How to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden

So you want to have a nice herb garden but you don’t have the time or space for a big garden plot. Did you know that many herbs are hardy and easy to grow in containers so you can make your own herb garden in a small space indoors? Your indoor herb garden will bring beauty to your home while it supplies you with herbs for all your needs, whether it be cooking or brewing  teas. All the while your garden will enhance the air quality in your home.

Here are five steps to get you started.

1. Pick the best location.

Most herbs enjoy at least three to four hours of sunshine per day. However, iIf you don’t have a sunny spot, don’t worry.  You can still choose shade-tolerant herbs or plant any type by setting up a fluorescent light to augment the natural light from outside.

2. Pick your set-up.

You can purchase or make a rack or open shelf for your herbs. This can come in especially handy if you need to move your garden from one sunny window to another to catch the natural light. A rubber tub or other protection will be needed under whatever set-up you choose so that the floor, table, or rack won’t get soaked when you water your garden.

3.Pick your herbs.

Herbs that grow well in pots include:

Some Shade:
Parsley
Chives
Oregano

Shade Tolerant:
Lemon balm
Mints

Sun Loving:
Basil
Thyme

There are others as well. When you buy your plants from a local nursery ask them what other herbs do well indoors.

4. Pick your containers.

Herbs are usually not too picky but you need to know something about the root structure of the ones you want to grow. Thyme, for example, has a much shallower root system than lemon balm. Choose your containers based on the growth habits of the herbs. And make sure every container has adequate drainage. When in doubt, get a larger size than you think you need. It is better to have a pot that seems too big than one that is too small.

5. Plant Your Herbs.

Place potting soil into the bottom of each container. Set the herb carefully down into the pot and fill the rest of the pot  with soil. Water thoroughly immediately after planting and keep the herb out of direct sun for a day or two. Then put them in their sunny spot and watch them grow!

My Home Herb Garden offers a a beginner’s guide to herbs and herb gardening. A practical guide, very useful to newbies in herb gardening. It includes herb descriptions and introductions, step-by-step instructions, helpful tips and advice in growing and maintenance and so much more.

Other Resources for Growing Herbs

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