How to grow herbs indoors: 10 steps to a kitchen herb garden

Select your herbs

If you want to know how to grow herbs indoors, it’s ideal to choose ones that are easy to grow and that do not require a high degree of specialization on your part. It is generally recommended to plant herbs that are you cook with on a regular basis. These include parsley, basil and rosemary, three herbs that can be used in a large number of recipes and are easy to grow inside.

Choose a place with natural lighting

To be successful in growing an herb garden at home, it is recommended to have adequate lighting, preferably natural. Thus, you will have all the freedom to move your pots to the area where they can receive the most sunlight. One way to do this is to place your plants just below your windowsills to get more natural light. Just remember to rotate them so that each receives a similar amount of light.

Choose artificial lighting

Sometimes difficult to obtain natural light for growing plants but this does not mean that it is impossible to grow your own herbs at home, since artificial lighting works well too. When you are using artificial lighting, it is recommended to place the plants one foot away from the lights and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The recommended time to maintain this lighting is between 12 and 16 hours.

Select the right containers for your herbs

The container you choose will depend on the size of the plant or the number of plants you want to grow at home. The most important thing is that they have drainage and bottom plates that prevent water runoff. For sealed containers, the ideal is to place stones at the base and verify that the soil has the necessary drainage so that your plants receive enough water.

Plant your herbs

You can plant seeds or put plants into the containers with soil. Remember to plant the herbs that you use the most or that are easier to harvest. Otherwise, you could have an excess of plants at home and you will increase the risk of creating waste.

Learn how to properly water your herbs

In order for your herbs to grow healthy and with optimal flavor, they must receive exceptional care. That is, they must be consistently watered, in addition to placing diluted fertilizer on them to avoid drastic changes in flavor. Be careful not to overwater.

Identify when to harvest plants

Be careful when harvesting your herbs as it is essential to know when to trim the plants. Doing this encourages them to grow a few more inches. Regarding the pruning of the plants, it is recommended to cut the growth at least once a week, even if at that time you won’t be using them in a recipe.

Use a terrarium

Although pots are, in general, the most common containers, do not rule out growing your herbs in a terrarium, since they are useful for growing plants in a confined and small space. Among the benefits of terrariums is that artificial light can be used in them, especially LED spotlights. The also do not to be watered as frequently.

Choose compact herbs

The most common herbs grown in indoor gardens are basil, bay leaf, chervil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley and thyme. Although each requires special care, these are usually fairly simple to grow. For example, it is recommended to plant basil seeds every two weeks to produce a sufficient quantity, while the use of neem oil is recommended to control pests.

Get the right tools

To be successful in growing herbs indoors, you will need special equipment and materials, as well as seeds, pots and potting soil. In general, the recommended gardening equipment consists of trowels, gloves, pruning shears and, in some cases, LED lights to promote growth in certain environments.

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