Windowsill Herbs

Gardening on a windowsill is a wonderful option as long as you have plenty of light and moisture.  Small pots of herbs are now showing up in local nurseries.  Use a wicker basket, recycle a hanging basket or just use individual pots.  This will chase away the doldrums of winter and fulfill your yearning for the greenery of spring.  A few herbs that adapt very well to indoor gardening include: basil, chives, coriander sweet marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme.   

Here are a few tips to ensure a successful indoor herb garden: 

1.  Select herbs that are low growing, dwarf varieties of bush or hanging types.  Tall herbs may need staking and may detract from your garden plans.  Marjoram and thyme grow well in hanging pots. 

2.  Select a location that will have fresh air or good air circulation but that will not be drafty.  Air will help you grow more vigorous plants as well as decrease the incidence of disease and pests, particularly red spider mites.   

3.  Select a windowsill with at least five hours of sunlight.  Herbs grown in windows with less sun may need to be supplemented with artificial lighting.  

4.  Group your plants so that humidity ranges from 30 to 50 percent.  Placing pots in gravel will also help raise humidity as will occasional spraying. 

5.  Keep the soil uniformly moist.  Do not allow standing water in saucers or prolonged wilting.   

6.  Fertilize monthly with a commercial brand of houseplant food; a uniform mix of 5-10-5 is recommended.  

7.  Prune, pinch and trim plants throughout the growing season; repot into larger containers in the late summer or early fall.  

Happy gardening!  Barbara Wexler-Hall