Creating an Indoor Herb Garden

Fresh herbs can make a world of difference in your meals.  Instead of buying them at the grocery store and getting too much at once or a bunch that isn’t as fresh as it could be, grow your own.  Grow a variety or just your favorite, in a window box or on the kitchen counter.  It is an easy introduction to indoor gardening.

To start your own herb garden you have two options, you can go to your local nursery and purchase some seedlings or grow your own from seed.  Either way is fine, but if you are a novice the seedlings are the way to go.

Once you have your seedlings at home, you can replant them or for the first season you can leave them in the small plastic pot that they come in.  If you do decide to replant them, do not pack in the soil too tightly and place a small amount of gravel or woodchips at the bottom of the pot for good drainage.  If you want to grow your herbs from seeds, follow the instructions on the package carefully and use a container large enough to accommodate future root growth.  Herbs also like air circulation, placing near an open window can provide both the sunshine and air movement that they need to thrive.

If your herbs are growing too large for their pots, you can separate a portion of them (including the roots) and transplant them outside in the spring or summer time.  You will double the amount of herbs you can grow.  On the flip side, if you already have an outdoor herb garden it is a simple matter to take a portion of each plant indoors to have fresh herbs all winter long too.

Read the recommendations and information that comes with your herb plants, not all are suitable for indoor gardening.