Tuesday, April 2, 2013

How To Create A Windowsill Herb Garden

I am a huge fan of herbs! I love having fresh herbs to add to my favorite recipes, enjoy brewing herbal tea, and can't get enough of the color and aroma that herbs bring to my life. In honor of the coming spring, I thought it would be fun to share some simple ways that you can bring the beauty, healing, flavor, and variety of herbs to your own kitchen with a simple windowsill planter. If you have lots of outdoor space you can certainly use that, but a box on your windowsill or on a counter top is a great way to bring the joy of nature indoors!



Planter Boxes

You can find planter boxes in an endless variety of colors, sizes, and styles. Choose one that will fit your windowsill, porch, patio, or counter surface, and make sure that it has drainage holes since most herbs need good soil drainage. If you don't want to go the direction of a traditional terra cotta planter, check local thrift, vintage, or antique shops to find some one of a kind pottery pieces you can use instead.

Choosing Herbs

Not all herbs can be grown in all places. Before you choose seeds, check a zone guide to see what will be the most hassle free where you live. When you choose herbs that love your location, you'll have to babysit them a lot less! I love the resources that the Farmer's Almanac has: http://www.almanac.com/content/plant-hardiness-zones



Planting

Have fun with this! Follow the directions on your seed packets to know how many seeds to plant at what depth. Take your time, keep the soil very slightly damp so that it's easier to work with, and try to really have fun working with the Earth!

Caring For Your Herb Garden

Most herbs don't need to be watered every day, and some will die if you give them too much water. Keep your seed packets handy to remember what each of your herbs needs, or copy the info down on an index card so that you can refer to it. You can mark watering days on a calendar, set a repeating alarm on your phone, or just put your herbs in a place where you can keep a close eye on them every day.

Enjoy!

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