The Window Sill Herb Garden

The Window Sill Herb Garden

With a window sill herb garden just outside you kitchen, for example, you will be adding color, warmth and fragrance to your home. There is an abundance of reasons why people might prefer to have a window sill herb garden as opposed to one that grows outside.  A big reason is comfort. With a garden on your windowsill, you won’t have to deal with the elements of the changing seasons and will have fresh herbs all year long.

While you can grow almost any type of herbal plant in a windowsill herb garden, there are some that are more suited to this method than others. Plants like oregano are ideal because it is compact in size and has a truly wonderful flavor. Basil, as well as rosemary, are two additiional herbs which will do wonderfully in your windowsill herb garden. Some herbs will repel fungus, such as the rosemary, and others simply have a wonderful aroma that can fill your home any time of the year.

These herbal plants will invariably do best on windowsills that face south or southeast, since, for northern hemisphere locations, that is the direction of greatest sunlight. Most plants prefer maximum sunlight for growth and health and herbal plants are no different. Herbal plants prefer at least five hours of sunlight per day. And don’t forget to keep your herbs out of cold drafts, especially in the winter.

You can grow from seed if you like, but many people find it advantageous to start by purchasing seedlings in pots which are 6-12″ deep.And don’t forget herb garden kits! They come complete, having everything you need: the containers, plants in the form of seedlings (frequently) and complete instructions on how to nurture and grow them.

But plants are living things and can’t just be put on auto-grow. You need to know about them, such as their gestation periods, when to cut back and prune, harvest and dry, store and use. Some plants will also overtake others if you don’t tend to them and prune them back on a regular basis. You want your window sill herb garden to look as though it belongs there in the windowsill, so there is some measure of attention that they will require from you.

Be careful about the amount of water you give your herbal plants. They don’t do well in damp soil, so water sparingly, but don’t leave them without water, either. If you purchase a kit that has the plants already in bloom, don’t rush to clip the leaves. Allow them time to acclimate to their new environment. And if you live in an apartment or someplace where there just isn’t enough natural light, don’t despair, just get an artifical light source and put it on a timer. Most herbal plants will do just fine under this kind of light, but it’s a good idea to check with a nursery or the manufacturer to be certain.

Having your own windowsill herbgarden is an obvious advantage to you if you love to cook, as there is nothing better than having fresh herbs to use in your food preparations. Growing your own herb garden and having it right there where you can see and smell it’s wonders is a great thing, and it will reward you in many ways adding life and beauty to you and to your home.