Tips for Growing Herbs Indoors All Winter

Don't fret because your outdoor herb garden is closed for the season. You can start a whole new crop right inside your home, from your kitchen window. Herbs grown indoors are just as tasty as those grown outside, plus they add beauty to your kitchen as living house plants!

There is no comparison between fresh grown herbs picked daily from your own garden and the dried herbs found in your local grocery store. If you want to have plenty of fresh herbs on hand throughout the winter, at little cost and without much labor, then now is the time to set up your indoor herb garden. These basic tips will get you started with your very own indoor herb garden this winter.

Select a location that receives bright sunlight for 4-5 hours a day. Herbs are fast growers, and require ample amounts of water, so it is a logical choice to choose a window at, or near, your kitchen sink.

Start the herbs from seed, or if you still have herb plants in your outdoor garden, transplant them into small pots. The seeds will germinate faster if you soak them in water and refrigerate for 48 hours.

Plant seeds or seedlings in light, quick draining soil, potting soil works perfect. Shallow clay pots work best for planting if you have them on hand. If not, any type of small, plastic container such as yogurt cups, butter bowls or cottage cheese bowls work just as well. Be sure to make several drainage holes in the bottom of any recycled containers.

Feed your herb plants regularly. Water soluble food such as Miracle Grow makes feeding and watering into one easy step. Once a week, place all your pots in the kitchen sink and give each pot a thorough feeding/watering, leave in the sink until all the excess has drained off.

Rotate your pots of herbs every few days so every side will get exposure to the sunlight. This will ensure attractive and uniform growth. Never permit herbs grown indoors to produce flowers, keep them pinched off so all the plant's energy will go into producing the foliage that you can use.