 How to Grow Herbs Indoors
Even if you live in the northern hemisphere, you can still enjoy freshly picked herbs year-round. Many herb varieties will grow quite happily indoors on a sunny window ledge or porch. In addition to providing a source of fresh herbs, an indoor garden can look extremely attractive, and they are a wonderful
introduction to gardening for children.
Herbs which will grow indoors include basil, oregano, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, angelica, chamomile, dill, fennel, lavender, geranium and chives.
You will need to find a sunny, well lit spot to grow your indoor herb garden. Ideally, it should be south facing, but if this isn't possible choose a
situation that will receive plenty of light through out the day. Try to avoid a north facing place because it is unlikely the plants will receive enough light to grow properly. What you will need:
Herbs, either plants or seeds
Good quality compost
Suitable containers
Buy your herbs from reputable suppliers, don't buy seed packets which
are out of date, and avoid any straggly or unhealthy looking plants. The
same is true for compost, choose a good all purpose compost, your
herbs will be relying on it for nutrition for some time.
The containers are easier to select. You will find a wide range at garden
centers and nurseries. Alternatively, you can use ones you already have,
or adapt other objects. I grow my geraniums in a old mop bucket, and my
lemon mint is growing in a teapot with a broken handle.
If your children are helping with your indoor garden, a nice idea is to take
some plain plant pots, and let the kids decorate them with paint, paper
etc. to produce their own unique pots.
Once you have planted your garden, it will need some care. Remember,
indoor plants rely on you totally. Water regularly, but be careful not to
over-water, this is the main cause of death for most indoor plants. No more
than once a week should be sufficient, I water once every two weeks. Check
the compost before watering, if it still feels moist wait and check again
the next day. If you have used a good compost, and your winter is relatively
short you will probably only need to feed your plants once. If you have a
longer cold season, it might be an idea to use the slow release pellets
you can buy in garden centers.
Copyright Kate Gilby 2003
Kate Gilby lives in the UK, and is the editor of kate blogs:
http://kategilby.co.uk, a blog devoted to writing, web and graphic design. She is also the owner of the
home business portal, kate-blogs biz: Kate Blogs Biz, in
addition to the home and garden sites More than Mint and Decorating Divas
Her spare time
is devoted to knitting fog and performing random acts of silliness.
| Tips for Growing Herbs Indoors
Basil will remain productive for up to six months indoors, if prevented from flowering by harvesting the growing tips frequently. Provide full sun and well-drained soil; water when soil begins to dry.
Bay is a perennial shrub or tree that needs full or part sun. This slow grower may take years to reach two feet in a pot, but you can harvest individual leaves or older leaves as it grows. Allow soil to dry between watering.
Chives are slow to grow from seed, so pot up a small clump from the garden to bring indoors. Provide full sun and water when soil begins to dry.
Mint is productive for six months or more in a pot. Provide full or part sun; water when soil begins to dry.
Oregano needs full sun and well drained soil. Allow to dry between waterings. Cut back frequently to promote bushy growth and contain the spread. Replace after a year or two when plants become woody.
Parsley likes full or part sun and remains productive for about six months in a pot. Start from seed in spring, using a bucket or other large container. Allow to grow outdoors and bring inside in the fall.
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Even if you live in a cold winter area, you can enjoy fresh picked herbs all year round by growing the herbs indoors.
