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Posts Tagged ‘Herbs’

Growing Herbs in Pots

Herbs can be easily grown indoors in pots or other types of containers.  They can also be easily grown in window boxes or hanging baskets (so sunlight can nourish them). Growing herbs in pots is no more difficult than cultivating herbs in an outside garden.  Indoor herb gardens need the same requirements and attention that garden herbs need.   

All plants must have 3 crucial necessities to grow successfully; Sunlight, soil and water.  Herbs are the same way.  Sunlight is foundation to growing any type of plant including herbs whether they are to grow indoors or out in a garden.  You need to place herbs grown in a kitchen or other room in a south or west facing window to catch optimal sunlight.  Different kinds of herbs possess various light requirements although, for the most part, all need a sunny location to grow properly.

Some herb growers use alternative light source with “grow lamps” or fluorescent lamps.  Herbs also require properly drained, not too rich soil to grow in.  Add 2 parts sanitized potting soil with 1 part coarse sand or perlite (natural volcanic glass) for herbs that are grown in containers.  You will   require about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot to make certain that the plant has adequate drainage as well.  Herbs grown in pots indoors can as well be supplemented with 1 teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to make certain the soil is sweet enough for the herbs.  Herbs cultivated in pots also require water.  Sprinkling the plants and dampening the pebbles help keeping the herbs well inside humid conditions.  Since their grown in containers they do indeed require to have plenty more water than herbs that are grown in a garden but, be aware to avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy.

A benefit to growing herbs in containers is that you are more unrestricted to move them about as you like.  Annual herbs can use up all of their time indoors although perennial herbs are better-off spending their time outside during summer. Even though all herbs should be placed indoors prior to the first frost so to avoid the loss of foliage. This important rule is over looked essentially when it pertains to mint, chives, and tarragon.  These herb types will go into a period of rest to form solid fresher growth after their introduced to a light frost.

Herbs as a whole can be grown and cultivated in containers although some herbs do better than others.  Mint is also an herb which needs to be contained or it will take control of the garden.  Above all this it’s just easy to upkeep an indoor garden of herbs.  It keeps the herbs accessible and within arm’s length to reach whenever you require them for cooking.  With these tips listed above, you will be able to nurture your herbs and make certain for a healthy plant for your needs and enjoyment.

You should make certain to include periodic cycles of sunlight light feeding and annual repotting for assured health of the herbs.  You also have to remember to replant annuals each and every year and move perennials outdoors when needed as well.  And, make use of your herbs as often as you like as well as harvest them occasionally.

It is no secret that pruning plants fosters new growth.  This important rule also applies to herbs.  So make use of them for your culinary needs or store them and give them out to friends and family.

Growing Herbs in Pots – Your Life, Your New Perspective, Your New Health

Herbs have been an ancient and powerful health partner for humans through the ages, but it is only recently that science has begun to understand the complex health benefits herb garden plants bring to our lives. It is important, perhaps now more than ever, that we return to our roots and regain our knowledge of  nature’s gifts to us. There is no better way than to invite fresh herbs from your home herb garden back indoors. Indoor herb gardens will give you all-year access and be a giant step as you return to a healthy life.

Here’s How to Grow the Healthiest Potted Herb Garden in 4 Easy Steps

There is a vast variety of herbs to choose from when you are deciding to start growing herbs in pots. Each one has many, or sometimes very specific protective health benefits. However, as you start herb garden decisions, I recommend starting with herbs that will immeditely and deliciously improve your diet and the health of the foods you eat. Start with oregano, thyme, basil and cilantro/coriander. All these herbs can receive the same basic care and requirements.

1. Recipe for soil for growing herbs in pots

3 parts garden soil 1 part peat, organic material (compost) or aged manure 1 part sand Blend soil blend well

2. Preparing Pots and Containers for planting herbs

Make sure the bottoms of your pots or containers include holes, as well as a layer of fine gravel or perlite. Good soil drainage is very important for healthy, fast growing herbs.

