Windowsill Herb Garden: Fresh Flavors and Aromas All Year Round
Just because the thermometer is dropping and the snowflakes are flying, doesn’t mean you can’t still work on your garden! All you really need is a bright sunny window, the seeds from some of your favorite herbs, and you are on your way to having a windowsill herb garden that will yield flavorful and aromatic herbs all winter long.
Since many herbs grow equally well in containers as in garden beds, they are ideal for indoor growing. Some herbs which have great success indoors are chives, basil, sage, thyme and oregano. Make sure you are using containers which will allow for good drainage, as this is a key component of growing herbs. Clay and plastic containers work well. When placed near a sunny window, or under florescent lights, these plants can be started as seeds, or seedlings, and will grow throughout the winter.
If you are still a bit weary of starting a windowsill herb garden, you may want to look into buying a kit. These kits come with everything you need to get started. All you need to provide is the light, and the care! The kits will often have the containers, seeds or seedlings, and soil-less potting mix. Your kit guide or local nursery will be a great resource to help you know when to harvest your herbs.
Whether you decide to use your herbs fresh from your ‘garden’, such as a sprinkling of chopped chives on a baked potato, or you choose to dry your herbs, like basil, for use as a seasoning, the step by step guide to harvesting your herbs will help you to make the most of your plants. Freezing your herbs is a great way to preserve their flavor, and extend your own enjoyment of them. Again, consult with a herb handbook to properly freeze the many different types of herbs.
What better way to make the best of those cold, winter months, than to fill your home with the aroma and flavor from your very own windowsill herb garden? This easy method of growing may even inspire you to create a large bed of herbs when thoughts turn to spring.
