Spring is here, and why not bring some of its beauty indoors by planting an herb garden? Herbs are an ideal way to enjoy gardening in your apartment, without a lot of fuss and mess. They are relatively easy to grow, add a pop of green to your home, and can be added to recipes. Plus, aromatic herbs will add a subtle scent to your apartment.
The first step is to find the right location
You can use a kitchen windowsill, a shelf, a countertop, or even a corner nook. Just make sure the area receives adequate light. If possible, place your herb garden in an area that receives direct sunlight. While some herbs can grow in diffused light, they will tend to be “leggy” and won’t grow lush and bountiful. You can also use a grow light to add extra light.
Next, choose a container. It’s important to choose a container with drainage holes, because if the plants’ roots are steeped in water, they will develop root rot. Pick out a container with a saucer to catch any drainage that may seep from the herb plants when you water them. You can also line the bottom of your container with a coffee filter or weed barrier to help retain adequate moisture.
Fill your container with a good-draining, nutrient-rich potting soil. You can also add plant food or fertilizer to keep your plants healthy as needed.
Select your plants
You can find plants at your local gardening center or big-box store, or you can plant seeds. In Zone 6 (Central Ohio), herb plants become available in mid-to-late April. Of course, this will depend on the weather and nursery growing conditions.
Good starter herbs include basil, mint, parsley, chives, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. This will give you a variety of shades of green, scents, and flavoring. If you want herbs for fragrance or tea, choose chocolate mint, lemon balm, lavender, or pineapple sage. Purple basil is an attractive alternative and turns green when used for cooking or pesto.
Place the plant in the container and fill it with potting soil to within 1 ½”- 2” of the top (depending on the size of the container). Lightly water the soil so it is damp, but not saturated. Then place the container in its chosen location to get sunlight. It’s that easy.
Follow the instructions that come with the herb plant about light, feeding, and watering. You should occasionally turn the container so different sides of the plants receive light; otherwise, the plants will lean in one direction as they grow.
Herbs are relatively maintenance-free, but some signs that they need attention include:
Legginess (long stems with few leaves) signals that the plant is not getting enough light.
Yellow leaves mean the plant is getting too much water.
Slow growth can indicate that the plant could be root-bound and needs to be repotted in a larger container.
A patchy white filament on the soil surface means the plant is receiving too much water or the soil isn’t aerating properly. Cut back on watering to see if it remedies the problem.
Mint grows like a weed, and if you plant it in the same container with other herbs, the mint can easily overtake everything else. If you don’t use the mint, it should be periodically trimmed and thinned out. Overgrown rosemary plants develop hard, woody stems, making it more difficult to cultivate for cooking.
An indoor herb garden is an easy and enjoyable way to put your green thumb to use without a lot of time, expense, and mess. It’s an ideal hobby for apartment dwellers who lack space for (or interest in) outdoor container gardening. By carefully curating a selection of herbs, you will have a source of verdant fragrance and flavor from late spring to early autumn.
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