Enjoy Fresh Healthy Herbs Year Round with an Indoor Herb Garden

Fresh herbs are always wonderful to have on hand.  Herbs add delicious flavor to your meals and can make them look gorgeous. Some herbs are also thought to have healing properties such as chamomile as an anti-inflammatory, and rosemary which is said to help migraines and digestive problems.  However, fresh herbs can be expensive in the grocery store and they can have strange pesticides on them. Having a home grown herb garden is the best way to save money and have fresh flavorful herbs on hand.  Luckily, you don’t have to wait until summer to grow fresh herbs at home. Grow a fabulous indoor herb garden on a sunny window sill all year long! Always have your fresh herbs at an arm’s length away. Read below for some for awesome tips on getting the most from your indoor herb garden!

Pick your spot.  Most herbs need at least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. Try to pick the sill of a south facing window. If you don’t have a window with sufficient sunlight, set up a fluorescent grow light to supplement the needed light. Some herbs need more light than others. If you are not sure, consult your seed package or look it up on the web.

Terracotta pots work well to grow your herbs. Choose pots that are about 6 inches wide and about 10 inches deep. Make sure your pots have holes in the bottom for water drainage and be sure to have something under your pots to catch the extra water.  Buy a light potting mix from your local nursery or home supply store and plant your little herbs.  (If starting from a seed instead of a small plant, put some plastic over your pots for a greenhouse effect.  Remove the plastic once they sprout.)

Keep your home relatively warm, 60° to 70° F. is ideal.  Make sure your herbs are in a spot free of drafts.

Water as needed. Make sure the soil is just moist, but do not over water, or your roots will rot. Your herbs will need fertilizer about every six weeks.  Make sure the fertilizer you choose is made for edible plants.

When your herbs are ready, harvest them with a clean pair of scissors to prevent disease. Don’t rip or tear your herbs.  Be sure to always prune herbs to encourage new growth.  For certain herbs such as parsley, you are going to want to prune the entire stem instead of just the leaves.  If you are not sure how to prune your particular herb, consult the package directions or look up.

Enjoy your herbs in your favorite recipe!!