Indoor Herb Gardening Adds Up to Healthy Savings, and Fresh Flavors in Your Kitchen

Are you thinking of indoor herb gardening?

Who wants to leave a sunny southern window unused in the summertime?

(Or anytime of the year for that matter?)

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If you lack outdoor space to plant an herb garden, or for ultimate convenience, you can grow your family’s favorite herbs indoors on the windowsill.

Growing herbs indoors is also a great way to get started with other types of indoor vegetable gardening.

Here are several reasons why indoor herb gardening is so popular and some of the many benefits that await you.

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Location, Location

One of the many benefits of indoor herb gardening is herbs can be grown indoors year-round.

Just find a sunny location on a windowsill or counter top.

You do not have to worry about running outside in rain, sleet, hail, or dead of winter to check on your plants. They are right there in plain sight out of the inclement weather.

Growing in pots protects plants from extreme weather conditions, and makes tending and harvesting very simple and convenient.

You will also find that you use your herbs much more frequently when they are in sight, and located in or near your kitchen.

Better Tasting

In a comparison taste test, comparing grocery store brand herbs that have sat on the shelves for ages to flavorful herbs plucked fresh is like comparing a can of spaghetti to homemade sauce made from scratch. No offense to Chef Boyardee! Herbs enhance meat dishes, stir fry, garden salads, vinaigrettes, pasta, and just about any dish you can whip up in your kitchen.

Totally Fresh and Convenient, Too!

When you grow your own herb garden, the plants are conveniently ready when you need them and at a cheaper price than expensive store-bought herbs.

Have you ever purchased expensive fresh herbs at the grocery store, only to find them wilting in your refrigerator several days or weeks later?

Step outside on the patio or reach to the kitchen windowsill to snip basil, thyme, or rosemary from your indoor herb garden in the amount and at the time it is needed!

Tips for Indoor Herb Gardening

For any potted plants, the idea is to replicate as near to outside soil and growing conditions as possible. Using bottom-fed pots keeps the soil from being compacted by direct watering on top. Bacterial and fungal additions to the potting mix also help.

Start your indoor herb gardening with seeds. There are more herb varieties available to choose from seed than potted herbs sold at garden centers. You will also save money by starting your indoor herb garden from seeds.

Plant the seeds in small peat or recycled containers, following the planting instructions on the seed packets. You will only use a few seeds from each packet, so be sure to store the remaining seeds in their packets inside a zip-lock bag in your refrigerator to extend their shelf-life.

A Look Some Favorite Kitchen Herbs

Tarragon is the herb garden’s harbinger of spring. It is one of the first perennial herbs to make an appearance in the springtime. Its peppery scent and licorice flavor pair well with steamed vegetables, egg dishes, and liven up mayonnaise and mustard.

Sweet basil plants are easy to grow during warm weather. Sow several seeds in a tray to transplant or a couple to remain in a 6-inch pot. Basil germinates well and one packet yields plenty of the herbs. Pick to encourage branching and new growth.

Chives are members of the onion family. These are easy to grow perennials. Sow seeds or divide clumps to obtain new plants. Chives grow in most soils and in filtered to full sun locations. Chives make an ideal potted plant and grow readily in small containers.

Thyme is a great potted plant for the patio. Start new plants in containers, sow seeds or use stick cuttings. Thyme flavors meats, soups, and vegetables.

Made in the Shade

There are herbal culinary delights that enjoy the shade; one is chervil. This delightful herb with a mild flavor of aniseed is used for seasoning food.

Parsley is a small leafed member of the carrot family. This popular herb is a widely cultivated plant, used as a garnish and in cooking.

If you have ever tried and failed at raising herbs planted in the ground, give it another try with indoor herb gardening. Beginners especially can skip planting herbs outdoors in the garden, and enjoy guaranteed success using containers. It makes sense to take that first step on the road to becoming more self-sufficient, while developing your gardening skills. Growing herbs can be the perfect way to gain some indoor gardening experience.

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Indoor Herb Gardening to Vegetable Gardening

Indoor Herb Gardening to Indoor Vegetable Gardening

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