10 Steps To Setting Up Your Own Herb Garden
(1) Choose indoors or outdoors. For those just getting started with herb gardening, it is recommended to start with an indoor garden. This will give you more control over the environment your plants are in.
(2) Using the right location. The best place for an indoor garden is in a windowsill that faces either south or west. Make sure the windowsill you choose gets approximately seven hours of light a day.
(3) Picking out the right pot. The best pot to plant your herb garden in is a clay pot. The porous nature of the material will allow the soil to get more oxygen. Your plant needs oxygen in order to survive and aerated soil helps your plant to breathe.
(4) Mixing your soil. Herbs thrive in a soil, which is low in nutrients. Since potting soil is very rich in nutrients, you will want to mix it with an equal amount of sand. For every five-inch pot add about a tablespoon of lime to sweeten the soil.
(5) Use pebbles as a base. Before putting your soil in the pot, put down a layer of pebbles. This helps drain excess water away from the soil before it damages the roots. Pebbles also help your herb garden to be able to get more oxygen.
(6) Putting soil in the pot. When you put your soil mixture in the pot, do not pack it in tightly. You want the soil to be loose so the herb can create a good root structure. Tightly packed soil also makes it more difficult for the plant to breathe.
(7) Planting your seed. The perfect depth for most seeds is about a half inch deep. A good measure for this is the nail on your index finger. Push the seed into the dirt until you do not see your nail. Loosely cover the seed with excess soil, but do not pat it down.
(8) Put your plant in the window. While waiting for the seed to germinate, make sure the soil is getting sunlight and is properly watered. The soil should remain moist to the touch, not wet. If you notice pools of water, your seed may be drowning. Excess water should then be drained immediately.
(9) Give your plant some air. When planting indoors, you need to give your plant some artificial wind. Herbs do not like a lot of wind, so use an oscillating fan on the lowest setting. Give your plant about an hour of “wind” a day.
(10) Be patient. The problem most people have with growing herbs is they want to give them more attention than they actually need. You should notice a sprout in a week. The plant will grow to maturity in about six weeks. If there is a problem do not be discouraged, simply start over.
You will see growing an herb garden is much easier than you thought. Once you get a handle on growing herbs, you will be able to move on to more difficult projects. Remember to have fun as you learn the art of gardening and enjoy the herbs you grow.
