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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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}
5 Tips for Growing an Indoor Garden shared with the following:
Good stuff ,i like the how you mentioned all the things very smoothly .Selecting right herbs is very essential part for any sort of indoor gardening .
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thanks for sharing,
just start to grow my own veggies and herbs at home.
I love it!!
James recently posted…Best Nutrients for Hydroponics – Top 5 Review and Buyers Guide
Love growing my own herbs and veggies, nothing like cook and eat your homegrown food.
Thanks for sharing and happy growing!
James recently posted…VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series, Full Spectrum Review
Thanks for shring this useful tips.
I´m going to start my own herb garden soon.
All the best!!
James recently posted…Best LED Grow Lights for Cannabis in 2017
Hey Shari,
Probably would love to try this herb garden at home. Looks interesting and awesome! Glad that I’ve found your blogs Shari. Thanks for sharing such an informative tips.
Cheers,
Oliver
Oliver Gardener recently posted…Zero G Hose Review – Is This Garden Hose Worth The Money?
My mom always had an herb garden when I was growing up, so herbs were the first plants I got for my apartment when I started living on my own. They’re easy to grow and I love having fresh herbs available for my pasta. And for other dishes, too, once I learn how to cook something other than pasta.
Herbs are my favorite garden plants to grow. I love their general ease of growing, wide range of uses, and the beauty and interest they add to the garden. And, because they are so easily grown indoors, they make a perfect year-round gardening choice.
We have a bit more warm weather yet here in zone 8, but I’m already looking forward to enjoying the herbs indoors soon.
Thanks for sharing the great tips. I love the idea of putting extra stems into water – lovely decor AND a great way to propagate many popular herbs. That’s a win-win situation!
Karen recently posted…Hearty Oatmeal-Flax Bread
Thanks Karen. Lucky you to be living in zone 8. It is turning cold already in Idaho with temperatures dipping to close to freezing at night. A perfect time to get my indoor herbs growing. 🙂
Shari Eckstrom recently posted…5 Tips for Growing an Indoor Herb Garden