Growing Your Own Herb Garden

HerbGarden 

Growing herbs indoors is a great way to supplement your kitchen with fresh ingredients and wonderful aromas all year round. It can be fun and easy while saving you money on often pricey, store-bought herbs. When using fresh-grown herbs in recipes, you can use roughly one-third of the amount compared to dried versions, while achieving the same delicious taste.

Some of the most common and easy herbs to grow indoors include oregano, sage, mint, chives, rosemary, parsley, basil and thyme.

The first thing to do is find a spot in the kitchen with ample light. While some herbs can be grown with little light, most need six to eight hours of sunshine each day for maximum growth. A large kitchen window facing south or southwest is ideal. While herbs can grow in artificial light, sunlight will produce a better plant.

Now that you have picked your new indoor-herb garden area, it’s time to pick your containers. When planting herbs outdoors, you can combine multiple plants in one bed. When planting indoors, it is easier to care for them if planted separately. Be mindful not to select too small of a container. You will want to choose one with plenty of room for the roots to grow. And be sure there are holes in the bottom of the container to allow for drainage. There are an abundance of herb container ideas on Pinterest, including terra cotta and tin cans as well as a variety of decorative ways to display your containers. Indoor herb gardens can add color and life to the overall décor of any house.

Once you have chosen your container, fill the bottom with pebbles to help with drainage. Select herbs you most often use and plant in containers with potting soil and organic fertilizer.

Water your herbs according to type. Most herbs need less water than the typical house plant, so don’t “over love” them. They are planted separately so you can care for them according to their individual needs. Rosemary likes to be well drained and kept on the dry side, where basil may require more water. A good rule of thumb is if your herbs appear dry and are wilting then they most likely need water. If they look yellow and spotted then you are over watering.

It is best to rotate the plants daily to ensure they don't begin leaning and growing toward the sun, an affect known as heliotropism, which can stress and weaken your hearbs.

You can promote healthy growth by feeding your herbs with a fish emulsion or liquid seaweed to ensure they have sufficient nutrients. Trimming the herbs regularly can also prolong production by ensuring they don’t flower. Herb scissors are a great tool to help vary stem lengths.

The last step is to enjoy the fruits of your labor by using your herbs to spice up any dish or beverage. You will taste the difference in your cuisine when using fresh-grown herbs and those you are cooking for will be thankful for your efforts. Once the weather turns warmer, you can then transition the indoor herbs beautifully to outdoor beds in the summer months and then back inside for the winter.

Master Gardener Jamie Harrison is the Retail Operations Manager at The Greenery Garden Center on Hilton Head Island. She oversees merchandising, purchasing and marketing for this award-winning nursery.

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