While herbs are popularly grown outdoors during the typical gardening season, they are also some of the best plants to start your indoor winter gardens. Not only are herbs attractive to view throughout the winter season, but they offer a pleasant aroma and can be used all year long. Unlike vegetables grown indoors, herbs take up very little space and are great for growers of all experience levels. If you are interested in growing your own indoor culinary herb garden, consider starting with popular favorites like chives, thyme, basil, parsley, rosemary, sage, and oregano. Each of these offers a positive growing experience as you provide the proper light, nutrients, and other growing conditions. While indoor growing can present some unique problems, like dry air and leggy growth, herbs are a great place to start learning how to overcome these common issues.
Are you excited to grow your indoor winter herb garden but don’t know what seeds to start? That is no problem. True Leaf Market is here to help! For beginners just starting, we recommend growing herbs to the microgreens stage first. Microgreens are just young seedlings planted in mass until they develop their first sets of leaves. Herb microgreens can be harvested at this stage as a fresh garnish to your favorite holiday meals in a much shorter timeline than their mature plants. The best herbs to start with this style are arugula, cilantro, basil, parsley, chives, fennel, and dill. Sections of herb microgreens can also be gently transplanted into larger pots to grow into their mature forms. Other popular herbs for growing indoors include thyme, rosemary, sage, and oregano. To start growing herb seeds as microgreens, you will want to secure basic microgreens growing supplies, including trays, coco coir, and a good grow light. When growing herbs indoors we recommend a full spectrum light that includes blue and red wavelengths.
When growing herbs indoors, it is important to consider their ideal growing conditions. Herbs favor well-draining soil. To avoid bugs and mold that may be housed in leftover bags of soil we recommend creating your own mix consisting of coco coir, perlite, and sand. Coco coir is a sustainable alternative to peat that is also great for retaining moisture. It is often shipped in a dry, compact form that just needs water added to expand. Mixing in sand and perlite creates the perfect balance of moisture and pore space for good drainage and root development. In addition to the soil your herbs are grown in, consider your available light sources. Growing herbs indoors requires either 6-8 hours of direct light in a south-facing window or 12-16 hours under an indoor grow light. Grow lights should be placed 5-15 inches above your developing herbs. When choosing your indoor growing location, be mindful of nearby heat sources, as vents and radiators may cause overly dry or warm growing conditions. Herbs typically thrive in temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Herbs are great plants to try your hand at indoor gardening because the common issues of dry winter air, nutrient deficiencies, and leggy growth can be easily identified and addressed. If you live in a mountainous or desert region, you are familiar with the brutality of dry winter air on your skin. Plants aren’t much different from us as they thrive with a little humidity. To combat dry winter air, first, ensure your plants are not growing near a radiator or vent. These will quickly dry out your plants and the soil they are growing in. Second, consider placing trays filled with pebbles and water to increase the local humidity around your growing trays. These trays can periodically be refilled with water without overwatering your growing trays. When it comes to battling nutrient deficiencies, the key is to feed your developing herbs with a water-soluble fertilizer every 2-4 weeks. Look for fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen, as herbs are foliage-heavy plants that rely on nitrogen for leaf development. The third most common problem growers encounter when growing herbs indoors is leggy growth. This is when plants grow vertically with little branching and bushy development. Leggy growth occurs when plants are not getting enough light. If you notice leggy growth with natural window light, it is time to upgrade to grow lights or increase the number of hours in a day your grow lights are turned on.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, herbs are an essential indoor garden staple. Get started today growing fresh garden herbs for your holiday parties and winter culinary explorations. Those grocery store herb sprigs have nothing on the taste and aroma of freshly grown herbs straight from the garden! Enjoy greater selection by choosing your favorite varieties to grow from seed today.
About the Author:
Ashleigh Smith is the Managing Editor at True Leaf Market with a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. True Leaf Market is a nationally certified organic, non-GMO seed and horticultural company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The True Leaf Market staff specializes in supplying a large selection of conventional, heirloom, and organic seeds to home gardeners everywhere. Learn more about our seeds, supplies, and other growing ideas: www.trueleafmarket.com.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
Philodendron are fabulous house plants. And there are a wide range of these plants from tried-and-true varieties to exciting new selections you may not have heard of yet. click here. for a great article from our friend Justin who writes about several of his favorites.
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