How To Grow An Indoor Herb Garden
Jul 30th, 2008 by Lee Dobbins
Learning how to grow herbs indoors is not much different than growing them outdoors. Several varieties will do just as well in either, as long as you take care of them. With an indoor herb garden, it is important to keep the pots well-watered, as they lose moisture rapidly. Other than that, indoor gardening is just about the same as doing it outdoors.
Herbs are really low maintenance. Put them in appropriate soil and they’ll flourish with almost no help at all. They can even thrive in conditions which would be very hard on most other plants. They hardly need fertilizer, can tolerate droughts and will return each new year. Just keep an eye on the amount of sunlight they receive – be sure they are able to bask in plenty of sunshine wherever they grow.
Which herbs should you select when learning how to grow herbs indoors?
Because Bay Laurel is an herb native to the Mediterranean it enjoys a lot of sunshine along with dry conditions. It can be planted both inside and in an indoor herb garden. If you would like to grow Bay Laurel in a pot you will need to make sure it has sufficient drainage. Remember to put it in spot that gets plenty of sunshine if you have it placed in or near the house. To plant it in a pot you should use pre-moistened potting soil and a pot that allows the roots to grow. A pot that is not large enough will cause the herb to become root bound. You should place it where the sun will shine on it at least 6 hours per day. It will take about a year until it outgrows the container.
Chives thrive in pots, but the garden is where they truly excel. They will soak up heat and then sprout up to one foot or more, putting out lovely purple flowers. They do quite well bunched together and will last years, wintering just fine in colder climates. Clip their leaves near the base rather than farther up.
An example for an herb that can be grown inside the house is Parsley. If grown outside it lasts for a season but if kept in a pot it can keep going for more time. They are not difficult to take care of and they easily grow from plants. Sprouts come from the center. It is a good idea to cut short the peripheral ones initially to maintain health of the plant. If you are in North side keep the plant near a south facing window as the plants grow healthy absorbing the sunlight.
Keep Lavender outside until you want to incorporate it into potpourri or a sachet. Its lovely pinkish-purple hues are great for ground cover and will keep your garden smelling fresh.
Many herbs flourish inside or out, whether in a basket or planter. Just be sure they’re not over-watered; a combination of clay and granular loam in the soil will work great. When learning how to grow herbs indoors, don’t forget that these charming herbs make great seasonings too!