WINDOWSILL HERBS

Herbs can be grown indoors on a windowsill or in a sunroom during the winter, but they must have adequate light which means 5-6 hours of sunlight per day. The more light the better, but most will survive in any window or you can use grow lights. The temperatures must also be warm, 65-70 degrees during the day and 55-60 degrees at night. Containers must have drainage holes and a suitable growing medium and plants should be allowed to dry out between watering down about an inch. The plants also benefit from regular doses of a water-soluble fertilizer or slow release granules and regular misting to increase humidity.

Some culinary herbs that may be grown well indoors include basil, chives, Vietnamese coriander, oregano, parsley, sage, savory and thyme. These can be grown from seed planted in late summer or rooted cuttings. Bay trees and pineapple sage grown in containers can simply be brought indoors. Rosemary may also be grown indoors over the winter, but be sure to purchase a plant in late summer and keep it indoors as they are temperamental and do not adjust well to changes in environment. For fragrance, additional herbs to try indoors include cardamom, curry plant, dittany of Crete, scented geraniums, and the tender lavenders.

Pots of herbs not only look pretty and smell good but they also taste great in the dead of winter, so most importantly use them - it will even encourage lots of new growth!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world and all who live in it”
Psalm 24:1