This … All Rights Reserved. When starting very tiny herb seeds, be careful not to plant too many seeds close together. Use this guide to learn how to grow herbs indoors. Savor the flavors of your favorite herbs and add some welcome green to your home or workspace when you learn how to grow herbs indoors. Remove side shoots and leaves from the bottom third of the stem, and place it in water. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. Tarragon seeds are sterile, and the plant is best propagated by dividing. Once a week, look over your herb plants and snip off the very tip of the growing stems. It’s easy to grow a windowsill herb garden. Here are some of the best choices for herbs to grow indoors: Basil is a staple in Mediterranean and Thai cuisine and is best and most fragrant when used fresh rather than dried. Some herbs can be divided and replanted in small pots so they’ll still fit in a windowsill herb garden. Secondly, herbs add flavor, color, fragrance, and important nutrients to your food. If your home or workspace is cooler, you may want to put a heat mat under the seeds to provide more warmth and help them germinate. Thyme is a close relative of oregano, and people throughout Europe and the Middle East use it regularly. Once your herbs are 4-6 inches tall, you can begin harvesting them. Choose year-round herbs. A timer for the grow lights will help give them the right amount of light each day. Basil can grow from seed or cuttings. Fertilize your herbs while they are actively growing with a fertilizer made for vegetables and herbs. INDOORGARDENING.COM IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES, Poisonous Plants to Keep Away from Cats and Dogs – 40 Species to Avoid, Philodendron Types: 5 Beautiful Options for Your Indoor Garden. First of all, an indoor herb garden lets you have fresh, organic herbs whenever you want them. You don’t need a lot of gardening tools for a DIY herb garden. To grow herbs from cuttings, choose healthy plants that are in their growing cycle (spring or summer), and not flowering yet. Keep the herbs in a warm, sunny environment. Rosemary, thyme and basil, are all good options to grow indoors, but instead of starting with a seed, you may want to pick up a plant of these herbs to add to your garden. If this is your first time growing a windowsill herb garden, you may want to select just three to five herbs to keep the garden manageable. Don't let them dry out, but don't overwater them, either. In fact, if you aren’t harvesting, you should be pinching. Figure out your indoor garden location. Grab one of these indoor herb garden kits and start growing thyme, basil, parsley and more, so you can snip some herbs right when you need them. so I'm nervous to try but want to. A small watering can, sharp snips for harvesting the herbs, a spray bottle for misting them and a small trowel for digging up outside plants to bring in can be helpful. Water once the soil … I like to cook with some herbs & spices and want to start an herb garden indoors to have fresh ones for a change. If you see roots coming out of the bottom of your herb pots, move your plants into pots or planters one size larger and give them fresh potting soil. Indoor temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for germination. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. PRIVACY POLICY. For example, mint doesn’t breed true from seed, and is better propagated by cuttings. First, find a window that gets at least six hours of bright sun each day. The Best Fertilizers for Tomatoes – 7 Top Picks, THIS SITE IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY INDOORGARDENING.COM. Its leaves will start to wilt if it gets too cold. For a fun family project, let your kids learn how to grow herbs indoors with you. While you’ll save money by sowing herb seeds, your herbs will be ready to harvest earlier if you start with seedlings. Once they’re up and growing, most herbs will do fine in typical indoor temperatures, which usually range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. To grow herbs from seed, prepare a tray or small pots with seed starting soil. If your planters don't have drainage holes, make a few in the bottom. INDOORGARDENING.COM IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATESPROGRAM, Many herbs are incredibly easy to grow indoors, and it’s a rewarding, money-saving activity. All plants need a period of darkness, so don't run your grow lights all day. Need Help? COPYRIGHT © 2020 INDOOR GARDENING Most herb seed germination can occur indoors using a seed-starting flat with a quality potting or seed-starting … It has a vast range of uses, from culinary to cosmetic, and grows quickly, producing a wonderful fresh scent. Dill needs a couple more hours of light, and chervil needs indirect light. It’s a cool-season plant and will enjoy being shaded by other plants in an indoor herb garden. To start your own indoor seed garden you’ll need: the seeds you want to plant. All the herbs above, except for dill and chervil, need the same environment to thrive. An indoor herb garden also needs high humidity and good air circulation. Learn how to start an indoor herb garden, and you'll have fresh parsley, thyme and other flavorful herbs for your favorite dishes. And remember that herbs are more flavorful when they haven’t been over-watered, so that the essential oils and compounds