We’re well on our way to Spring now and many of us are still living under the current restrictions and rules of lock down, so we’ve been looking to our gardens for something to do. But of course not everyone has a garden, but this needn’t stop you from growing herbs and other things.
Did you know that you don’t need a garden to actually enjoy gardening? Read on for our tips for when your growing space is simply an indoor windowsill. Even if you live in a flat you can still grow herbs and plants successfully. Your herbs will need 6-8 hours of sunlight and won’t take well to low temperatures or drafts. If you have several pots of herbs on a small windowsill you may wish to rotate them so they all get their fair share of sunlight.
We don’t recommend that you pot your herbs up with soil or dirt from a garden – it may be of poor quality and contain weeds that will kill off your herbs. Use a good quality potting soil from your local garden centre and you’ll be giving your herbs the best chance for survival.
Somethings you might need (but not all are essential)
- A small trowel
- An indoor watering can (these normally come with really long spouts)
- Some craft lolly sticks so you can label your pots
- Some pots to plant up your herbs draining holes and a tray for them to sit on
- A good quality potting soil
The good news is that you can buy all of these products online, (even the herbs) without even leaving your house. This is especially useful right now as we are all living under the Coronavirus restrictions. To save on postage it’s probably wise to find a gardening company that you buy everything from in one go.
If you’re a novice gardener then you may want to just stick to two of three of your favourite herbs that you think you’ll use more frequently. You can easily build up to more once you’ve got the hang on things.
It’s important to choose a windowsill that faces the sun, and then you’ll be onto a winner. Most people prefer the kitchen windowsill – but you’ll need to choose whichever one works for you. Growing your own herbs can give you a real sense of satisfaction and at the very least add some greenery to your room. If you regularly cook with fresh herbs that you bought from your local supermarket then you’ll know they are highly priced and sometimes don’t stay fresh for longer than 24 hours. They also come to you covered in plastic which is a big no-no for the environment and the health of the planet. So, growing your own herbs will be a money saver and a planet saver!
Cooking with fresh herbs can really bring your cooking alive too. And the best news is that you won’t need green fingers if you follow our handy guide! Rosemary and mint are two herbs that spring to mind that do very well in tubs outdoors – so if you’ve got the space it’s worth purchasing them as fully grown plants and putting them into bigger pots, but they can be equally successful if grown indoors.
Choose your herbs wisely
There’s a huge array of herbs that can be grown indoors, but some are easier than others. Consider chives, coriander, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, mint, and sage and coriander. Using seedlings bought from a garden centre will make your life easier and you’ll have a better chance of success if you’re short on time or new to growing plants. You won’t need any special tools or equipment in particular, just remember to keep the herbs in a sunny place and remember to water!
Drainage
Drainage is super important with growing herbs indoors, so consider buyer pots that have a hole in the bottom and place them on a tray to collect any water that runs out, this will save you from any mess!
Sunshine and water
Keep in a sunny spot and don’t over water. Before you get busy with the watering can, just touch the soil, if it feels dry then your herbs need a drink, but if it’s still damp from the last time you watered, hold off the water.
Back to life
Don’t give up on wilted plants. If you’ve forgotten to water and your herbs are wilting, give them water and move into sunlight. They may bounce back!
Moving outdoors
Is it time to move? Only if you have the space outdoors, when your herbs are well established it may be time to put in a larger pot and put outside. They will flourish out here, but bring in before the first frost and if you can’t do that, take some cuttings so you can start the growing process over again.
Thank you for reading!
We hope this blog has inspired you to grow your own herbs, as there’s an enormous amount of satisfaction to be gained from this, it’s great for your mental health and will allow you to cook with fresh herbs every day of the week. Good luck!
