Mini Herb Garden
How To Create A Mini Herb Garden
There are many different kinds of mini herb gardens. Growing herbs in pots outside is a popular kind for people who want a taste of growing herbs outdoors, with the security of being able to bring them inside in case of frost or low rainfall. For gardeners who want a small garden that is readily accessable while cooking a windowsill herb garden is easy to grow and maintain.
Usually mini herb gardens are used for culinary herbs as the major use of these gardens is to keep the herbs close for cooking purposes. However many gardeners grow herbs for tea herb gardening. These herbs can be easily grown indoors and are easily grown. Therefore a little thought about what you want to use the herbs for will tell you which kind of herbs to grow, likewise your personal tastes will have a large impact too.
The most important thing for these herbs is the amount of sunlight they get. This is especially important for herbs that are being grown indoors, as houses vary in the amount of light available to the herbs inside. As a general rule southern and western exposures get the most light, so your plants should be placed in these windows. If the area that you want to grow them in has little light you may have to buy an artificial light to supplement the natural light.
If your apartment only has northern or eastern facing windows, there are luckily herbs that love the shade. Plants such as parsley, chives, lemon balm and borage all grow well in darker areas.
If you want to grow entirely inside you will need to choose a container that is big enough for the herbs that you want to grow (Different herbs require different amounts of space). Make sure that your container has drainage holes in the bottom. If it doesn’t you will need to make some yourself using a knife.
Then you can plant your herbs. Remember not to mix big and small herbs too much: it isn’t pleasing on the eye and too much shade from larger herbs can easily kill smaller plants. Now fill your pot to the half way line with soil mixed with vermiculite. Some gardeners also add peat moss as it is a completly organic soil conditioner. Peat moss has the advantages of saving water, increasing the speed of the composting process and adding organic material. Finally fill up with soil to an inch or so beneath the top of the container.
Follow these simple tips and you will soon have the mini herb garden of your dreams. With some herbs you can also make your house look nicer and smell better into the bargain. The only thing left to do is enjoy using therse wonderful herbs in as many recipes as possible. Bon appetit.