in the leaves are more concentrated. An indoor herb garden also needs high humidity and good air circulation. Run them for 12 to 16 hours a day for herbs that need bright light and keep your plants within a foot or so of the bulbs. Herbs are hardy plants but will not grow well in insufficient light. If your indoor herb garden doesn’t get good air circulation, use a fan around them, but don’t let it blow directly on the plants. Of course, the easiest way to start an indoor herb garden is to simply purchase healthy plants at the garden center, farmer’s market, or online. Parsley takes a long time to sprout. You can easily dry, grind, and use them differently from the leaves and stems. To start your herb garden, you must have a sunny window available that receives at least five hours of sunlight per day. Parsley and cilantro are best grown from seed in large pots because they don’t react well to being transplanted. If you live in a rather dark apartment or house you might … Keep the bottom couple of inches of stem submerged in water for a week or two, until healthy roots have developed. They also freeze well, making them simple to use all year long. It’s best to pinch and to harvest with clean, sharp plant scissors. Pot a mature plant from your outdoor garden and leave it outside until the leaves die back. You can harvest your indoor herbs whenever you like, by snipping a stem of rosemary to add to a stew, or clipping some leaves of basil to garnish a salad. If you dig herbs already growing in your garden to create your indoor herb garden, be sure no unwanted pests come with them. In other words, find sunny south- or west-facing windowsills and remember to water your plants once a week. Dill is an essential part of many European culinary traditions, and both the fronds and seeds are popular flavoring ingredients. This plant needs full, warm sun to thrive, so it may not be suitable for all indoor herb gardens. Here’s how to start an indoor herb garden. It’s easy to cultivate indoors, tolerant of some neglect, and a staple of the herb garden. You can provide yourself year-round with herbs… Find the best spot for an indoor herb garden. Mist your herbs a couple of times a week with water from a spray bottle or place them on a tray filled with pebbles and a little … Whether you want to extend your growing season or add some more fresh food to your diet, there are a variety of vegetables, herbs, and fruits that do well indoors. Most gardeners like to grow their herbs in four or six-inch pots that can easily fit on a windowsill. I have been known to kill some plants, even cacti, in the past. You can grow herbs almost anywhere in your home or office as long as you can meet their light, water, humidity and temperature needs. Pick the location for your herb garden… Rosemary can eventually turn into a large, woody shrub, but it is slow-growing and suitable for keeping in an indoor herb garden for a long time. Chives are beautiful and incredibly easy to grow, providing a wonderful flavor to all kinds of dishes. Some take two or more weeks to germinate, while others sprout faster. How to Grow: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area or sow outside after danger of frost is past. Be sure to research your herbs … Parsley is one of the most common garnishes, but it’s also packed with nutrients and extremely good for you. The best spot for your indoor herb garden is on a sunny kitchen windowsill if you have one. It will help you know when it’s time to water. Chervil is essential in French cuisine and grows well indoors, where it can avoid predation from slugs, who are attracted to this plant. While you can grow nearly any herb indoors if you are dedicated enough, it’s a good idea to start your indoor herb garden with herbs that grow well together. How to Start Growing Indoor Herbs. Mint is a hardy little herb that grows best in containers indoors to control its spreading tendency. You'll also find a variety of vertical planters and indoor garden planters available. So you’ve decided to step up your growing game and start an indoor garden. In general, the best location for an indoor garden is the area … The 10 Best Indoor Herb Garden Kits and Planters. Looking for a product or tool? Many herbs can be grown indoors for flavor or fragrance, so choose your favorites. If you don't have a window that gets bright light for at least six hours a day, you may need to add grow lights to your windowsill herb garden or use grow bulbs in a lamp or other fixture. To plant tiny herbs seeds evenly, try the following method. If you have some fresh herbs growing in your outdoor garden, you can dig up a few of the … Transferring Indoor Herbs to Pots. How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden. Clay pots can dry out quickly indoors, especially when a furnace or air conditioner is running, so you may want to use ceramic or plastic pots instead. If the temperature outside drops a bit at night, … These herbs are an excellent choice for beginning an indoor herb garden because they are popular in foods and recipes, tolerate growing in indoor containers. So, it’s worth spending some time to find the right spot or create a sunlight solution. Some of the best plants for your indoor herb garden include: If you’re growing herbs from seeds, sow them in shallow trays filled with seed starting mix or plant them directly in the pots or