As students we may not have a large enough backyard to cultivate an at-home garden but that shouldn’t stop us from growing our own food! Indoor herb gardens are an easy and fun way to get creative this spring.
What you’ll need:
-A window sill (or just a window with sunlight)
-A planter (feel free to decorate it to make it your own — but make sure it has drainage holes)
-Herb seeds (which sometimes come with starter-kits to help you out!)
-Or even already grown plants you can buy at the grocery store (but make sure you inspect the plant before you buy it)
What to do:
- Fill your planter with your favourite herb seeds (or pre-grown herb) in a bed of quality potting soil.
- Place planter by a window where it will get lots of natural sunlight (it’ll need 6 hours a day) but not too hot in the afternoon.
- Water the herb occasionally to keep the soil moist.
Some tips to keep you going:
– give your plants plenty of room — don’t overcrowd your pots with too many seeds or multiple herb plants being grown too close together
– water regularly but make sure the water drains through the entire pot to avoid rotting roots
– rotate the planter on occasion to distribute the sun evenly
– most herbs like moderate to poor soil so fertilizer is not always necessary (also better for the environment!)
– let the plan reach about 15cm before harvesting leaves — and only ever take about a quarter or less of the plant at a time — but clip regularly to promote growth
Easy herb suggestions to start you off:
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Basil — tip: prefer to be watered more frequently than most herbs
- Rosemary — tip: prefer to be drier than most herbs
- Thyme
- Sage
- Mint
Your indoor herb garden is ready to go! Fresh herbs while cooking will make all the difference in your meals. And who wouldn’t want to brag about growing what they’re serving.
-Angela
Ethical Eats 