Growing an herb garden indoors offers many benefits over a herb garden outdoors. The two main benefits are that the herbs are convenient and they are able to control how much light and water they receive. This control of factors is important to the successful growth of any plant, and especially important for herbs, who at times may be subject to harsh weather conditions and are not always in the best of health.
One of the main things to remember when growing herbs inside is that they still require the same amount of natural light that they would receive if growing in natural conditions. The type of light, of course, will depend on the type of herbs you are growing. Some herbs, such as rosemary, benefit from a lot of natural light, whereas others prefer partial shade in order to protect them from the midday heat.
Potted herbs can benefit from the use of grow lights to simulate those conditions. However, a home grower’s herbs would likely be best served by using only natural sunlight or the fluorescent kind.
Another thing to remember when growing herbs is the moisture of the soil. To create perfect, healthy soil, mix plump bedding materials with light-colored gravel and determine whether it will drain water properly. However, herbs won’t thrive in the type of soil used for roses. Roses thrive in soil that retains water, and herbs likely won’t survive in the same type of soil. Some gardeners mix the soil with sand to make it drain more quickly.
Watering the herbs adequately is important. In some cases, the potted herbs may dry out more quickly than the garden herbs, especially during the summer. Water the herbs until the soil is moist, but don’t leave it soaking wet. You can tell when the herbs are properly watered by sliding a finger from the surface of the soil to ensure it is moist. If the soil feels damp, the finger can easily be wiped without difficulty. If the surface of the soil is dry, it needs to be watered again.
Make sure to use the best potting mix for the herbs you are growing. If the potting mix is lightweight, the herb roots will not be able to penetrate it and it will result in poor growth and poor circulation of nutrients.
Some of the herbs required to be grown in pots are chives, tarragon, parsley, basil, thyme, garden cress, dill, oregano, rosemary, and sage. They are mostly annuals, and they enjoy the hot weather. Make sure that they are placed in your kitchen around the beginning of the summer, so they will be available to you all year round!
Follow the sun advice and make sure to give your herb garden frequent sunlight. Most herbs require sun for between 6 and 8 hours a day, so keep them out of the hot midday sun.
Use nutrient rich soil. Make sure that there is good drainage in the soil. If there is too much drainage, the roots will rot. This is for ensuring that the herbs will receive enough water to grow and expand, but not too much to drown the roots.
If you are growing herbs in pots, the pots must have a good drainage system. You can create a simple drainage system by drilling some small holes in the bottom of the pots, about one half an inch in diameter. Make sure that water can flow freely out of the bottom of the pot.
The pots must have adequate holes to allow the water to drain rapidly and prevent the pots from becoming water logged. If you are growing herbs in wooden baskets, ensure that the baskets have been inoculated with a general fungicide.
One of the great benefits of growing herbs is that you can grow them indoors or outdoors. If you are growing herbs indoors, you must make sure to place the pots in a location with as much natural light as possible. A friend who handles South Carolina IRS Liens grows herbs in his office and I always enjoy the smell when I visit. If you are raising your herbs outdoors, you will find that herbs require at least six hours of sunlight and they can tolerate partial shade.
As you can see, growing herbs in pots is not difficult and allows you to have a real herb garden.