Photo: meganpru / Flickr

If you don’t have a garden but you’d love to grow some herbs for your kitchen, there are plenty of plants that will thrive on a sunny windowsill. They can often be grown from seed, but buying ready-grown plants from a nursery isn’t expensive – and your herbs will be ready to use far quicker. Basil, parsley, mint, oregano, chamomile and many other herbs will happily grow indoors as long as they get plenty of light.

Light

Even herbs that grow well indoors will do badly without enough light. The kitchen may seem like an obvious (and ideal) place to grow herbs, but not all kitchens receive a lot of light. You want to choose a windowsill that faces south or west. Your plants will need around six hours of sunshine a day, but if you can’t give them that in winter, you can always use artificial lighting. Your nursery will probably have fluorescent grow lights and they’ll be able to advise you on using them.

Soil and nutrients

Herbs need soil that drains well. You could mix your own soil by adding some river sand or perlite to regular potting soil, or you could look for a potting mix especially for herbs.

Herbs will get by on very little fertiliser. In fact, too much fertiliser could make your herbs grow oversized leaves that aren’t as fragrant and have less flavour. Choose an organic, slow-release fertiliser and give your herbs half the recommended dose no more than once a month.

Water

Herbs should be allowed to dry out somewhat between watering. If the top inch of the soil is dry, water your plants thoroughly until water comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Be very careful not to overwater your herbs.

Finally, don’t forget to use your herbs. Pruning them (pinching of the tips) regularly will encourage healthy new growth.

Tags: gardening