How to Grow Fresh Herbs Indoors
Growing an indoor herb garden is a fun and rewarding experience. It is also a great way to have access to fresh herbs whenever you want them. This article will provide you with useful tips to help you get started growing your own herbs indoors.
Herbs serve as a main source of seasonings in our daily food preparation. They have been cultivated by humans for thousands of years and have been a staple in foods all around the globe. Growing an indoor herb garden is a great way to have access to fresh herbs whenever you want them. In this article, we will look at some useful tips on how to grow herbs indoors.
1. Herbs: Not only do you need to decide which herbs to grow but if you want to start from seed or from a plant.
2. Containers: You can use about any kind of container as long as it has good drainage. Make sure to put something under it to catch any excess water.
3. Fertilizer: All plants thrive in nutrient-rich soil, and indoor herbs are no different. Consider adding some fertilizer to give your herbs a boost.
4. Labels: If you are growing multiple herbs, you may want to invest in some labels. Otherwise, you may have a tough time identifying your plants later in the growing season.
Most herbs are easy to grow, but location is still very important. Many herbs prefer a sunny location and very few like to grow in partial shade. Therefore, it is best to place your herbs in a south or west window where they can get six to eight hours of sun each day. Your plants need plenty of sunlight to produce the maximum amount of the herb’s oil, which contributes to their flavor.
If you don’t have access to a sunny location, then use a grow light or fluorescent light as a supplement.
One of the most important aspects of growing an indoor herb garden is drainage. Good drainage will make sure your herbs are not sitting in water. Furthermore, make sure to only provide enough water that a small amount comes out onto the bottom drainage container. Too much water can lead to molding and root rot. Allow the herbs to dry moderately between watering.
Herbs will grow in any good garden soil but putting them in a growing media with peat, perlite, or vermiculite, works quite well. Your soil should not be too acidic or too alkaline. A pH between 6.5 and 7.0 will grow the best herbs. If the soil is highly fertile, it tends to produce too much foliage that does not taste very good. Add ground limestone into your soil to lower the acidity and take care of any unwanted pests. Ground limestone repels many pests because it dries out their exoskeletons.
Certain plants flourish better indoors than other herbs, so choose your starter varieties carefully. The following are some of the best herbs to grow if you are planting an indoor garden:
