If you’ve never eaten a Caprese salad topped with fresh basil, I truly believe you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. Perhaps even better? Knowing that those viridescent, tear-drop leaves came from your very own herb garden, nurtured by your diligent and gentle care.
If you’re thinking you’ve never been that lucky or you simply don’t possess a seasoned green thumb, read on! Herbs can be tricky to grow and may need a little more love than other plants, but with watchful care and the right environment, you’ll have them thriving in no time. These tips are specifically related to an indoor herb garden, so you can enjoy the aroma, beauty, and taste of fresh herbs all year long! Here’s what you need to know:
Consider What You Love
Herbs provide flavor and color to a variety of foods and drinks, so when planning your herb garden, think first of your favorite (or most common) recipes. Do you routinely make tacos? Enjoy an occasional mojito? Love bruschetta? Your ideal herb garden may include cilantro, mint, and basil. Perhaps you prefer spaghetti, fish, or vegetable soup. Your pots may be filled with oregano, dill, and parsley. Whatever your tastes, follow with your selection of herbs.
Pro Tip: If you’ve never grown an indoor garden, take it slow with just a couple plants. Sweet basil, cilantro, mint, oregano, and parsley are great starter herbs and are incredibly versatile in the kitchen.
Plant Your Herbs Properly
It might be tempting to have a mason jar herb garden, but like all plants, herbs need water to drain through the soil properly to avoid root rot. This doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with the styles and colors! Just be sure to choose pots that have drainage holes and saucers. If you live in a humid climate, use clay-based pots that dry out quickly. Ceramic pots, which retain water longer, are ideal for dry climates. Pots that are about 10 inches in diameter are a good fit for the herb plants you’ll find at your local garden center. When planting, use a light-weight potting mix (not a generic garden soil) with perilite to ensure proper drainage and drying between watering.
Select a Sunny Location
Herbs need about six hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. In fact, the more sunlight your herbs receive (well, within reason), the more flavorful they’ll be. If possible, place your herbs in front of a southern-facing window. Don’t worry if your home doesn’t produce sufficient natural light. You can purchase a fluorescent light from any hardware store or opt for more distinguished indoor planters with LED grow lights. Overall, herb gardens grow the best when the indoor temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees, with moderate humidity.
Pro Tip: Keep a close watch on the condition of your herbs. Too much sun and heat can burn leaves, while drafty windows can be too cold.
Take Care when Watering
Herbs tend to be a little finicky about how much water they need, and how often. The key to happy, hydrated herbs is in the soil. For most herbs, you’ll want to dry out the pots between waterings, so use the finger test to determine when your herbs need another drink. In general, if the soil is dry about 2 inches below the surface, slowly wet the soil around the base of the plant until you see water seeping into the saucer. Watering frequency and soil condition vary between each type of herb (basil prefers consistently moist soil, while oregano likes dirt to dry out between waterings). Each of your herb plant tags will provide specifications on water amount and frequency.
Prune and Harvest Routinely
Herbs, like all plants, need routine pruning to stay healthy. But this simply means you’ll be able to harvest the tender, flavorful leaves on a regular basis! Culinary herbs like basil, parsley, mint, and oregano thrive when routinely cut back. Using kitchen scissors, trim the top few inches of healthy longer branches, then cut off any dead branches or leaves. The healthy trimmings can be kept in a glass of water for up to a week, during which time you can use them in your cooking. Harvested trimmings left in water will also grow roots and within a few weeks, will be ready for repotting, too. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to use your herbs fresh or add them back into your garden!
Get Your Garden Growing
Ready to try growing an indoor herb garden for the first time? Already successfully keeping herbs alive? Share your stories!
XO,
Micah
Love herbs…maybe I’ll try them in our new condo!
Yes! They really do freshen up the kitchen!