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If you live in a colder climate, you know how hard it can be to grow things. With an indoor herb garden, you can have all the fun of gardening year round. They also add a special something to a kitchen windowsill. The different shapes and colors of the herbs make a fantastic decoration as they fill your kitchen with a wonderful aroma.
But enough of those reasons! The real benefit of an herb garden is having delicious, fresh herbs at your fingertips. No more running to the supermarket to pick up an overpriced bundle of herbs that you'll have to throw out in a week! Instead you can simply clip off what you need and toss it right into your recipe. All the while knowing that it wasn't grown with nasty pesticides and fertilizers.
Sounds great doesn't it? That's because it is. In fact, by now your probably wondering what you need to get started on one.
Here's what you need:
Six-inch pots. One pot for each type of herb.
Small stones and/or bark chips. These are for the bottom of the pot. They provide room for drainage and aeration.
Soilless potting mix. Potting mix will drain well and keep your herbs from catching soil diseases.
Herb seeds, bulbs, or small plants. You can grow herbs from seeds or get a head start with plants from your local nursery.
Sunlight. Herbs require lots of light. If sunlight is in short supply, supplement it with a fluorescent light.
Follow the instructions on the seed packet or plant container and plant your herbs. If you buy herb plants from a nursery, be sure to ask the staff for tips on planting them correctly.
After planting, mist your herbs with water until the soil is fairly moist.
Herbs That do Well Indoors
You will be able to grow almost all of the most popular herbs indoors. Thyme, parsley, oregano, chives, and sage do especially well.
Watering and Fertilizing
Herbs don't like a lot of water. Keep the soil moist but not soaked. Use an organic fertilizer to feed your herbs every week or so.
Harvesting
Don't be afraid to use your herb garden! The more you use it the thicker it will grow. Harvest fresh herbs like chives, rosemary, and parsley as you need them.
As for dried herbs, pick them at their peak flavor right before they blossom. Wash them with gently running water and hang them upside down in small bundles. Hang them indoors and in a warm area if possible. You can also freeze herbs for later use by boiling them for about a minute and packing them into freezer bags.
With just a little work and some easy maintenance, you'll find that an indoor herb garden will provide lots of delicious, gourmet herbs along with fun and satisfaction.
It might be surprising to some, but most herbs grow better in an indoor herb garden. Majority of herbs are annuals. Annual herbs and plants have a year lifespan. They grow and bloom in one season, then die afterwards within a year. You may think that this type of herbs is too costly, but you actually extend the life of your annuals.
Here are some key points explained in establishing an indoor garden.
Knowing the easy-to-grow indoor herbs
Annuals are the best type for indoor gardens. Since they have a limited lifespan, they cannot be exposed to continuously changing weathers. Their roots usually have small growth; hence they cannot withstand the outside environment. Their leaves would easily wither and they could be easily uprooted.
Some varieties of basil like Thai, Holy Basil or Tulsi and lemon, chives, scented geranium, lavender, rosemary, sweet woodruff and lemon verbena are some of the annuals appropriate in indoor settings. These could grow in small pots and could survive without constant exposure to sunlight. However, some may need to be taken outdoors once in a while. These would be further explained in the succeeding parts.
On the other hand, some perennials could also survive in indoor environments. They just need seasonal outdoor exposure.
Having the right locations
Window areas, door openings, atriums and any area inside your house with natural lighting or close proximity to outside ventilation are the most suitable places for indoor herbs. In the kitchen, place them near the windows which should always be left open or at least ajar. Just a few hours under ample sunlight could make your plants healthier.
If you are into aromatic herbs, you most definitely want them placed in various parts of the house. But be sure to take them outside for at least one, at most three hours daily. Too much sunlight could cause their roots to dry up which would then result to frequent wilting of the leaves.
Perennials could also stay indoors but as much as possible expose them to sunlight regularly. Allot them the spots where there is most sun exposure. If you have limited space near the open areas, you could use chains to hang them instead.
Taking care of the herbs – on watering, pruning and soil maintenance
Indoor plants need as much water as outdoor plants. You can water them every other two days. But never drown the soil as the roots would be too soggy to absorb other nutrients from the soil.
You can also do occasional pruning. But do not remove drying foliage immediately. Letting them fall on the pot would make them possible fertilizers. However, if there are too much falling leaves, you have to remove some of them. They may be too moist, thus killing the roots.
Your soil should have regular peat moss or compost supplements. At least every three months, dig up an inch from the surface and put in a new batch.
Before annuals die, start repotting so you would not have to start planting all over. Cut off a healthy part of the herb. Each cut piece should have some roots and foliage already so it would be easier for you to grow them.
Now these three easy key methods would ensure you of a flourishing indoor herb garden all year round.