Windowsill Herb Garden

You can have fresh herbs at your fingertips by planting an herbal window garden. They not only provide ingredients to add flavor to your meals, but a wonderful aroma to your kitchen. Many herbs grow well indoors. You can grow them from seeds, take cuttings from your existing plants, or buy plants from your local herb farm.

Herbs are easy to grow and maintain, but they do have a few requirements to thrive. They need a sunny window, preferably facing south or east and at least 6 hours of sunlight. In the winter, when the days become shorter, you can add fluorescent lights.

Herbs will not tolerate "soggy feet", but when grown indoors may need watering more often. Water them when the soil feels completely dry, and in the winter, mist them weekly due to the dry air caused by a heated house. While herbs may be grown in any container, it must have adequate drainage and the right soil mixture. The container must have drainage holes. Add a small amount of pebbles over the drainage holes and choose a potting soil that will provide good drainage. Even the best garden soil is too heavy.

Purchase a good quality potting soil then add about 20% perlite before planting to make the soil lighter.

When choosing your plants use larger containers for those plants that grow larger such as rosemary. Plant like plants together. For example, sun loving with sun loving plants, shade plants together, and keep annuals and perennials separate. The annuals will die back each year, and when you take them out you will disturb the roots of the perennials. If you leave them in, they could cause growth of fungus in the pot.

Herbs grown indoors and out, do not need fertilizing in the winter. During the growing season, you could add an organic blend of fish and kelp fertilizers every 2 to 3 weeks. Remember, these plants are for eating. Do not use any insecticides or pesticides on or around your plants. Maintain your plants by cutting and using frequently to maintain their shape.

Recommended culinary herbs for window gardens...

Annuals:
Sweet Basil: Ocimum Basilicum
Italian Parsley: Petroselinum crispum

Perennials:
Chives:
Oregano: (Origanum vulgare)
Purple Sage: (Salvia officinalis)
Rosemary: (Rosmarinum officinalis)
Thyme: (Thymus Vulgaris)