Guide to growing an indoor herb garden
by Jakob Culver
Kitchens, gardens, cosmetics have found immense use of herbs and for many years they have found their use in flavoring, dying, perfume and cosmetics, so much so that some of the herbs holds the power to repel insects, evil and vampires, while others attracted the perfect lover, good luck or bees to pollinate our crops, even for curing headaches and burns. And, of course, what would fine dining be without the culinary herbs? So here in this article we give you some tips for herb gardening indoors that will replicate the conditions in an outside garden. For herb gardening indoors the growing climates need to be pretty much the same as the conditions outside.
Requirements
You have to ensure that you have a sunny windowsill that your herbs will love. Use a container that is at least 6-12 inches deep.
Always procure your herb plants from a good garden center nursery who will have plenty of garden advice to help you with your inside garden.
Apart from the space and herbs, you would also require some garden equipment like a small digging garden tool, garden gloves, organic fertilizer and some small gardening containers. You probably already have most of these garden supplies in your garden shed.
Very important factor to be considered is soil and you should only resort to using top grade potting soil with an organic fertilizer mixed in. If you think it is too fine a soil, use a little perlite. Fertilize while potting the herbs and they should be happy until spring. If you have an herb that is not growing vigorously add a little organic liquid fertilizer to the water.
"How to" steps
While selecting a container, go for one inch up gardening container. If the plant is in a two inch pot, go to a three inch gardening container. Leave the roots alone and be careful not to bruise the stem.
You should never plant oreganos, mints, lemon balm or bee balm with other plants, they tend to "take over" the garden. Pot these herbs in a garden container all on their own.
I would advise you to place a small piece of wire screening over the hole to keep it from getting clogged, rather than putting garden stones in the bottom of the gardening container, as the garden stones take valuable space away from the herb roots.
All herbs must get 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day on your windowsill. If your window doesn't supply that much light then purchase garden grow lights and hang them three inches above the plants. If you live in a very hot climate shade the herbs during the hottest periods. If you live in a very cold climate keep the herbs away from the cold glass panes.
Never let the herbs dry out but don't drown them either. Herbs do not like to sit in wet soil. An inexpensive water meter from your garden center nursery will help with this important step in growing your herbs. Always use room temperature water so as not to shock the herb's roots.
Here are some examples of which herbs to plant together:
* For an Italian selection try Sweet basil, Italian parsley, Oregano, Marjoram and Thyme. * For a lovely scented container use Lavender, Rose scented geranium, Lemon balm, Lemon thyme, and Pineapple sage. * For really great salads try Garlic chives, Rocket, Salad burnet, Parsley, Celery. * And to say "We love French Cooking!" use Tarragon, Chervil, Parsley, Chives and Sage
Give your herbs time to get used to their new conditions. Once you see growth you can start using you herbs. Snip and use your herbs often to encourage them to grow full and bushy.
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