There are plenty of reasons to grow an indoor herb garden. Indoor herb gardens hold many benefits for Newington renters who not only cook but who also want to beautify their homes with greenery and fragrance. If you haven’t gardened much before, it can also be a great way to improve your green thumb. Growing herbs indoors can be easy and low-cost, but it takes some planning and know-how. If you’ve ever thought about growing an indoor herb garden, here is a step-by-step guide to choosing, growing, and adequately caring for your herbs.
Choose Herbs
An herb garden is a wonderful way to enjoy fresh produce while adding natural beauty to your home’s interior. But first, it’s essential to know which herbs grow best indoors. Several herb plants have different light and soil needs, so selecting the right herbs is an important first step. Those that do best inside include rosemary, thyme, basil, chives, mint, and parsley. Most garden centers carry seedlings of these plants in the spring, making it easy to establish your new garden.
Prepare Growing Containers
If you already know which type of herbs you want to grow, the next step is to prepare your growing containers. Pretty much any container will work if it has good drainage and a tray underneath to catch excess water. It’s also okay to start small, but remember that if your plants thrive, you may need to re-pot your herb plants pretty soon. Fill each container with a potting mix, not potting soil; potting mix has more organic matter that helps inspire vigorous growth. Some gardeners prefer to keep different herb plants in separate pots or containers, but it is optional. As long as each plant has enough room to grow and send down roots, they should do just fine.
Place Your Garden
With your containers prepared and your plants chosen, the next step is to decide where to place your herb garden. Your plants require between 6 and 8 hours of sunlight daily, so a sunny windowsill or similar location often works best. If you don’t have a windowsill, quite a few creative options are available, from wall planters to containers that stick directly to the glass. Herbs do not grow well without at least some direct sunlight, but they also can’t stand too much. Finding the perfect “goldilocks” spot that feels just right is vital to healthy plants.
Water Regularly
Your herb garden also needs proper amounts of water. When it comes to herbs, the idea is to keep the soil moist but it is not waterlogged. Add water in small quantities, and do not let the soil dry out completely between watering. Both too little and too much water is bad for herb plants, so it is a good idea to save the little tags that come with seedlings and follow the suggested amounts. It might also help to keep track of when and how much you are watering your plants.
Harvest Selectively
Once your herbs are established, you can start harvesting leaves to season your food. Fresh herbs are delicious and healthy, not to mention convenient. But don’t forget to not cut too much of one plant at a time. While regular trims encourage new growth, cutting too much could cause the plant to fail altogether. As long as you are careful not to remove more than a quarter of the plant at one time, you can continue to enjoy your fresh herbs throughout the seasons.
Does your indoor garden need more room to thrive? At Real Property Management Hartford Metro/Greater New London, our Newington property managers are also experts at helping you find the home that is just the right fit. Contact us online or call 860-436-9955 and ask us about our available rentals today.
Originally Published on February 14, 2020
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