How To Create A Lush Indoor Herb Garden
Fresh herbs are an excellent way to add robust flavors to any dish, and having them at the ready can not only up your cooking game, but also make cooking a more enjoyable experience (no need for an extra trip to the grocery store for an overpriced sprig of rosemary for that fancy dish). Not everyone has the yard space to plant a sizeable garden with lush bushes of thyme, mint, and that rare herb you’ve never heard of, but a scaled down indoor herb garden is achievable for just about anyone, with the right know-how. So, let’s dive into some things to keep in mind as you create your own lush garden of herbs right inside your own home.
Select Herbs That Grow Well Indoors
Many herbs grow well inside, but there are some that flourish better than others in an indoor setting. Consider starting with some or all of the below to get your garden going:
Basil
Chives
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Thyme
Ensure Optimal Lighting
Most herbs require a great deal of sunlight, so make sure you choose a spot in your kitchen or home that provides the most direct sunlight you can offer your new plant babies. South facing windows are best for herbs needing at least 6 hours of sunlight. For herbs that don’t require quite as much direct light, like mint, thyme, and parsley, a West facing window should suffice.
Provide Proper Drainage
It’s important for your herbs to get a sufficient amount of water, but overwatering and lack of drainage can be just as detrimental to a plant. Ensure your herb containers allow for proper draining, and try to resist the urge to water too frequently. If leaves begin to wilt or turn yellowish in color, reduce the frequency at which you water, and check the plant’s drainage. Root rot, caused by consistent oversaturation, can be a troublesome foe to your plant babies.
Pot Different Herbs Separately
Every type of herb requires different care, from light exposure needs, to watering frequency, to soil preferences. To create a controlled soil environment for each type of herb, plant each one in their own container or pot. This not only will encourage optimal growth and health, but will also make future transplanting easier should your healthy herbs outgrow their pots.
Harvest Little Bits At A Time
Yes, the point of tending to an indoor herb garden is for you to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but too much enjoyment at one time can prevent your plant from growing and prospering. Trimming your herbs from time to time does encourage bushy growth (check out this guide to pruning herbs for some additional tips), but try not to wipe out too much of the plant’s greenery for one meal. A way around this? Have multiple plants of the herbs you use most.
A lush window herb garden can be a stunning feature in your dream kitchen, not to mention a valuable cooking tool. We hope your new herb garden flavors many meals and beverages to come!
