31 May Indoor Herb Gardening: Few tips for a successful indoor herb garden
Herbs can be grown indoors easily as long as you make sure to start it off the right way. The key to a successful herb garden is understanding the requirements of the plants and making sure to give them what they need. You see, it’s that simple! So, keep your kitchen freshly supplied with herbs and add some home-grown flavours to your recipes all throughout the year.
Herbs you can grow;
One thing you should always remember before buying your herbs! Check for pests. Spider mites, scale and aphides are very common on many herbs. Wondering what to look for? Well, aphides and scale create a sticky dropping around the plant, while spider mites make fine cobwebs on and in between the leaves. So, if you find these pests on your plants, wash them off temporarily with soapy water or tepid; however, we recommend to start off with a fresh, pest-free plant. Now comes the most important part; selection of the herbs. Perennial herbs like thyme, oregano, mint, basil and rosemary are the easiest ones that you can grow. To start off, you can grow mint and basil as these herbs can be easily rooted in a glass of water. Few herbs like cilantro and chervil are best started from seed and replanted all throughout the year.
Basil
A favourite pairing for tomatoes and a critical herb for cuisines all across the world, basil can be easily grown indoors. So, plant it the right way! Add this herb to your sandwiches, sauce, salads and moreover, you can make your own pesto with it. Purchase small plants or plant seeds, pot them in rich and organic potting soil and your herb is all ready to grow. Always keep one thing in mind, basil loves bright light and heat. Just avoid cool and shady spots, especially in the winter. However, basil is not a long-term plant and thus, to ensure steady supply, plant a new batch of seeds every few weeks.
Thyme
The key ingredient with the most versatile flavour, thyme is used in nearly every cuisine of the world. Its trailing stems, tiny leaves give the herb a natural houseplant appeal too. Pot this herb in a fast-draining soil mix and place it in a sunny, warm window. Water only when the surface is dry, but don’t overwater.
Oregano
The member of the mint family, oregano is a must for the Italian, Central American, Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisines. These dried leaves are mostly knows as the Pizza’s Partner! Oregano is more pungent than fresh. So, grow this useful herb and water when the soil’s surface is dry; don’t let it dry out. Give the plants moderate to strong light. Take proper care of this herb and you can add these dried leaves to tomato sauces, stews, soups and meat.
Mint
You can devote your entire indoor garden to mint as there are dozens of flavourful varieties available. Choose from chocolate, spearmint, peppermint, apple, banana, orange and more. Plant it right and these leaves can add taste to your tea, salads, desserts, mixed drinks and many other dishes. Usually, mint plants grow boisterously and their fragrant, trailing stems make this herb an attractive houseplant. All you have to do is keep the soil moist and give them moderate to strong light. Most of these herbs are hardy perennials, which can tolerate temperatures up to 30 degrees.
Rosemary
The needled leaves prefer cooler temperatures; however, it can also tolerate hot and sunny weather in the summer months. The earthy fragrance of few crushed rosemary leaves can add taste to your simple dishes. Add a few strips of the herb and make delicious tomato or cream sauces, chicken, lamb, pork, soups, olive oil and potatoes.
Where to Grow?
While placing your herb pots, use the south facing windows as they have the brightest light and most sun hours. The plants from the tropical and semi-tropical climates are the best choices for these locations. You can go for rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and bay laurel. On the other hand, the east and west-facing windows receive proper sunlight for only around five to six hours in the morning. So, the best choices for these locations are mint, chives, chervil and parsley, as they thrive with less intense light, preferring cooler temperatures. Also, we suggest using full-spectrum grow lights as they are ideal for all herbs.
Growing your own herb garden is a great pastime! It ensures you have fresh flavours, whenever you need it. Cooking with herbs can be enjoyable as well as tasty for your family, So, even if you are not an avid gardener, you can try your hands at herb gardening and trust us, it is not that difficult. If you are still not sure of investing on your herb garden, Gardeza guys are always there for you! Our professional team of horticulturists will guide and help you choose the best herb for your indoor garden. Choose the best and we will handle the rest!