Can you grow herbs indoors?
Have you ever considered gardening but found yourself without the space, time, or energy to tend to a complete outdoor garden? Despite being interested, a lot of people find themselves without enough space to cultivate an entire garden which is also, admittedly, a very time-consuming affair. They also encounter several plant varieties, tools, and methods that can overwhelm beginners and discourage them from starting. Growing an indoor herb garden is easier when you have the basic knowledge of how to build an indoor herb garden, how to make an herb garden indoors, and how to grow herbs from seeds indoors. Remember, Indoor Herb Gardening Is for Everyone. You can easily build an indoor herb garden by planting some easy herbs to grow indoors. Consider buying some pots for an indoor herb garden. The mini herb garden indoors is very beautiful.
Growing herbs indoors for beginners:
The perfect solution to that is to start an herb garden. It’s a much more beginner-friendly endeavor that anyone can take up because of the less space and time requirements. Not to mention, you can save on buying herbs, be able to get them fresh every day, and add an element of natural beauty to your house interior! It is time to Start Your Own indoor herbs garden. Read the article till the end to know about the 5 Quick Tips to Start an Herb Garden Indoors
How to Start an Herb Garden Indoors:
Below are step-by-step instructions on how you can get started in your indoor garden with a variety of container options, herb varieties, and tools you will need along the way. We have also put together a small guide on the herbs to plant so you can select the best setup for yourself. Following are the 5 Tips for How to Grow an Herb Garden Indoors. This explains How to Care for Your Indoor Herb Garden.
Picking the right container:
The size of your container will depend on how much production you want to grow. Herbs can be grown in mason jars, old tins, and even buckets so if you want to start small, you can pick up old household items. You can also use this opportunity to see if you want the commitment of caring for plants without making big investments.
But a small house plant doesn’t cut it for you and if you want to go all in, you can instead go for an herb garden planter, which is a single large pot with multiple types of herbs you can tend to at once. It’s still compact enough to be kept indoors and provides a variety of microgreens you can use in your cooking.
For a garden planter, a foot-long container, between 6-12 inches deep is ideal. Most herbs have shallow roots and don’t need to be spaced out too wide, just make sure the depth is sufficient and you are good to go, The material of the planter is also important to consider. Here too, there are plenty of options. If you need a container that is easy to move, plastic and resin are the best. You should also know about the Best Herbs for Indoor Growing. Read this article till the end to know more indoor herb garden ideas.
If that’s not a concern, then you should instead go for clay or terracotta pots. Clay is a porous material, so it provides air circulation, can drain out water much easier to prevent water logging, and also regulates temperature. The heavier weight also makes it more durable so you won’t have to worry about children and pets (or yourself on a clumsy day!) accidentally tripping it over and ruining all your efforts. They will last you a long time and the classic appearance of potted plants goes well with most house interiors.
Steel is also a good option, especially if your house has an industrial or Bauhaus aesthetic but make sure to use rollable thin sheet steel that is easy to drill into otherwise drilling holes for drainage would be a very tedious task.
Preparing your container:
After you have picked a container, it is important to make drainage holes at its bottom to make sure that the plants get adequate drainage. Otherwise, water can accumulate in the soil and restrict the oxygen supply to the roots of the plants. This can kill your herbs very fast so do not skip this step.
Turn the container upside down, and mark out 3-5 evenly spaced holes. (Add more or less depending on its size). Get a drill and appropriate safety gear like eye protection glasses and gloves. If you are using clay, ceramic, or terracotta pots, those are susceptible to cracking so if you can, invest in carbide masonry drill bits that can make concise enough holes in brittle materials.
With that done, it’s time to get cleaning. Regardless of whether you bought a brand new container or are recycling something old, it’s best to give it a thorough wash or at least a dusting down to remove any old residues, dust, or debris from drilling, Next, you need a piece of cloth on the bottom so that when you move the plant around, the soil doesn’t leak from the holes you just made. Most fiber cloth like propylene or burlap work best. If you are unable to get those, cardboard, linen, or polyester will also suffice.
Adding the right soil mix:
For beginners, it’s best to purchase a pre-made blend instead of figuring out the ratios of compost, soil, and sand and mixing them. It’s easy to mess up accidentally making it too dry or dense.
Find a high-quality potting mix specifically formulated for container gardening. It should be a well-draining soil blend that can provide a good balance of moisture retention and aeration and also include necessary nutrients like peat moss and compost, Make sure not to get garden soil as it’s generally too dense for smaller containers and can restrict the flow of water, With your potting mix acquired, cut an opening in the sack and tip it over the container until it’s filled. Don’t press it down as you will find loose soil easier to plant in.
At last, plant your herbs:
Now that you have the perfect setup for your indoor garden, you can either plant seeds or mature plants depending on how quickly you want to start harvesting. Garden planters are typically used to put multiple types of plants in the same container rather than growing your own while individual smaller containers are better suited for growing them from seeds and later transplanting them elsewhere if you want. Creating an indoor herb garden requires you to plant these beautiful herbs.
If you decide on seeds, you can sprinkle them evenly across the soil and gently press them in. They need to be completely covered and have plenty of contact with the soil. Next, get a sprinkler or spray and water the plants to settle the soil. The quantity of water and how often you should water them will depend on the herb you are using so read the instructions on the seed packet for that information. It will also to learn how much sunlight the seeds need.
For mature plants, the process is a little trickier. You need to remove their roots from an old soil also integrate them into a new one without damaging the roots. First, get a garden trowel to make holes beforehand. They need not be spaced too wide and herbs can grow fine in crowded spaces. After taking your plants out of their containers, gently separate their root systems and transfer them over into your container.
Watch this Video For more Guide: Indoor Herb Gardens
Best herbs to grow indoor:
If you decided on growing a single species then the only thing you need to know is the amount of sunlight, watering and the soul composition it needs, and which season that herb grows in. Herbs like Basil, Parsley, Sage, Oregano, Rosemary, and Thyme grow all year round, some are more seasonal.
If you are planting multiple types of herbs in a single container, it’s important to ensure that the ones you have chosen have similar growing requirements so that they consistently receive the levels of light, water, and nutrients they require. That is more doable when they have similar needs. This would also reduce the risk of overwatering or underwatering the plants and help maintain a healthy growing environment.
It would allow you to optimally use the limited space you have in an indoor garden and maximize available light and airflow. You would also eventually end up with microclimates within your indoor garden that cater to specific needs, such as higher humidity for Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme or drier conditions for herbs like lavender. Some plants like mint and fennel are invasive. They can take over the entire garden planter and out-compete other plants so you are better off planting them in their separate containers.
Rosemary, lavender, and Thyme, on the other hand, can be planted together as all these plants require full sun, less watering, and well-drained soil. Tarragon, oregano, and basil are another great combination as all these require a warm and sunny temperature, minimum water retention in soil, and high humidity, Finally, dill, cilantro, and lemon verbena also combine well together.
Now that you have all the information you need, all you have to do is get to work and you will have your own indoor herbs garden you can get fresh produce from every day!
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James Porter
Welcome to our haven of gardening and plant care, where outdoor and indoor planting enthusiasts come together! At Gardening Wisdom Hub, we aim to provide you with the most authentic information on anything related to gardening, plant care, seasonal planting etc.
The author of our website is James Porter, an experienced industry veteran. He has a deep interest in everything green. James’s enthusiasm for exploring plants’ features and learning new gardening methods began at a young age. Gradually, his passion increased with time, leading him to become a highly esteemed professional. His extensive knowledge makes him a priceless resource for inexperienced and seasoned gardeners.