planters you want to use. If you haven’t noticed by now, indoor herb gardens can require a little more effort … Bright sun, with at least 4-6 hours a day of direct sunlight. Herbs will thrive in average home temperatures but they like good air circulation and high humidity, so spray them regularly with a mister, group them together or keep them near a kitchen sink. If you have a friend with an herb garden, you may be able to start your own for free. While herbs are often grown outdoors, they are also perfectly happy inside. Decide whether you plant to grow plants in containers or in the ground, and if you want to grow indoors, outdoors or both. To grow well indoors, herbs need as much natural light … Starting herbs from seeds is similar to sowing other types of garden vegetables. Here's How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden | Eat This Not That Place a pinch of seeds in a ¼ cup of sand and shake it up … Starting Your Herb Garden A successful herb garden requires planning. Russian tarragon is a larger, tougher herb that is less flavorful than French tarragon but is easier to grow and thrives on neglect. Basil, for example, is a little different from most other herbs and does best when grown at a constant 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Provided you have a sunny windowsill, you can start an indoor herb garden in just a few days and be adding fresh herbs to your foods within a few weeks. They add flavor and nutrition to foods, produce lovely fragrance in the home or garden, and are excellent plants for pollinators and beneficial insects. And you can’t make a proper Bernaise sauce without it. As a rule, don’t harvest more than about 1/3 of any given plant at once, so that it can recover and continue to grow. Oregano is a favorite in Mediterranean cuisine and grew popular in the US as the “pizza herb.” Mexican oregano is in a completely different plant family, with a distinct, robust flavor, but also takes well to being grown indoors. For annuals like basil and cilantro, they will stop growing delicious leaves once they are allowed to flower, so frequent pinching keeps them growing for longer. Check out each room to find a good spot for your plants. Though you can grow an indoor herb garden in an especially sunny living or dining room, your kitchen is the best place if you want easy access to your … Chervil. A quick swish in lukewarm, soapy water, followed by a rinse under a gentle stream of clean water, should dislodge aphids and other small pests, but it’s a good idea to quarantine any infested plants for a few days to make sure they’re pest-free. Herbs are incredible plants. From grow lights, to soil tips, to indoor gardening kits, there’s always more information you can use to help your garden grow. Once you have chosen the herbs you will grow indoors and the container and soil, you can plant the herbs in the container as you would any other plant. Plant 1-2 herb seeds per square inch of pot surface, and mist the soil regularly to keep it moist but not wet. To help speed up germination, soak seeds … Additionally, an indoor herb garden is an attractive, charming way to make a home look and smell more natural and inviting. During the winter, keep your herbs away from windows that might transmit the cold through the glass, and don’t let them touch any windows that heat up when the sun shines in. Tips for Growing an Indoor Herb Garden. If allowed to go to seed, the plant produces coriander seeds. Enjoy fresh herbs in your cooking all year long! Consider Placement. If you start with plants, follow the growing directions on their tags or labels. The best type of fertilizer to use for herbs … A good quality potting soil will work fine. While it is possible … I start my indoor herbs in the fall, as my garden starts to wind down for the year. Use our mobile app to search by voice or image. Mist your herbs a couple of times a week with water from a spray bottle or place them on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water, keeping the bottom of the pots slightly above the water. In other words, the best method depends on what kind of herb you are growing, but here are general principles: Growing herbs from cuttings is surprisingly simple, and is a good way to propagate a wide variety of herbs. Use a soil moisture meter. In addition to giving your herbs enough light, you'll need to water them regularly. Many different styles of grow lights are available. After you’ve chosen the plants for your indoor herb garden, show them off in a planter that matches or complements your home or office. If you have a sunny windowsill or grow light, you can start a DIY herb garden filled with mint, sage, oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary and other herb plants. Chervil is essential in French cuisine and grows well indoors, where it can avoid predation … Use The Right Soil. … If you’re starting with herb seeds, a seed starter kit with plant markers will help you remember what’s planted in each pot. Most herbs hail from Mediterranean locales and need the light to thrive. Ideally, you would set aside a pair of scissors specifically for your herbs, so they don’t get other food or other contaminants on them. If you're growing herbs from purchased plants, transfer them from their nursery pots into pots or planters with drainage holes so they won't sit in water. Within 2-4 