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. Herbs can serve different purposes. Some, like rosemary, can repel pests and fungus while others may flower and bring beauty, provide wonderful taste to your dishes, or have medicinal uses.
These herbal plants will invariably do best on windowsills that face south or southeast, since, for northern hemisphere locations, that is the direction of greatest sunlight. 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. Also, remember to keep them from enduring drafts, especially during the cooler winter months.
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.And don’t forget herb garden kits! They come complete, having everything you need: the containers, plants in the form of seedlings (frequently) and complete instructions on how to nurture and grow them.
But plants are living things and can’t just be put on auto-grow. You need to know about them, such as their gestation periods, when to cut back and prune, harvest and dry, store and use. 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. You want your window sill herb garden to look as though it belongs there in the windowsill, so there is some measure of attention that they will require from you.
Be careful about the amount of water you give your herbal plants. They don’t do well in damp soil, so water sparingly, but don’t leave them without water, either. If your new kit is already in flower, go slowly. Don’t jump in and cut them back right away. Give them time to acclimatize 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. Most herbal plants will do just fine under this kind of light, but it’s a good idea to check with a nursery or the manufacturer to be certain.
Having your own windowsill herbgarden is an obvious advantage to you if you love to cook, as there is nothing better than having fresh herbs to use in your food preparations. 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.