Getting Started with Windowsill Herb Gardening
Whether you are someone who loves to use herbs when they cook or you are simply interested in having some useful greenery around, you will find that it is time for you to look into windowsill herb gardening. Whether you live in an apartment or in a small house, you will find that windowsill herb gardening is fast and a lot easier than you might think!
When you want to get started with windowsill herb gardening, look for the brightest window in your home. Ideally, you will have a southern window or a window with a southeastern exposure. This is going to be the window that has the most light on it, and for good growth an herb garden needs at least five to six hours of good sunlight every day. If you do not have a sunny window, you might be able to use fluorescent lights to the same effect, if you keep them on for ten hours a day.. The window should be accessible so that you can get to it and prune the herbs on a daily basis.
The containers that you use should be around six to twelve inches deep. Some people use a six inch pot for each herb, while other people prefer to use a long narrow container that will house all of them. When you are looking for the right plants for windowsill herb gardening, you will find that you are going to be better served by plants that stay dense and compact over ones that grow up tall and spindly. Mints are a great option, as is a parsley plant. Similarly, oregano and thyme are great choices.
When you are filling the pots, make sure that you get a good soilless potting mix, as this will allow you to avoid diseases that might be present in your gardening soil. When you fill the pot, make sure that you do not fill it too tightly or pack it down too well, because this will make the roots of your herbs struggle. The soil should drain well, and this is why a lot of people line the bottom of their pot with peat pellets or even small stones, in a pinch.
As your plants grow, remember that you should only water them sparingly. Herbs tend to do better in slightly dry soils. Also remember that you should feed them some fertilizer at least once a month. Look for fertilizers that are used for edibles. If you want to make sure that your plants grow thick and bushy, remember that you should snip and use them often. This will encourage them to grow out rather than up.
Take some time to think about the benefits of windowsill herb gardening. There are many advantages to this system and you will find that you can get some great results from even your first attempts. What kind of herbs do you want to grow and what can you do to get the results that you are after? It is completely possible with just a little bit of effort.
