Windowsill Herb Garden
Any room looks better once you have planted a windowsill herb garden. While herbs are attractive plants they are extremely useful, especially in the kitchen. Any room will benefit from a garden assuming you use right container, soil, and have proper lighting
With the high quality, and availability, of herb starter products, both online and at your local nursery there is no longer a serious reason to wait. Start now to enjoy your herbs that much sooner.
Just like its outdoor cousin the first decision is placement of the windowsill garden. If possible, choose a south, or west, facing window. This allows for optimal light for your plants.
Six to eight hours of direct sunlight is the recommended amount for most herbs. Should your chosen location not get direct sunlight then give your plants the needed energy with a simple “grow lamp” set in the window.
While some people like to choose various individual pots for the window ledge, my belief is that this tends to be cluttered. Take your time and choose an appropriate container.
My best recommendation is a long rectangular container called a potting tray. This fits well in a windowsill and holds a variety of herbs. For best results skip the cheap plastic ones and choose clay trays, which allow the soil to “breathe.”
Creating the right soil mix is necessary for your plant’s success. Herbs prefer a soil that is deficient in nutrients. This is best accomplished by mixing potting soil and clean sand (which also retains moisture without staying too wet). To achieve the slightly alkaline soil in which herbs thrive mix in one or two tablespoons of agricultural lime.
Add a one inch layer of aquarium gravel or pebbles to the bottom of your potting tray to allow for proper drainage of the soil.
Never overwater your herbs or set the pot outside during a rainstorm. This is quick way to create an unhealthy environment.
One effective way to water herbs is to mist the leaves. Not all water is taken in through the roots and misting is an herb-friendly supplement to root watering.
To ensure that overwatering is not occurring check the soil by lightly pressing it about an inch from your plant. The soil should feel moist but not wet. If a puddle forms around your fingertip the plant is overwatered.
Sprinkle some seed onto the soil and press each down into the soil, but don’t overdo it. Start the seed no deeper than one-half inch. This helps the seed to germinate faster and gives the root system the best chance to develop.
Happy Herb Gardening!
