Having fresh herbs on hand will elevate your cooking and your living space.
Dried herbs, on the other hand, dont offer the same punch of flavor.
As with any indoor plant, it is important to provide the right growing conditions.
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The biggest challenge is light; the light indoors is significantly less than outdoors.
Not all herbs have the same growing requirements.
Some require more moisture, others less.
Some thrive in cooler temperatures, but most like it warm.
Light
Most herbs needat least six hours of sunlight a day.
A south-facing window or other sunny location is ideal for most plants.
She specifically recommends theOslo Grow Lights linefrom Gardener’s Supply Company.
Water
Herbs have varying water needs.
Having a tray full of pebbles to catch excess water will help, says Cox.
This will also give your plants a bit more humidity, which they will enjoy as the water evaporates.
Herbs grow less actively in winter and do not require fertilizer.
In general, go easy on the fertilizer, as over-feeding herbs can cause plants to lose flavor.
It is best to water plants well before fertilizing.
Harvesting
Clipping herbs to use for cooking helps keep plants productive.
Most herbs can be harvested once they have established and are at least six inches tall.
To keep plants healthy and productive, never remove more than one-third of the plant at any one time.
Other great annuals for indoor gardening include sweet marjoram and chervil.
It is also important to think about how you want to use your herbal plants, says Cox.
Are you growing them to add to your indoor plant collection?
As a handy culinary ingredient, or in creating your own body care or craft products?
These questions will help guide plant selection.
Also don’t forget to evaluate the conditions in your home.
Your local garden center or even the grocery store will typically carry a selection of the most popular herbs.
Pot these up into containers and you are ready to grow.
However, herbs grown from seed take longer to reach a stage where you might begin harvesting.
Some seeds take a long time to germinate including parsley, lavender, thyme, and rosemary.
This creates a lot of opportunity for disease.
If you have an outdoor garden, many herbs can be started from divisions or cuttings from established plants.
you might also ask a friend for cuttings from their garden.
Dividing a clump of chives is a great way to get an indoor pot started.
Lemon balm, mint, oregano, sweet marjoram, and thyme can also be divided and brought indoors.
ensure they have plenty of drainage.
A 6- or 12-inch container is plenty large for most herbs.
you could size up containers for perennial herbs as they grow larger.
Youll know its time to repot plants when you see roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Many commercial potting mixes are available for growing herbs.
Herbs require a well-draining potting medium to promote healthy root development.
You should also look for a potting medium with a high water-holding capacity.
“This will keep them looking and feeling their best.
I also like to turn my plants every few weeks, as they tend to grow towards the light.
If you are growing herbs for culinary use, snip any flowers that form.
When herbs begin to bloom, the foliage of many species changes flavor, often tasting bitter.
Indoor herbs also have use beyond the kitchen.
For example, rosemary does really well indoors and its scent helps with memory, Cox says.
A pot of rosemary on a desktop may help you recall a name or number when working from home.