Use approximately 6 inch pots or containers Fill pots with soil mixture to about ½ inch from the top Water the soil before planting herb seeds

3. Planting – Growing kitchen herbs

The seeds of herbs are very small and fine, so they only require planting very shallow in the soil. Tuck the seeds just under the surface of the soil a few inches apart. (Later, when you have a bunch of seedlings, you can remove and transplant some into other containers to give the plants more space as they grow bigger.)

4. Supply your herb garden with light

Growing herbs in pots indoors, means that deciding where to place your pots becomes an important consideration. Why? Because indoor herb garden plants require lots of light, so be sure to place your pots where they can receive southern or western sun exposure on a countertop or window sill. If this isn’t possible, don’t worry. You can still grow a healthy herb garden indoors. A simple fluorescent light   placed close to the soil is perfect for germinating and getting your herbs started. The new curly style energy efficient bulbs are actually fluorescent lights. Just replace the old bulb from a desk lamp with one of these new bulbs and you have the perfect starter’s grow light.

After your seedlings are larger, the growing herbs may need a slightly more powerful source of light. A small inexpensive grow light will be sufficient to take your indoor herb garden the rest of the way.

My, “something to think about”, thought of the day:

Is your life arranged in strict categories? Aren’t Life’s categories often just barriers to a fuller life?

I’m sure, like me, you don’t want any more barriers between you and a healthy and happy life. Let’s knock down at least one barrier and start a herb garden indoors instead of outside.

A healthy garden bed is glorious because it is pleasant to sight. It gives a relaxing ambiance to the room they’re sitting in. Growing fresh herbs indoors is beneficial in so many ways.

You don’t have to put in a lot of hard work to keep your indoor garden perennially green. The amount of hard work you put in may not always be proportionate to what you get out of your garden. When it comes to gardening, smart work can be more rewarding.

Below are 2 uncommon methods you can use to grow fresh herbs indoors:

1. Herb rotation:

Herb rotation is growing different herbs in different seasons instead of growing the same kind continuously throughout the year. Different herbs are being grown as the season changes.

There are many benefits to rotating the plants in your indoor garden. Changing your herbs will balance the fertility of the soil and avoid the build up pest that can be harmful to the plants.

Crop rotation will keep your soil fertilized, slow the spread of pests and diseases during the growing season. It will grow your indoor garden with fresh and healthy plants instead of letting them lie fallow.

2. Growing Companion herbs:

Many gardeners grow companion herbs to improve the overall health of their garden. Some herbs actually grow better when they’re grown with some other herbs.

Companion plants can be of great help for growing fresh herbs indoors. They can act as repellant to harmful pest or attract beneficial insects. Companion herbs are known to assist in the growth of other plants by providing nutrients or fixing nitrogen in the soil.

Herb rotation and growing companion crops have been a popular practice by farmers worldwide. It is however, yet to catch up with gardening enthusiasts. These two uncommon methods can be effectively put to use for growing fresh herbs indoors.

Can you grow herbs indoors? Certainly you can! They won\’t be much good, but sure, you can grow them. Let us dispel an enormous myth, generated by too many idiotic filler articles on the internet, as to growing herbs indoors.

Yes, they will grow indoors, but the expectation of most people is that they will grow enough herbs to harvest them every second night for making dinner – it\’s not going to happen. They are not going to look like the bunches in the supermarket, and they will not be as potent. For starters, herbs need at least, got that – at least, six hours of sunlight, per day – for at least 10 days, in order to be able to reproduce that which you took last night for dinner. If you harvest too much, the plant may very well cark it, as it needs its leaves for photosynthesis in order to survive.

Now, I don\’t know about you, but my experience is that most house-holds do not have enough window space, that allows that much sun in. Then again, should you have so many windows and if, you want to spend your days running around the house with an armful of potted herbs, moving them from window to window as the sun moves – all the best to you. People living in flats and apartments, depending on their geographic location, may be lucky to get 2 hours of sun – and most will get none. Given the opportunity, you could take them outside each day, whilst the sun is shining, but I have little confidence that this practice will continue after the second week, if that, for most people.