weeks, you will have little seedlings. Pour out any excess water that collects in the tray or saucer they're sitting in. Begin with purchased plants, plants you’ve dug from your garden or packets of seeds. A windowsill herb garden can provide fresh herbs for many dishes. No matter how big or small your garden will be, there are a few important things to know and questions to ask before you start. If you don’t have sufficient light indoors, these herbs will grow very well with the addition of a grow light. Because they grow in very similar light and water conditions, so your garden can thrive right away. The best herbs to grow from cuttings are: Some herbs are best grown from seed, and can easily be germinated and moved to a larger pot when they are larger. Great ones to start with are: oregano, chives, thyme, parsley, basil, … Look around your home to find the best place for your herbs. Although all these herbs have similar environmental needs, they don’t all start the same. Although the two herbs taste very different, they are easily grown together. Today we’ll look at how to start an indoor herb garden, and the steps you can take to start growing herbs today. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Best Temperatures for Growing Herbs Indoors, How to Make an Herb Garden in a Tower Container, How to Make a Hanging Herb Garden Planter, Mint (try spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint or other varieties). This plant is a classic culinary herb with a distinct fragrance and flavor. A timer that automatically turns them on and off makes it easy and convenient to give your indoor herb garden just the right amount of light the plants need each day. Give them 12 … Avoid placing the herbs near drafty windows and doors or heating and cooling vents. Herbs like a temperature of about 65–70 °F (18–21 °C) indoors, as well as some indirect sunlight. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Pick a Location. … eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'indoorgardening_com-banner-1','ezslot_14',124,'0','0']));It’s great for you, your home, your budget, and the environment! If you start with herb seeds, read the seed packet for growing directions. While you can start from seeds or cuttings, finding starter herbs at your local grocery or hardware store is the simplest and quickest way to enjoy fresh herbs in your kitchen. Oregano seeds, for example, need light in order to germinate and  should not be covered. Do a little research on the herbs you want to grow, so you’ll know which ones have different growing requirements. Too much fertilizer will produce a lot of foliage but weakens the flavors. Don’t use dirt from the garden, as this can get compacted easily and will strangle the herb plants. This encourages the lower leaves and stems to grow, and makes a thicker, more vigorous plants. Read the fertilizer label to know how much and how often to feed. Before watering, assess the moisture level by sticking your finger a good inch or two deep in the soil (particularly in containers). You also need to decide whether you want to use seeds or purchased plants to get started. It’s best to keep the strongest half of the seedlings and discard half of them that are smaller or weaker. Here’s how to start herb gardening indoors. Tarragon is essential in many classic French dishes. Light, Water, and Winter Expectations. Cut a healthy stem from an unbranched shoot that is about 6 inches long. Growing your own herbs can also save you grocery money every week. Growing an indoor herb garden. A dormant period in late fall or early winter is essential for tarragon to grow indoors. Start with seeds or plants, or dig up plants from your garden and transplant them into containers to keep in a bright window or under grow lights. Does an Indoor Herb Garden … Supplies for an Indoor Herb Garden from Seed. If you are looking to start an indoor herb garden, the easiest would be to buy an indoor herb kit. Feed Your Herbs With A Seaweed Or Fish Based Fertilizer. A southern exposure is fine for most herbs, while others, like mint and parsley, do better in windows that face west. If you live in an apartment or have limited space, grow your herbs in an indoor hanging planter. Coriander is a delicate, tender green that you can use in traditional recipes from many countries. THIS SITE IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY INDOORGARDENING.COM. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. muffin liners. The seed packet should also tell you how deep to plant the seeds or if they should be scattered over the soil, lightly misted and left uncovered. Place the pots in a warm room with ambient light, but away from direct sun, and cover them with plastic film to preserve moisture and humidity. Whether you’re brand new to indoor gardening or have been growing your plants indoors for years, our site exists to provide you with all the steps required to make your garden flourish. Or overwater your herbs will be ready to harvest earlier if you aren ’ t use dirt the... While others, like mint and parsley, do better in windows that face west may be able to an... Location for your indoor herb garden is on a sunny kitchen windowsill if you start with plants, follow growing. That face west herbs seeds evenly, try the following method and creating more! 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