Growing Herbs Indoors
You don’t have to be an expert gardener to grow your own greens. The easiest way to start would be to grow an herb and vegetable container garden. Home cooked meals would never be the same once you start to harvest from your own backyard – or in this case, your own kitchen or window sill. All you would need: containers, soil, a little sunlight, some seeds, cuttings or seedlings and a whole lot of love for the craft.
Plastic or glazed pots are best for indoor gardening. They retain the moisture in the soil better. Just make sure that there are sufficient holes at the bottom of the pot or container for proper drainage of excess water.
Put a layer of gravel or small rocks or pebbles (or even a combination of all) at the bottom of the pot before putting down your soil. This is a backup plan for additional air and room support for the roots when needed.
It is suggested that you try planting your pots in compost itself. I have never tried it personally, but some friends say that it encourages healthier plant growth. If you don’t have enough space, it’s okay if you skip this part.
3” pots are good for planting and your first sowing. Only put in 3 seeds per pot so as not to overcrowd it. When these become seedlings (has roots, has a thick foliage and stems aren’t likely to break off at the slightest touch), you can then transplant them to a bigger pot, say one that is 6”. Spring is usually the best time for sowing seeds.
Water your plants, specifically your herbs only when the soil is dry. Do not over-water herbs as these have the tendency to drown since they are more fragile than regular vegetable plants. Water from the top, until water drains out from the bottom. Check to make sure that the drainage holes are free of clogging debris.
Plants are subject to attacks from pests, even if it’s cultivated indoors. Wash the leaves with insecticidal soap (available at your local gardening store). And though you may have the perfect solutions to pest control, pets control is a different matter. Cats, in particular, are fond of herbs (especially if you have catnip in your list). You can probably just hang these … or if you can do cat-talk, have a heart-to-heart with your cat and pray that he understands.
Suggested herbs to plant: Basil, chives, Greek oregano, dill, sage and Vietnamese coriander. Suggested vegetables: tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce leaf, radish and peppers.
