Herbs on Your Windowsill

Windowsill gardening can be done any time. Many people are especially interested in having a windowsill garden in the winter, but you can actually keep herbs indoors all year.

Herbs are an ideal selection for windowsill gardening. Dill, parsley, thyme, chives, oregano, sage, basil, anise, cilantro, and mint are all easily grown in a sunny window. Though they can get big outside (Dill can reach 6 feet!) that won't happen in the confines of a small pot. In fact many herbs are so aggressive in the garden that they are best cultured as pot-grown plants all year; simply bring inside in the fall and transfer back outside (in the pot) in the spring -- this is a good technique for rosemary.

Cuttings, Divisions, Seeds & Plants
How you get started is up to you. Basil, mint, sage and oregano root quickly from cuttings taken before a killing frost but most herbs are easy to grow from seed. Or you can buy the containers of herbs, or individual herbs and tuck them into a container together.

If you get seed packets, follow the instructions, but generally it is a simple matter of putting the seeds barely beneath the potting mix, and misting with water.

Put in a sunny window and keep moist -- not wet, but moist. Often it is helpful to cover with a piece of plastic wrap to conserve the moisture and heat. But do not let it stay too wet or, if the sun is particularly robust, it get too hot. Be attentive to the germination and sprouting in your windowsill garden.

Divisions work well, too, but cut the tops back and wash the soil from the roots before repotting inside.

Potting & Growing
Naturally, use clean pots with drain holes and a good soil-less potting mix for strong root growth. Regular garden soil is too heavy for container culture of any plant. There are several choices for potting mix at Hoerr Nursery -- Miracle Grow is a good choice, or you can make your own with components at the nursery.

A warm, bright location away from direct sunlight is best for starting seeds or rooting cuttings. After germination or rooting move the plants into bright, direct light, full sun if possible. The concentration of the oils that provide herbs with their distinctive flavor is partially dependent upon the amount of sunlight the plants receive.

Once your plants are growing vigorously you may be tempted to fertilize or overwater. Don't overdo it! Keep them on the “hungry” side and somewhat dry for optimum flavor.

Have fun with herbs!