How to Grow a Window Herb Garden
Fresh herbs in the kitchen can add a great deal of flavor to food as well as a pleasing aroma and appearance to the room itself. Growing herbs in a window not only saves on space in the kitchen, it also allows the small plants to thrive in the sunlight. A window herb garden is perfect for cooks who enjoy growing and using their own herbs.
Prepare the Window
To grow herbs in your window, you must find a space that has plenty of light. A window with a southern exposure will receive plenty of even light throughout the day while a window on the east or west of the home will only get quality sunlight as the sun rises or sets. Windows on the northern side of the home may not get direct sunlight at all.
Your window should have a wide base, or you may consider installing a window box in an existing window frame to give yourself extra room for growing plants and herbs. Even a standard window sill will be wide enough for a small herb garden, however. Remove any other items from the sill and protect the wood with a plastic tray or piece of cloth to attract drips or spills from water.
Purchase Herbs
As you will be growing your herbs inside, you can buy seeds or seedlings, but be sure to plan on small plants. Window herb gardens can be nicely arranged using a series of small pots or even tin cans, or you can opt for a more elaborate set up with a connected series of pots or growing areas. Be sure to have holes for drainage, but also containers to catch that drainage.
Allow time for your herbs to grow before trimming or use. If you purchased mature plants, you need only allow for the plant to settle after being transferred to a new container. Plants grown from seed will obviously take much longer to grow.
Water and Prune Your Herbs
As your herbs grow in your window herb garden, water them slightly on a regular basis, but don’t overwater. Check to be sure your plants are thriving in their current condition and location. If your herbs are struggling feel the soil to be sure it is damp, not soaking after you water and try moving your plants to a window with a different sun pattern.
Prune your herbs back to encourage full growth. Use the pruned pieces in your cooking and soon your meals will have an extra flair and so will your kitchen as you enjoy your window herb garden.
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Posted in Garden and Lawn Care, Home and Garden