Add to this, the fact that herbs are essentially an outside plant, when growing inside, regardless of how much sunlight they get, this is still not optimal conditions – therefore, the plants will be leggier than normal (more stalk than leaf), so twice as much of the plant is needed in cooking. The taste/aroma of house-herbs is weaker and so, twice as much is needed to get the same effect. When you look at plants like sage, rosemary, oregano and similar – the natural environment for these plants is on the side of mountains, just above the tree-line. It is the harshness and exposure that makes these herbs potent.

Unless you have a purpose built sun-room, actually live in a glass house, or have a couple of dozen of each plant that you can set up on a rotational system, it will end up being a once-a-month treat, to actually use some of your precious indoor herbs. The first argument about this, is of course “But you can grow lots of plants indoors” Very true, however indoor plants do not ordinarily have their leaves ripped off them, they are only there for looking at, not harvesting.

Having said all that, there are of course herb kits that come with everything necessary – including GROW LIGHTS! Brilliant idea and works reasonably well, too. However, if you are thinking of going to go the expense of a grow kit, I think you will find it is far more economical to buy yourself a case of decent wine and a packet of herbs from the shop. On a practical note, it is far more practical to grow more herbs than you need in the garden in spring and summer, then cut and dry the excess. You still get bragging rights with this method, as opposed to the sad display that will be sitting on your window sill. For those people living in flats and apartments, herbs, especially dried herbs, are cheap as all get out – AND they last for a long time before becoming impotent, like years, so do yourself a favor, buy \’em.

Thus ends my rant on the reality of growing herbs indoors.

An easy way to enjoy the availability of fresh herbs whenever you like is to consider an indoor herb garden. Growing your favorite herbs inside your house in containers adds fragrance and brightness to the rooms, and refreshes the air. It is a delight to be able to add some sprigs of your own herbs, freshly picked a moment ago within hand’s reach, while you’re in the kitchen cooking.

Having your herbs indoors makes them easily accessible to you, for example on your kitchen windowsill, but potted herbs can be kept in other sunny spots as well. To be successful at indoor herb gardening you don’t need a big investment to start with, only a passion for herbs whilst following some basic steps.

Managing the growth requirements of your herb plants indoors is easier than outdoors: light, temperature and moisture.

Indoor herbs need between 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day on average to grow happily. If the spots where you placed them do not let in sufficient light, you can purchase special garden grow lights to hang a couple of inches above the plants. Some telltale signs of insufficient light are stems and leaves that grow long, leaves that fade or simply fall off.

How often to water your indoor herb garden is an important question, as plants tend to dry out quicker indoors than if they were growing outdoors. But you can easily tell when to water them by sticking your finger into the soil about half an inch below the surface. If the soil feels dry, you would want to water the plant. However, take care not to water too much as you could be encouraging plant diseases such as root rot and powdery mildew.

To compensate for the dryer air inside, a fine mist water spray can be used to spray your herbs plants all over about once a week. Or you can also place the potted plant on top of a tray of small rocks or pebbles that are covered in water. This way the herbs are humidified when the water in the tray evaporates.

Temperature
Herbs plants need to be shielded from extreme temperatures. In a very hot climate, the plants have to be shaded during extreme heat periods, and conversely, they have to be shielded from extreme cold, taking note that glass panes get very cold.

Choice Of Indoor Herbs
You can enjoy multiple benefits by choosing to grow your favorite herbs indoors, and also the ones with various uses:

Sage is commonly grown in a kitchen herb garden as a culinary herb in meat or poultry dishes, but is very effective as a medicinal herb made in a tea for colds and sore throats.

Chives is a popular culinary herb and grows easily on the kitchen windowsill – you just need to cut it back often, which happens easily as it can be used in most dishes.

Thyme can also be used as a culinary and medicinal herb. It adds a delicious taste to savory dishes, and helps to combat flus and colds when made into a tea.

Sweet Marjoram adds flavor to most dishes, and can be used in the place of oregano.

