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Indoor herb gardens

Many first-time indoor gardeners opt for an indoor herb garden, which is typically both smaller in scale than many indoor gardens and more easily maintained. Here, we'll give you a simple indoor herb garden plan, a list of basic start-up supplies, and some recommendations on which herbs thrive where.

The plan

Really, all you need for an herb garden is a cool place with access to lots of natural sunlight (yes, a kitchen windowsill fits the bill) and a few small containers that could hold several plants.

The supplies

  • Small containers. Six-inch pots are a good standard herb pot; you can plant multiple seeds or small bulbs one inch apart in them.
  • Small stones or bark chips. Layered at the bottom of containers, stones and bark chips allow proper aeration.
  • Good soil. A good quality, loose soil should contain all the nutrients your herbs will need.
  • Ventilation. Air flow will enhance the growth of your herbs, so place a small, oscillating fan nearby to foster the distribution of air particles and humidity.
  • Herb seeds or small bulbs. Many herbs are grown from seeds or small bulbs. You can also transplant outdoor herbs to indoor pots.
  • Light. Herbs require 10 to 12 hours of sunlight a day to really flourish. If your herbs are floundering, you may need to purchase a small, supplemental grow light.

The planting

First, place a layer of small stones and bark chips at the bottom of your herb container; fill the container with soil.

If planting seeds or small bulbs, bury them under the soil surface an inch apart across the entire surface. Nursery-bought or transplant herbs that have already begun to grow can be planted one of two ways; you can remove herbs from their containers and place them in holes dug into the potting soil, or you can plant the herbs and their containers in the potting soil. The latter method will contain root systems making growing and transplanting multiple herbs in one pot a cinch.

Herbs can grow in one pot for a season; when roots start to burst out of the container, you need to transplant them to a larger area using the same planting method described here.

The herbs

So which herbs will grow well in your indoor herb garden? Here are a few (and even some ways to use them):

  • Chives. A member of the onion family, chives have a delicate, onion-y flavor. The leaves of the chive plant resemble blades of grass, though the tubular green leaves are hollow. Chive seeds or small bulbs will take about 10 to 12 weeks to mature to edible status. Plant them in a 6-inch pot and place them in a window.
  • Parsley. Parsley, which comes in both curly and flat-leaf varieties, has a mildly lemony flavor; the flat-leaf variety is slightly stronger and commonly used in Italian cooking. Plant parsley seeds directly into six-inch pots, but limit one plant per pot as they can become quite vigorous. Parsley plants also take 10 to 12 weeks to mature. It's also a biennial plant that dies in its second year.
  • Cilantro. Cilantro, the leaves from a coriander plant, has a sharp, slightly spicy flavor that makes it a favorite in both Asian and Mexican cooking. Plant seeds directly into 6-inch pots and limit one plant per pot. Cilantro also will take 10 to 12 months to mature for cooking use.

Basil, mint, lavender, and thyme are also common, easy-to-use herbs that should do well in indoor herb gardens.