Home Herb Garden

Growing a Home Herb Garden

One thing that many people suffer from is a lack of space. Many people believe that you have to have a large garden to grow herbs, the truth is actually very different: there are a variety of herbs that can be grown indoors. While there are some disadvantages to growing herbs indoors (Such as the difficulty of getting enough sunlight to the plant), it also has some massive advantages:

  • You can control the temperature better
  • You don’t need to worry about frosts or exceptionally cold winters
  • If you use an artificial light source you can carefully control the light
  • You can precisely control the water
  • The plant is safe from pests and disease
  • It is easy to access when you need something to flavor your food

The best way to grow herbs indoors is to take advantage of all the space available. Luckily there are planters that fit into virtually any window-shape. If you only have a little room you will have to think carefully about what herbs to plant as some can take up a lot of space. Usually herbs such as chives, rosemary, basil, thyme and sage grow really well in window boxes.

Try to find a planter that has drainage holes on the bottom. Don’t worry if your planter doesn’t have any as you can easily make holes using a drill or knife; about 1-2 holes should be plenty for an average sized planter. Next you will need a tray to place under and prevent the leakage from making your kitchen dirty. This planter should then be filled with soil and a granular fertilizer.

The next part is also very important as you want to put the herbs in an area of your house that gets a lot of sunshine. Most people create a windowsill herb garden for this purpose. Other prefer to actually keep their herb away from sunlight and use artificial light entirely. Access to light is the most important thing about growing herbs and we recommend giving the plant as much natural light as possible. However you may have to invest in an grow light if you live in a building flanked with high rises!

That is all. Next you get to sit back and relax as the herbs grow. Once the plant is established, simply cut pieces off as needed. You should try and have a system for using herbs from a home herb garden as uncontrolled growth is hazardous too. For most herbs constant trimming and cutting will actually stimulate growth and cause the plant to grow back stronger.  Finally cook your favorite dish, throw in some herbs and enjoy!