Parsley looks beautiful as a food garnish due to its deep green color and decorative leaves. But it is in fact a potent antioxidant as well. Another use is as a breath and palate cleanser and freshener.

To round off your indoor herb garden you can consider some containers with fragrant herbs, like Rose Scented Geranium and Lemon Balm. Lemon Balm has more uses than just its fresh smell and can be made into a tea to combat stress, promote sleep, improve appetite and aid indigestion.

Finally, you can enjoy and see your herbs settle into their new surroundings. When they sprout new leaves and branches, you can start using them as harvesting your herbs will cause them to grow more vigorously.

If you live in a flat or unit, with little space for an outdoor herb garden, an indoor herb garden may be just the answer. Or perhaps you would like to grow some of your favourite culinary herbs closer to the kitchen and out of the way of pests and inclement weather.

 Can herbs thrive indoors? Certainly. Growing your culinary herbs in an indoor herb garden, in or near the kitchen, is easier than you may think, and provides some advantages over an outdoor herb garden. The same simple rules apply to an indoor herb garden as to growing herbs outdoors.

 First it must be remembered that herbs are not indoor plants, and may not give their full fragrance without fresh air and some sunshine during the day. Herbs need sunlight to produce the essential oils that give them their flavour and fragrance.

 So the first thing to consider is placement of your indoor herb garden. The sunniest spot, on a windowsill or in a sun room, facing south (in the northern hemisphere) or facing north (in the southern hemisphere) would be ideal, or a porch or balcony. But if your herb plants can’t get at least 5 hours sunlight you can supplement their light needs with a grow light.

 To create your indoor herb garden you are going to need a trough or long narrow container, or individual pots that can be mounted on your windowsill. These pots need to be at least 6 inches (150 mm) deep to give the herbs room to stretch their roots, with the bottom of the pot filled with peat or vermiculite to provide good drainage.

 Fill with a rich, clean light soil. Never let herbs in pots dry out, but make sure they don’t sit with wet feet either. They also should be fed occasionally with one of the brands of ‘plant pills’ which are available.

 Terra cotta ‘strawberry jars’ with several apertures around the sides and top, making spaces for 5 different herbs, are an excellent idea, if there is room in your indoor herb garden area.

 What herbs are best to choose? There are plenty of herbs that do well indoors. Most of your favourite culinary herbs, including parsley, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, sweet marjoram, chives, chervil and mint will do well. Basil too will happily live indoors, providing it gets plenty of light. Buy your herbs as healthy young seedlings from a nursery.

 Indoor herb garden kits are also available on the Web, and include not only free information, but also come with an assortment of the finest categories of herbs.

 Take a moment to learn more about growing herbs indoors. There are many options available, and great deal of enjoyment to come. Get the kids involved as a project.

 Dave Dockray is a herb enthusiast. For more great information on Indoor Herb Gardens or indoor herb garden kits visit:  http://www.LindWind.com

 

 

When we talk about herb gardens, perhaps the most common way to grow herbs is in pots. Growing herbs in pots has a number of advantages. There are also a couple things to keep in mind when growing herbs in pots as well.

When growing herbs in pots the size of the pot will make a difference.  Certain types of herbs need more room than others. A good rule of thumb is to use a pot no smaller than ten inches in diameter. This will allow plenty of room for roots to grow. Larger containers, such as half barrels or large urn style containers are perfect for growing more than one type of herb in the same pot. Just be sure that whatever herbs you plant together require similar conditions. 

The planting material you use will make a big difference when you are growing herbs in pots. Often, gardeners think that any old soil will do. But in fact, potting soil is much different than top soil. It is enriched with things like fertilizer and plant food and some of the higher end varieties contain coconut fibers which absorb water to keep plants hydrated longer. It is acceptable to add a little bit of organic compost to potting mix if youâ??d like, just be careful to watch the pH level.

Another crucial element of growing herbs in pots is sunlight. Plants need 4-6 hours of sunlight per day, so be sure to place your herbs in a spot where they can get this light. One of the advantages to growing herbs in pots is that it is easy to move them indoors in extremely hot or cold temperatures. Just be sure if you have brought your plants in that you either place them near a sunny window or supplement their light with a grow light.

