Once you get a groove going in the kitchen, one thing you’ll realize quickly is that cooking at home means you go through a decent amount of herbs. And the only thing better than having fresh herbs around is having an unending supply of fresh herbs right inside your kitchen window sill that you can chop up at a moment’s notice to throw into a soup or sprinkle on top of a roasting chicken breast.
But having an endless supply of fresh herbs requires a bit of a green thumb – or at the very least, the ability to keep a small indoor herb garden alive. Here are five tips to help you create (and maintain) an indoor herb garden.
How to Grow Herbs Indoors
To get started with your herb garden, you’ll need to start with a few supplies. Small clay pots with holes at the bottom for draining water out, potting soil, seeds or small plants (you can find these for cheap at your local gardening store – or even at Lowe’s or Home Depot), and a sunny window ledge in or near the kitchen.
1. Choose a Spot with Good Natural Light
There are a few key necessities for succeeding in growing anything and sunlight is one of them. A wide window ledge is your best bet. A wide window ledge facing the south or southwest is even better. A wide window ledge facing the south or southwest in your kitchen is ideal. Choose your garden spot wisely, since it will play a major role in how well your herbs will grow.
2. Get the Right Soil pH
Ask any experienced gardener how important pH is, and they’ll tell you that the pH levels in the soil play a huge role in successful gardening. pH is the measurement of acidity or alkalinity in the soil. A 7.0 is neutral, below 7.0 is acidic and above 7.0 is alkaline. A pH of 6-7 is considered a good soil condition for indoor plants.
3. Create a Drainage System
Roots that sit in water and don’t drain properly can rot, so it’s important to start with the right containers to encourage proper draining. Having holes in the bottom of the planters is a must, and materials like clay are best for helping things drain well. Every few weeks, check the bottom of the planters to make sure none of the drainage holes are plugged up. Also, to avoid creating a mess in the kitchen, put planters on a saucer with raised edges to catch overflow when you water your plants.
4. Let Plants Acclimate Slowly
Not all plants are created equal. Some herbs have finer, lighter stems and leaves and are more susceptible to strong sunlight (think dill), while herbs with thicker leaves (like rosemary) may not be able to transition quickly to reduced sunlight inside if it’s been outdoors. Slowly introduce new herbs into the fold over the course of a few weeks to prevent any from dying in the process of moving from an outdoor garden to an indoor garden. This isn’t much of an issue if you’re growing herbs from seeds, though.
5. Keep an Eye Out for Pests
One misconception that newbie gardeners have when they’re setting up indoor herb gardens – or any type of indoor plant, for that matter – is that pests aren’t a problem inside. That’s not true, and not taking any precautions for pest infestations can leave you with plants that don’t produce a lot of herbs or plants that die. Use a mild insecticide soap and cool water to dip the plant leaves in once or twice over the first month to rid your herb plants’ leaves of any potential insect or pest infestation.
