What You Should Know About Growing Your Own Indoor Herb Garden
There are lots of great factors to grow an indoor herb garden. For beginning gardeners, it may be a satisfying very first encounter. For beginning and experienced gardeners alike, it may be a ideal answer to limited gardening space. No matter what, it is really a excellent way for house cooks to maintain fresh, home-grown herbal remedies on hand.
There are many things to keep in mind if you want to try your hand at growing an indoor garden. One key consideration is picking the right location. You will want to find a spot that receives at least eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If the stems and leaves get overly long, or if the leaves begin to fade or fall off, a lack of sunlight is the likely culprit. It is possible to supplement natural light, if necessary, with grow lights or florescent work lights hung 4 to six inches above the plants.
When you have decided on a location for your garden, figure out which particular herbs you would like to grow. You can study nursery catalogs, or ask your local nursery staff, or you can just select the herbs you like the most. Your best bets are oregano, chives, mint, rosemary, basil, parsley, and thyme. These all frequently appear in popular recipes and they are all attractive and fragrant. They are also fairly hearty, and are relatively easy to successfully transplant outside later.Some gardeners and cooks have such a fondness for Italian cooking that they grow and indoor or outdoor Italian herb garden. You could specialize in a national cuisine as well, if that suits your interests and tastes.
The staff at your local nursery can help you find the right containers for the indoor garden. Be sure the containers are at least 6 to 8 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches across for each plant. If you use a larger container, group the plants 6 to 8 inches apart. Drainage is key when setting up the containers. Place screen mesh across the drainage holes at the bottom of the containers, and place the containers in a tray of gravel. Use a potting mix that drains well and is suited well to herbs and indoor use. Your local nursery or garden center will have many options, and a willing staff to help you select the right mix.
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.
Wait until you see new growth before you begin harvesting. Carefully clip the outermost sprigs as you use them. It is easy to deplete the herbs by harvesting too much to quickly. But if you are careful, it is just as easy to keep the herbs producing continually for a long time.
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.
The only thing left to do is enjoy the aroma and flavor of fresh herbs, and the satisfaction of having successfully grown an indoor herb garden. Whether you are a beginning or experienced gardener, or a beginning or experienced cook, the results of your labors will undoubtedly be rewarding.
