Getting a Jump on Your Herb Growing from Seeds Indoors
Starting from seeds can be a little tedious, but I like giving my annuals a jump on the growing season by starting them from either the seeds I collected the previous summer or from seeds I order online.
If you’re interested in starting your garden from seeds keep in mind that some herbs work better than others when you cultivate them at home from seeds.
Before you plant your seeds, you will need to soak your seeds in water for a few hours. This will give them the energy they need to get going. You can also pre-sprout your herbs by soaking them, folding them up in a moist paper towel and then sealing them in a freezer bag. If you go this route, be sure to keep the sealed bag away from heat and check back often to see if the seeds have started germinating yet. Once your seeds have germinated, you’re ready to plant them in some rich, moist dirt.
Do your homework before you plant your seeds or begin the sprouting process, because some seeds must be scarred before planting (as in the citronella herb) or need to be heated before they will sprout (as in the chili pepper herb).
Once your seeds have begun the sprouting process you should focus on controlling their growing environment. How long it will take your seeds to grow depends on the seed. Some can take only 5 or 6 days while others can take over a month.
Your seed pots should contain a special seed-starting sod mix that comes with both vermiculite and sphagnum moss for better results.
Although there are a number of many great herbs that you can raise from seeds, here are a couple of the best:
- Caraway: You can plant caraway straight from the spice jar, which I think is amazing and touble-free. Germination will not take long, and before you know it, you will be planting it in your favorite flower bed or container. Use caraway to add something extra to your Oktoberfest meals and also your curries.
- Lavender: There are a number of kinds of lavender to choose from. My vote goes to the one called Lady because it grows pretty fast. This fragrant kind of lavender can certainly grow on you.
- Nasturtium: These beautiful and edible herb plants are so easy to raise from seeds that you will wonder why you did not do it sooner. If you decide to try these out, begin by soaking the seeds for at least 8 hours and then plant them in rich, well-drained sod. You can even raise the mature herb indoors, and for extra color you can try as a bonus in your salad greens.
- Shepherd’s Purse: Spice up your next salad with a little shepherd’s purse, especially if you are using a peppercorn ranch. This herb, which lots of people think is a weed, smells a bit like pepper, but tastes much richer. As an added bonus, the fresh leaves are awesome for a heavy dose of your daily vitamins. It is touble-free to cultivate. Fill your seeding pot almost to the top with sod and then add several seeds, cover with more dirt and add water. Before you know it, you’ve got your own shepherd’s purse herb.
If you want to really experiment with cultivating herbs from seeds, experiment with these herbs too: bee balm, borage, catnip, chives, and dill.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Mini Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
