Mason jars have been around since the 1800s. Yup, the 1800’s! Okay, that might not be such a big shocker, but they’ve recently come back in style in the 21st century, and they’re also commonly being used in the garden. Mason jars of all sizes seem like the perfect spot for some of our favorite plants, but not all plants can be grown within them. Yes, I know, you obviously can’t grow large plants in tiny mason jars, but it’s not just about the size.

Typically, mason jars only have one entrance, and it’s located at the mouth of the jar. This means, whichever plant you decide to grow in a mason jar shouldn’t need to be drained of water. This is because once you add water, there’s no way for any excess water to escape besides naturally being soaked up by the plant or evaporated into the air. This is why you need to know firsthand, what you can grow it in a mason jar!

1. Herbs

Herbs are probably the most common, and maybe the easiest plants to grow in a mason jar. However, it’s not ideal to start herb seeds in mason jars. This is because the seed starting process is much different from the general growth upkeep process, and mason jars aren’t suitable for beginning seeds. Drought-friendly herbs like lavender, sage, and thyme are recommended for growing in mason jars in case of mis-watering, but you can grow virtually any herb in a mason jar, so long as you’re not starting them off from seeds.

You’ll also want to be sure the mason jars your using have enough room for root growth because herb roots tend to grow slightly larger than their top growth. If you’re using a smaller mason jar, transfer them into larger ones when they’ve grown enough. Another trick to avoid mis-watering is to fill the bottom of the jar, before you add in the soil, with stones or pottery shards. Your choice!

These are the most compatible herbs to grow in a mason jar:

• Parsley
• Lavender
• Sage
• Thyme
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Rosemary

2. Succulents

Succulents are ideal for terrarium planting, as they take little care or supervision. You can create a terrarium in a single mason jar, or a variety of mason jars. Terrariums are great because they take very little supervision and care for upkeep.

You can spice up your terrarium with a variety of different kind of succulents. Fill your terrarium with pebbles or rocks at the bottom, then add your potting soil and plants. Add a few drops of water and seal up the mason jar.

3. Cacti

Cacti can also be grown in mason jars, as they too require little upkeep. You can also add them to terrariums or just have them alone in a single mason jar. These look awesome around the house and can last for years on end.

Mason Jar Ideas for the Garden

Storage

Use your mason jars in the garden as storage to store your potting soil or gardening seeds. If you store your seeds in mason jars, be sure you store the jar in a cool, dry and dark place. You can store your mason jar full of soil in your standard gardening storage area.

Canning Your Harvest

Mason jars are ideal for canning your harvest as well, as they can be sealed shut and stored for use at a later time. Using mason jars to can your harvest can lengthen its shelf life instead of letting it rot shortly after being harvested.

Mason jars have been around for a long time, and they are extremely versatile. Don’t let these options limit your usage of mason jars, because you can use them for all kind of things. We love using them all around the house and garden!