5 Tips for Growing an Indoor Herb Garden

5 Tips for Growing an Indoor Herb Garden

Guest post by Jennifer Riner of Zillow

Indoor herb gardens allow renters and homeowners who lack green thumbs to take a stab at horticulture. Consider it an entry-level form of gardening to open the doors for more advanced outdoor cultivation, if or when space allows. Not to mention, herbs are almost a necessity in the kitchen if you cook fresh food for yourself or your family regularly. Why buy dried versions of herbs you can pick fresh at home for free?

To grow your own indoor herb garden at home, consider the following steps.

1. Pick the Right Herbs

The simplest herbs to grow in the kitchen are the ones that don’t require much sun. Mint, chives and Vietnamese cilantro are great entry-level herbs for the unexperienced gardener. Turmeric, lemongrass and ginger can also be grown indoors, especially for South Asian cuisine fans. If you have a particularly sunny kitchen or can install a grow light, thyme, basil, rosemary and oregano are widely used in recipes and are especially handy for meal prep.

2. Find an Optimal Potting Spot

Sun-filled window sills are the most common location for indoor herb gardens, but if your kitchen lacks a window you can also use grow lights that operate on timers. If space is an issue, consider vertical gardening kits that free up square footage and add funky flair to the home. Don’t place herbs near hot areas, including next to the stove or above steamers as overheating can dry out and damage the plants.

3. Have a Maintenance Plan

Picking the herbs regularly keeps stems thriving. Otherwise, overgrowth can hurt the health of your garden. When you’re not using your herbs for extended periods of time, such as while on vacation, instruct your house sitter to pick the herbs and put stems in a small vase. You can also put herbs outside to help bring them back to health, which is heavily dependent on the time of year and climate of your home’s location. If you rent an apartment or own a home in Boise, for example, you might not have the same flexibility with growing outdoors as you would in a location like Los Angeles.

4. Watch Out for Pests

Gnats are common visitors of indoor herb gardens, and their arrival usually indicates herbs are starting to die. Review your maintenance plan to make sure you aren’t overwatering.

5. Water Regularly

The best part about gardening in the kitchen: simply place your herbs in the sink and let the water drip onto soil. Don’t overwater, however. Keep potting mix barely moist and make sure your pot drains properly so the water can’t rot the roots from standing too long.

Herbs aren’t just fun to grow, they are healthy additions to fresh-cooked meals. If you want motivation to start cooking at home to save money, fresh herbs can make a big difference.

Thanks to Jennifer Riner of Zillow for the great tips. If I could add one more thing it would be to choose your seeds wisely. You can’t go wrong with organic, heirloom, non GMO seeds.

Seed Starting Packet {affiliate link}

VeganSeeds Culinary Herb Set – 13 Packets of High Quality Seeds -Culinary Sage, Rosemary , Oregano, Italian Parsley, Cilantro, Thyme, Dill Bouquet, Mustard, Chives, Marjoram, Summer Savory,spearmint, Garlic Chives & Sweet Basil

Heirloom Organics NON-GMO Family Kitchen Herb Seed Pack – 12 Varieties Culinary Non-Hybrid Herb Seeds – Sealed for Long Term Storage

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