As stated earlier, there are several advantages to growing herbs in pots. The first being ease of movement, both for you and the plant. Herb plants need a certain climate for optimum growth and when conditions are too hot, too cold, too shady or too sunny, growing herbs in pots allows you to easily move the plant to a better location. Since potted plants can be planted on an outdoor table or potting bench, you wonâ??t be hunched over getting a sore back, or kneeling and getting sore knees, so it allows for your ease of movement as well at the end of the gardening day.

If space is limited, growing herbs in pots may be the ideal situation for you. There are a number of lovely decorative stands to hold pots of all sizes, allowing you to fit multiple pots in the footprint of just one or two pots. Hanging pots offer even more options and are ideal for plants like rosemary or thyme, which when grown, grow like small shrubs and bush out rather than growing tall.

Growing herbs in pots is a relaxing and rewarding hobby. Itâ??s inexpensive, so you have little to lose but much to gain from all the beautiful colors, flavors and scents.

No home should be complete without some herbs growing. With the ability to grow herbs indoors and out, there is no excuse. Growing herbs in a pot allows you to grow herbs no matter what season and there are added benefits to growing herbs in pots. To get started, you will want to follow a few simple procedures. This ensures your herbs will grow to their full potential. You will be able to enjoy your herbs more when you give them what they need.

Before doing anything, you will want to choose the herbs you want to grow. While all herbs are capable of growing in pots, some will fare better than others. Others still should only be grown in pots. In fact, herbs like mint are recommended to grow in their own pot. This is because of their tendency to take over a garden. If contained in a pot, the plant will pose no danger to other plants. Growing herbs in pots allows you to have the herbs you want close at hand at all times. You can use pots to grow herbs you use year round and want in close proximity.

Picking a pot to grow your herbs in is very important. It is possible to grow several herbs in one pot. Herbs usually fare better grown in separate pots. This allows the herb to have as much or as little room as it needs. Most herbs require only a small amount of space. Others need to have room for their root system to expand. Pick the size of your pot depending on the root system. This makes sure perennials will not be restricted in size. If your herb grows too large for your pot, a new pot is in order.

No matter what, you will want to keep in mind where the pot will be. Those growing herbs in pots on a windowsill do not want a large pot. You will also want to make sure pots for indoor use will not drain from the bottom. There are several different designs of pots. Clay pots are usually favored over plastic because they are porous. This gives your plant more oxygen in the soil.

Once you have your pot, you need to choose your soil. Keep in mind; herbs grow best in soil, which is low in nutrients. It is recommended to mix potting soil with sand. This cuts the nutrients in the soil allowing your plants to thrive. Adding about a Tablespoon per small pot makes the soil sweet enough for the herbs to thrive. One secret to growing herbs in pots is making sure there is a layer of pebbles in the bottom of the pot. This will allow water to drain from the soil making it harder to waterlog your plants.

With your herb in the pot, you want to give it the light it needs. If you are growing your herbs indoors, put the pot in a west or south facing window. This allows you to regulate the amount of light your plants get. You can also dictate the quality of light your plants get. For those not getting enough light for their plants, you can buy special lamps.  These lamps will provide the same properties as the sun allowing you more growing options.  Some plants will benefit from spending at least some of their time outside. Perennials are plants that benefit from spending time outside.

When choosing herbs for growing indoors, you need to take into consideration the growing climates herbs like to grow in. While most herbs will grow well in the same conditions, there are certain herbs, which will grow better in mild climates. The inside of your home is a mild climate where the air is not too humid and not too dry. The temperature in your home ranges between 68 and 78 degrees for a typical home. There are certain herbs that grow best in these conditions. Finding which ones will help you to grow the best herbs no matter what you are looking to use them for.

