Nothing livens up a dish like fresh herbs, which is why you should always have some on hand. The best way to do that? Grow them inside your home. Whether you simply want thyme or you're looking to grow a variety, there's plenty of options to choose from.
Follow these 5 important tips to create your own kitchen herb garden indoors and you will enjoy a healthy supply of fresh herbs for years to come.
1. Strong light
The more light you can provide for your indoor herb garden, the better off they will be. Did you know the intensity of the light contributes to the flavor of your herbs?
Herbs grown in strong bright light will most definitely have the best flavor. Good strong light also encourages their growth. Providing enough light is one of the most important factors in successfully growing herbs indoors.
Herbs prefer 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. A bright, sunny window or sunroom is an ideal location for growing herbs indoors. Southern facing windows are the best choice.
2. Ideal temperature
Temperature is another important factor in successfully growing herbs indoors. The ideal temperature for most herbs is between 18 to 21 degrees, which works very well in most home environments.
Do take care when placing herbs directly next to the window. If the leaves are touching the glass, they could burn as the glass heats up with the reflected sunlight.
In homes with drafty windows, it may get too cold directly next to the window. You can easily remedy this problem by adding insulation to your windows (even a towel placed between the window & screen will help).
3. Slow thorough watering
The key to watering herbs indoors is to allow the pots to dry out somewhat in between watering. Test the soil by using your finger. If the soil is dry about 2 inches below the top (give or take, depending on the size of the pot) then it is time to water.
Don’t worry that this is too dry & will harm your herb plants. The soil dries out from the top first, so although the top is dry, the soil is probably plenty moist at the bottom of the pot. The goal is to get the roots to grow deep down looking for water. This encourages a strong healthy root system.
Another important tip is to water your herbs slowly. If you water too quickly, the water may run straight through the pot and out the drainage holes before the soil has a chance to absorb it.
Try to get into a regular schedule. Two to three times a week should be sufficient, depending on the moisture level in your home. Herbs should really never need to be watered daily.
4. Separate pots
When growing herbs indoors, don’t combine multiple herbs in one container. Planting herbs in separate pots gives you the most flexibility when growing indoors.
You may need to rotate your herbs to improve the air circulation or adjust the amount of light they receive. One herb may come under attack by an indoor pest like fruit flies or need to be soaked in the sink if you forgot to water it. It is much easier to grow herbs inside when you use separate pots. This allows you to address each plant’s needs individually.
5. Feed your herbs
The best type of fertilizer to use for herbs is either seaweed extract or fish emulsion. Both have a higher concentration of nitrogen which promotes strong leafy growth. During active growth, such as the summer months you should fertilize once a week. For slower growth periods this can be reduced to once a month.