Windowsill Herb Gardening Tips
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.
Secrets to Growing Herbs Indoors
Are you someone who is interested in moving forward and growing herbs indoors? The truth of the matter is that growing herbs indoors is a lot less difficult than you might think, and with just a little bit of work and some research, you are going to have a great time enjoying the herbs that you can grow. Check out some of the information that you need to know below and make sure that you give it a shot; you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.
The first thing that you need to think about is placement. There are some herbs that will only grow if they have the sunniest spot around and when you are looking at growing herbs indoors, that definitely means a southern or a southeastern exposure. These are the windows that are going to get the most light, but if there is a building in the way, that might not be enough for an herb like basil, that needs lots of light to grow. Remember that a minimum of at least five hours of sunlight is important for most herbs that you can grow indoors, but if you cannot get that, you can supplement their light needs with a grow light as well.
When you are planning for your herbs, you are going to need a long narrow container or individual pots that can be mounted on your windowsill or in a sun room. Ideally, these pots are going to be between six and twelve inches deep, and that will give the herbs places to stretch their roots. Line the bottom of the container to make sure that you are gong to get good drainage. One way to ensure good drainage is to fill the bottom of the pot with peat or with vermiculite. You can also simply mix your soil with sand and humus in equal parts and get a good blend. Remember that you should not simply pull soil from just anywhere, particularly if you live in the city, because you might be bringing in soil borne diseases.
When you are planning on herbs, the easiest way to make sure that you are going to get the growth that you need is to purchase your herbs from a nursery. Getting seedlings that are healthy and that will thrive can make all the difference, but remember to slowly acclimatize them to the light. They might be going from a place that had plenty of light to one that is much less sunny.
What are the best plants to choose? There are plenty of herbs that do well indoors, but some of the best include chervil, chives, mint and parsley. Thyme, tarragon and sweet marjoram will do very well too.
Take a moment to learn more about growing herbs indoors. There are many different options available to you and you will find that this can be a great way to get your own herbs much more cheaply than you would at the store. Consider what herbs you need and what kind of areas you have available for growing herbs indoors!
Herb Garden Designs that Deliver Tantalizing Rewards
Herb garden plants can make your home or garden come alive with scents of lavender or a host of the freshest spices for your meals. If you are a beginner, start with no more than ten plants. Maintaining an herb garden can be a little overwhelming if you have never had one. Your first year can be fun and exciting if planned just right.
Herbs like lots of sunshine and do not like to be saturated with water so a raised bed should be part of your herb garden plans. Four to six hours of sunshine will work just fine and build up your bed so your little plants are never sitting in a pool of water.
There are four different types of herbs that you may consider as a theme in your herb garden plans. Fragrance, culinary, medicinal and cosmetic are all choices for the seasoned herb grower but the beginner may choose to start with culinary for the first year. Read up on all the benefits that different herbs can be used for and you will find many different types of herbs that you may want to experiment with.
Providing an area for your herbs is important as they may spread and having in a designated spot will help the weeding go easier. Weeding is important in keeping your roots healthy. Many herb garden plans are designed close to the kitchen door since this is the room where all of the drying and preparation of food takes place. Nothing is easier or more rewarding than stepping outside your kitchen door and clipping off some fresh tarragon for your chicken meal.
Choosing a spot for your garden can be as easy as making a circle, square, rectangle or planting along a walkway or patio. You might even consider incorporating in an existing flowerbed where your existing plants thrive. Anywhere that can provide proper sun coverage and drainage will work just fine. In your herb garden plans, decide which plants are annuals, that last only one season or perennial that will return year after year so you don’t replant over the top of them.
Some basic starting herbs to consider in your herb garden plans might include basil, chives, dill, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, campanula, catmint and cilantro. In your first year, you will discover that the sage will get larger than the rest so transplant in another spot and fill in the hole with parsley. After your first year you will see how the plants look against each other and you can better make your herb garden plans for the next year.
Lavender will make your garden bring out a scent that is absolutely luscious so spread some around and bring your chair over or build a high border where you can just sit and enjoy. Herb garden plans can create a sanctuary of pleasant, fresh food additives unlike any other found in a store and bring hours of joy with tending and preparing but planning is the key. Make your first year a pleasant one and you will look forward to adding different herbs in the following years.
