The Window Sill Herb Garden
The Window Sill Herb Garden
Having your own window sill herb garden can add color and fragrance to any home. There is an abundance of reasons why people might prefer to have a window sill herb garden as opposed to one that grows outside. A big reason is comfort. With a garden on your windowsill, you won’t have to deal with the elements of the changing seasons and will have fresh herbs all year long.
Most common herbs will be very happy growing on a windowsill herb garden, but some happier than others. Plants like oregano are ideal because it is compact in size and has a truly wonderful flavor. Basil, as well as rosemary, are two additiional herbs which will do wonderfully in your windowsill herb garden. Some herbs will repel fungus, such as the rosemary, and others simply have a wonderful aroma that can fill your home any time of the year.
Plants need water, light and a good base, usually soil to grow. A window with good light is a great advantage. In the northern hemisphere that would mean a south or south-eastern exposure. Most plants prefer maximum sunlight for growth and health and herbal plants are no different. Herbal plants prefer at least five hours of sunlight per day. And don’t forget to keep your herbs out of cold drafts, especially in the winter.
You can grow from seed if you like, but many people find it advantageous to start by purchasing seedlings in pots which are 6-12″ deep. You also have the option to buy herb garden kits. These window sill herb garden kits come complete with the containers, the plants (usually already sprouting or with seed planted within the soil), and instructions on the different varieties of herbs and how to care for them.
While it’s fairly easy to care for these plants, you do need to be aware of their gestation periods as well as the ideal times to prune their leaves for drying, storing, or cooking. Plants can compete with each other and you need to be aware of when one is overcrowding another and will need to be cut back. Since wanting the windowsill herb garden to look as good as it can is one of your objectives (I assume), you can be sure it will need your presence mentally as well as physically.
Water with care! You must always keep a proper balance between wet and dry, not flooding and not parching. They don’t like soggy roots so don’t let the soil stay damp constantly If you purchase a kit that has the plants already in bloom, don’t rush to clip the leaves. Allow them time to acclimate to their new environment. Also, if you live in a location, such as an apartment complex in a city, and don’t have access to good sunlight in any window, you can purchase artificial light. Generally, your plants will thrive under this kind of light, but it’s always good to check with the nursery or kit maker to be sure.
A window sill herb garden is a great way to spend your free time and if you’re an avid cook, you understand that there is no substitute for having fresh spices and herbs at your disposal. Growing your own herb garden and having it right there where you can see and smell it’s wonders is a great thing, and it will reward you in many ways adding life and beauty to you and to your home.
