15 hours Ago
Question: I plant several herbs in my vegetable garden. Do you think I could successfully grow some inside in pots in the winter? I have both south- and west-facing windows. Answer: Yes, fresh herbs can be grown easily in pots in a sunny window.
South-facing is best, but east- and west-facing are also okay. North windows do not get any direct sunlight. You may want to add some artificial light for best results.
You can purchase a pair of grow lights for less than $30. I have also grown herbs in the basement with an ordinary fluorescent tube light fixture placed a few inches above the plants. Newer indoor plant light fixtures produce brighter light.
I plant my herb seeds in 4- or 6-inch pots. I fill pots to the brim with a good-quality planting mix. Then I moisten with warm water so it settles to a half inch or so below the rim.
Next, I space several seeds of my favorite herbs, such as oregano, globe basil, chives, thyme, sage, parsley and cilantro (coriander) on top of the soil and push them in up to a quarter inch. Larger seeds need to be planted deeper. Rewatering covers seeds and firms the soil.
I cover each pot or group of pots with clear plastic bags. This traps moisture inside and keeps the soil moist — usually until they sprout. If the soil dries on top, I moisten it with warm water.
The plastic covers also trap radiant heat inside which speeds germination. After several seeds sprout, remove the plastic and water as soon as the soil dries on top. Give them as much light as possible.
As plants grow, pots may need to be rotated because they lean toward the light. I water lightly to keep the top of the soil constantly moist until seedlings have two to four leaves. Then I start watering enough to wet the entire soil when it becomes dry on top.
When the stems get 3 to 4 inches, tall I begin snipping the tops to use in cooking. This encourages branching so plants become fuller and thicker. Most herbs except basil and cilantro can be planted outside in early May since they will not be damaged by light frost.
Basil and cilantro are tender and should be treated like tomatoes. I usually start some large-leaf Italian basil about the same time as tomatoes for outside planting. The dwarfer globe basil grows better inside.
Herb plants can be transplanted into larger pots or tubs. They can be mixed with flowers in border plantings. If you don’t have a lot of room, try two or three of your favorites.
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