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How to Grow Herbs on a Windowsill

Posted on Sunday, June 5, 2011 by zaid


How to Grow Herbs on a Windowsillthumbnail
Grow Herbs on a Windowsill
Grow herbs on your windowsill and you'll have fresh herbs year-round. Herbs are lovely plants that will add a nice touch to your kitchen, and the aroma is an added benefit. Add a few extra herbs to your cooking, as fresh herbs have a better flavor than dried herbs but aren't as strong. Good choices for a window herb garden include chives, mint, thyme, parsley, basil, marjoram, oregano and rosemary.
Difficulty:
Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Pots with drainage holes
  • Drainage saucers or trays
  • Commercial potting soil
  • Sand or perlite
  • Water-soluble, organic fertilizer
  • Kitchen shears
    • 1
      Purchase small herb plants at a garden center or nursery. Select compact plants with even color. Avoid long, spindly plants.
    • 2
      Prepare a separate pot for each herb plant. Don't attempt to mix herbs in the containers, as various herbs have different growing requirements. Each container must have a drainage hole and should be at least 6 inches deep. Place a drainage saucer or tray under each plant.
    • 3
      Fill the containers with a good-quality, well-drained commercial potting soil. Add a handful of perlite or sand to improve drainage.
    • 4
      Plant the herb plants in the containers. Each herb should be planted at the same depth at which it was planted in the nursery container. Water the plants immediately.
    • 5
      Place the herbs on a windowsill where the plants will get a minimum of five to six hours of sunlight every day.
    • 6
      Water the herbs whenever the soil feels completely dry. Allow water to run through the drainage hole, then let the plant drain completely. Empty the drainage saucer and never allow the pot to stand in water as herbs are prone to rot in soggy soil.
    • 7
      Fertilize the herbs every two to three weeks during spring and summer, using a water-soluble, organic fertilizer for indoor plants. Withhold fertilizer during fall and winter. Follow the directions on the label and don't over-fertilize, as too much fertilizer will decrease the flavor of the herbs.
    • 8
      Clip the herbs for use as often as desired. Trimming the plants often will promote full, bushy growth.

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