There are many good reasons to grow an indoor herb garden. For beginning gardeners, it can be a satisfying first experience. For beginning and experienced gardeners alike, it can be a perfect solution to limited gardening space. No matter what, it is a great way for home cooks to keep fresh, home-grown herbs on hand.
There are lots of points to maintain in mind should you wish to try your hand at developing an indoor garden. One key consideration is picking the correct location. You’ll wish to discover a spot that receives at least eight hours of direct sunlight every day. If the stems and leaves get overly lengthy, or if the leaves start to fade or fall off, a lack of sunlight is the likely culprit. It’s feasible to supplement natural light, if essential, with grow lights or florescent work lights hung 4 to six inches above the plants.
When you’ve decided on a area for your garden, figure out which specific herbal remedies you would like to grow. You are able to study nursery catalogs, or ask your local nursery staff, or you are able to just choose the herbal remedies you like the most. Your greatest bets are oregano, chives, mint, rosemary, basil, parsley, and thyme. These all frequently appear in well-liked recipes and they’re all attractive and fragrant. They’re also fairly hearty, and are fairly simple to successfully transplant outside later.
Many people enjoy Italian food so much that they spend their efforts on a specialized Italian herb garden. That’s something for you to consider.
Your garden center staff can help you pick the right type of containers. You will need 6 to 8 inches across, and at lest 6 to 8 inches deep. You could also choose to use a larger container and group the plants into 6 to 8 inches apart. Drainage is an extremely important consideration. Place screen mesh across the drainage holes on the container, and place containers inside a tray gravel-filled tray. The nursery staff can also help you select a potting mix that drains well and is approved for use with edible plants.
Pour a layer of the potting mix into the bottom of each container before carefully setting the herbs into the mix at the same depth they were growing in the nursery containers. Then, water the herbs, but be careful not to over water them. A good soaking once or twice a week should be enough to keep them happy. You can also augment the potting mix one or two times a month with a edible-safe fertilizer.
Prior to you start to harvest you herbs give them a chance to develop new growth. Harvest by clipping the outermost leaves and sprigs whenever you plan to make use of them. Avoid more than harvesting to ensure that the herbs will last as lengthy as feasible.
There are some potential pitfalls to indoor herb growing. One problem can be the lack of humidity in indoor air. Some plants may need additional moisture provided by gentle misting or by pouring water into the gravel tray into which the containers are set. Another problem for any indoor plants is the presence of insects whose eggs are protected from the cold night air by the temperate, regulated indoor temperatures. If insects appear, try filling a spray bottle with lukewarm, soapy water to spray on the leaves and stems of the herbs. The solution should kill the bugs without damaging the plants.
If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to enjoy all the benefits of fresh, home-grown herbs, while basking in the accomplishment of successful gardening. Whether you consider yourself a gardener who cooks, or a cook who gardens, you will undoubtedly be pleased with you indoor herb garden.
