herb lingots?

Once I'd harvested all my first batch of herbs, I wanted to try a new combination. Here's how I changed the lingots in my Veritable Herb garden.

1. Unplug the Veritable Garden and move it to clear countertop
2. Pop out plastic compartments one at a time, pulling roots out as needed
3. Tip compartment upside down and squeeze plastic body to loosen, shake, and lightly tap against counter or container to get full lingot out - this can be a bit messy! 
4. Compost or plant lingot as you wish! Repeat for other compartments.
5. Clear out any stuck or tangled roots.
6. Put fresh lingot into plastic containers and pop back in
7. Refill water so they floating rectangle rises to top/surface of veritable edge
8. Plug back in on counter.
9. Start growing!

Is the Veritable Herb Garden messy?

Considering you are really growing a garden inside your kitchen, it's remarkably neat and tidy! When I pulled out the old lingots, I found that the roots had formed a very 'organic' matter, which really smells like the earth! There will be water that comes out of the upside down compartment when you squeeze it, so prepare to get damp fingers. And if soil drops out of the lingot while you try to get it out, you will need to simply wipe it away with a cloth.

Should I buy a Veritable Herb Garden?

It's a no-brainer for me! I'm not a skilled gardener, but I do love having fresh herbs. So this is the ideal solution. I really don't have to think about the Veritable Herb garden at all, and it rewards me with a constant supply of beautiful flavours - full of nutrients. Harvested seconds before I serve dinner.