Chives are the best herbs for a beginning herb gardener as they can withstand many different growing conditions. The indoor garden is ideal for chives because of the germination temperatures preferred by the plant. Chives prefer a temperature of about 68 degrees when starting out. The indoor garden starts out at room temperature, which is about 72 degrees in most homes. This creates a great environment in which to get your plant started out right. Remember that chives will take over any bed they are planted in, so it is recommended you do not plant them with other herbs.

Thyme is one of the better herbs for growing indoors because of the preference for full light. This is possible by planting in an east or west-facing window. It is also recommended you install an LCD light in the window you are planting your thyme in. This will allow your thyme to get the light it desires even on rainy or cloudy days. Thyme is a Mediterranean plant, so it is no surprise it prefers conditions that are humid. If you live in coastal regions, just open a door every now and again. If you are in dry conditions, you may want to run a humidifier.

Rosemary is a hardy herb, which is a perennial. It will grow in the same bed year after year. The herb is known as a weed in the herb garden world because of how it will take over any bed it is planted in. This makes it perfectly suitable to the indoor garden because you can plant it in it’s own pot. This will give the plant all the room it needs in order to grow and keep it from killing out other plants. Make sure you prune the plants often in order to generate new growth.

Basil is one of the herbs for growing indoors many people love to grow. Because of the smell of basil, you will be able to enjoy it even if you do not use it in anything. Because basil is so good for you, it is recommended to use it in fresh dishes where the basil will not be cooked. Planting your basil in a south facing window will give it the exact conditions it needs in order to be able to grow. Make sure you are pulling the bottom leaves in order to encourage new growths on the plant. The more you use, the more your plant will grow.

Once you have chosen your herbs for growing indoors, give them everything they need to grow. You will be able to enjoy them as part of your cooking or in aromatherapy uses. No matter what you are growing the herbs for, you should get some enjoyment out of simply growing them.

If you live in a flat or unit, with little space for an outdoor herb garden, an indoor herb garden may be just the answer. Or perhaps you would like to grow some of your favourite culinary herbs closer to the kitchen and out of the way of pests and inclement weather.

 Can herbs thrive indoors? Certainly. Growing your culinary herbs in an indoor herb garden, in or near the kitchen, is easier than you may think, and provides some advantages over an outdoor herb garden. The same simple rules apply to an indoor herb garden as to growing herbs outdoors.

 First it must be remembered that herbs are not indoor plants, and may not give their full fragrance without fresh air and some sunshine during the day. Herbs need sunlight to produce the essential oils that give them their flavour and fragrance.

 So the first thing to consider is placement of your indoor herb garden. The sunniest spot, on a windowsill or in a sun room, facing south (in the northern hemisphere) or facing north (in the southern hemisphere) would be ideal, or a porch or balcony. But if your herb plants can’t get at least 5 hours sunlight you can supplement their light needs with a grow light.

 To create your indoor herb garden you are going to need a trough or long narrow container, or individual pots that can be mounted on your windowsill. These pots need to be at least 6 inches (150 mm) deep to give the herbs room to stretch their roots, with the bottom of the pot filled with peat or vermiculite to provide good drainage.

 Fill with a rich, clean light soil. Never let herbs in pots dry out, but make sure they don’t sit with wet feet either. They also should be fed occasionally with one of the brands of ‘plant pills’ which are available.

 Terra cotta ‘strawberry jars’ with several apertures around the sides and top, making spaces for 5 different herbs, are an excellent idea, if there is room in your indoor herb garden area.

 What herbs are best to choose? There are plenty of herbs that do well indoors. Most of your favourite culinary herbs, including parsley, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, sweet marjoram, chives, chervil and mint will do well. Basil too will happily live indoors, providing it gets plenty of light. Buy your herbs as healthy young seedlings from a nursery.

 Indoor herb garden kits are also available on the Web, and include not only free information, but also come with an assortment of the finest categories of herbs.

 Take a moment to learn more about growing herbs indoors. There are many options available, and great deal of enjoyment to come. Get the kids involved as a project.

 Dave Dockray is a herb enthusiast. For more great information on Indoor Herb Gardens or indoor herb garden kits visit:  http://www.LindWind.com