How to Create a Windowsill Herb Garden

Those of us with green fingers who live in a sectional title property can feel frustrated, as we often don’t have our own garden. A windowsill herb garden is a low maintenance outlet that allows us to beautify our homes with vibrant living green plants and have pot-to-pan fresh herbs to jazz up our cooking.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A sunny windowsill

Preferably one that receives 5hrs of sunlight per day.

2. Herb plants or seeds

You can buy ‘ready grown’ small herb plants from the nursery and transfer them into     your own pots/containers at home. Otherwise, you can buy the herb seeds and grow them from scratch. Popular choices are chives, basil, lavender, oregano, sage, parsley, mint, rosemary, time and bay leaves.

3. Pots or containers

Use either individual ones that are 6-12 inches deep and 6 inches wide or one long one, also 6-12 inches deep and as wide as you like. Feel free to get creative with your pot/container choice, almost any correctly sized container will do (look at the use of the Twinings tea tins above– absolutely awesome!).

4. Soilless potting mix

This drains better than garden soil and reduces the chance of soil diseases.

5. Fertilizer

Labeled for use on edibles.

If using small herb plants:

1. Place 2-3 inches of soilless potting mix at the bottom of your container.
2. Place the herb plant on top and add more of the soilless potting mix pressing it firmly around the plant. Save some space for water – leave the inch below the top of the container free.
3. Water sparingly. Herbs don’t do well when sitting in pools of water.
4. Give your herb plants time to get used to their new home. Once they start growing it means they have acclimatized and you can start using them.

If using herb seeds:

1. Fill your container with dampened soilless potting mix, make sure to leave an inch free at the top.
2. Sprinkle 3-5 seeds on top of the soilless potting mix.
3. Cover seeds with a light sprinkle of soilless potting mix and gently press it down.
4. Cover each used container with a plastic bag to seal in the moisture.
5. Make sure you keep the soil moist.
6. Once you see your little guys starting to sprout, remove the plastic bag and water sparingly whenever the soil looks dry.

Once your herbs look ready for use you can snip off the tips. Make sure you leave at least 2 inches of the plant intact so it can easily regrow. For bushier herbs like parsley, snip from the sides – you can cut whole stems, just leave enough of the plant in tact in the middle to allow regrowth.

Finally, feed your beautiful herbs once a month with a fertilizer labeled for use on edibles.

Happy windowsill herb growing!

Image sources: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com, www.urban-allotments.com