Herbs grown in pots on the windowsill not only bring a touch of nature to your kitchen, but also a touch of flavor. Although a window sill in the kitchen is most practical because it is close to where food is prepared, any other window will also work. The best herbs for the windowsill will transform your kitchen into an oasis!
Starting a windowsill herb garden is a great way to bring your herbs indoors over the winter or keep them growing year-round. You can start your herb garden with either seeds or small plants, but keep in mind that while seeds are more economical, they require more work and take longer to mature than a young plant. Many herbs can be grown in pots with little effort. However, special care is required when growing indoors. It is important that there is enough space and natural light.
Herbs for the windowsill – care tips and location
Herbs grow best in a south or southwest exposure and require at least 4 hours of sunlight or 14 hours of artificial light daily. Aside from basil, most herbs do better when planted in a cool window. If you want your herbs to look nice and bushy on the windowsill, make sure the pots drain well and deadhead the plants often.
Growing herbs like basil, parsley and cilantro from seeds indoors is the most successful method. From seedsplanted herbsThey don't grow very large, but the tender, immature plants are delicious and ready to harvest after just a few weeks. By sowing and fertilizing abundantly, you can grow plenty of herbs all winter long.
If your outdoor herb garden is doing well, you can individualPlants for overwinteringbring into the house in pots. About three weeks before the first frost, divide and pot sage, oregano, lemon balm, mint and thyme. Whole annual herb plants, such as rosemary, can be dug up and brought indoors to overwinter. The leaves of most herbs die quickly when brought indoors, so cut them close to the ground. However, you should not prune rosemary, bay leaves, chives and thyme.
Watch out for insects, especially aphids and spider mites, when you bring herbs into the house on the windowsill. If you notice a problem, avoid strong chemicals.
Growing herbs at home in winter
Herbs such as thyme, sage, oregano, basil, parsley, chives and lemon thyme thrive on the windowsill. Also try soothing herbs such as chamomile, lavender, lemon balm or mint. With the help of certain herbs, your windowsill can become a place of taste and aroma.
Oregano
A good piece of advice for the herb garden on the windowsill is toedible plantsto grow. Oregano is an essential ingredient for meat dishes such as chicken and roast beef because it has an intense flavor. These hardy little plants are a wonderful addition to any kitchen and require minimal care to thrive and provide an abundance of tasty leaves for the avid cook. Don't be afraid to cut off the leaves frequently - the plant will produce more new growth with frequent harvesting.
Basil
Basil can be grown in a sunny, warm location with plenty of water. The soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged. To encourage bushier growth, trim the plant's shoot tips frequently. Fresh basil tastes great in various dishes, salads and on pizzas. Excess leaves can be frozen in ice cube trays by mixing them with water and later used in sauces, soups and pesto.
Herbs for the windowsill – mint
More mint on the menu would be a good thing. You virtually can't go wrong growing this plant indoors, whether you're harvesting its leaves for tea, adding its pungent leaves to lemonade for an extra mint kick, or saving it for a round of mojitos. The best thing about growing mint indoors instead of outside is that it doesn't spread everywhere.
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Parsley
Grow your own parsley at home instead of buying limp sprigs from the supermarket. Although it is slower growing, parsley can be grown in full sun on an east or west facing window.
Rosemary
Rosemary is an essential herb for seasoning poultry and other savory dishes. A windowsill herb garden benefits greatly from a small rosemary plant as it neither grows too tall nor too wide. The visual value of this plant has inspired some to cultivate it for display purposes only. Don't be alarmed if your plant seems to mature more slowly than the others. With time and proper care, rosemary will gradually increase its yield.
Chervil and tarragon are also good choices for your windowsill herb garden.
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