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Mary St. Dennis

How To Grow Herbs Inside All Winter

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How To Grow Herbs Indoors All Winter.

Learning to grow an indoor herb garden is an inexpensive

and rewarding way to enjoy fresh herbs all winter.

Growing herbs inside not only gives you the fresh flavors

you crave right at your fingertips, but fills your house

with fragrance and air purifying properties of plants.

You don’t need a large backyard or the hot days of

summer to grow your own herb garden, you can grow

many of your favorites right on your kitchen counter.

Just because the weather is changing doesn’t mean you

have to give up growing your own herbs. Start an indoor

herb garden and grow herbs all winter long. Even in a

small space you can have fresh herbs for cooking and

making medicine.

Fresh Herbs All Winter

Fresh herbs add so much to every meal and makes all

your food taste so much better. With fall coming on, it is

a great time to think about starting your own indoor herb

garden.

Growing Herbs Inside

The right location can make all the difference. It’s helpful

to have a sunny, south facing window to grow herbs

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inside. Most herbs need at least 6 hours of strong

sunlight per day.

To grow well indoors, herbs need as much natural light as

possible, but in the middle of winter, there just might not

be enough daylight.

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Growing With Grow Lights

If you don’t have a sunny window you can still grow

most herbs, you just need to be a bit more creative.

If your house is rather dark like mine, you will have to

supply supplemental light in the form of grow lights.

There are many to choose from.

You can add a grow light or fluorescent fixture hung over

your plants.

A grow light will give your herbs the light they so crave.

Just rotate your plants every day so all sides of the plant

gets enough light.

Grow lights are not as strong as direct sunlight, so you

will want to leave them on for 14 to 16 hours. You can

use a timer to make sure they are turned on and off at

the right time.

Start Small

As with all gardening and homesteading adventures,

starting slow is good advice. Start with a few easy herbs

and see how it goes. See if you have the right lighting to

make your new plants happy. You can always add more

later.

If you are just starting out here is a nice beginner’s herb

kit.

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Seeds or Plants

Starting herbs from seeds can be a challenge. Some herb

seeds are hard to germinate. It also takes a lot longer to

get herbs that are ready to cut and use if you start from

seeds.

If you start with plants or even start with cuttings, from

the herbs in your outside garden or have a friend that

has what you are looking for, you will be far ahead of the

game.

Know your herbs. Some herbs germinate easier than

others. You can get a pack of basil seeds and grow a

forest of basil, more than you will ever use. But some

herbs have tiny seeds and may not sprout nearly as

easily.

So, if you are new to herb gardening, you may want to

start out with seedlings from your local nursery. Then try

your hand starting from seed just the easiest herbs.

Can You Grow Herbs In Water?

If you have had an outdoor herb garden and winter is

fast approaching you can extend your herb growing

season by clipping stems of herbs and putting them in

vases (or jars – no judgement here) of water.

They will not grow as fast as herbs planted in soil, but it’s

a great way to extend your growing season.

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Choose young branches with new growth.

Cut stems about 6” (15 cm) long and strip the bottom 4”

of leaves from the stem. You don’t want any leaves in the

water. Clip the stem at an angle as it has more surface

area to take up water.

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You will need to clean the vase/jar about once a week as

algae will build up.

Clip each leaf as it grows to full size and that will

encourage the plant to continue to put on new leaves.

Spring, well or rain water works best. Most tap water

contain chemicals and distilled water removes the

minerals that plants need.

When Do I Plant Herbs?

The great thing about growing your herbs inside is, you

can grow them any time of the year. You don’t have to

wait until fall or winter. It’s so nice having them right at

your fingertips all year long.

Container Gardening With Herbs

There are many cute containers you can plant in, but

many of them are so small they don’t leave enough room

for the roots to properly develop. 6-12” is best.

Make sure it is well drained as most plants don’t like to

have their feet (roots) kept consistently wet. Your herbs

will probably not need watering every day. Check with

your finger to see if the soil is dry down to the second

knuckle before your water again. Remember your plants

can droop because of too much water too.

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When I was in high school, my mom and I both went

away on a trip for a couple of weeks. Mom left my dad a

note explaining things that needed to be done. One of

the things she said in the note was “don’t forget to water

the plants.”.

Dad read the note every day and watered the plants

every day. When we got back we poured the water off

from the dead plants…..

The best type of container has drainage holes so the

excess water can drain away. If your container has a

hole, make sure it has a saucer of some kind to catch the

excess water.

Be careful where you put your pot. Even with a saucer

any drips or overflows can result in ruined furniture.

Garden Tower

Another (totally awesome) option, though it won’t fit on

your kitchen counter, is a “garden tower”. You can grow

all your herbs and many small vegetables like lettuce, all

season long in only a 4’ square space.

Provide a grow light and give your garden tower a

quarter turn every day and you will have herbs and

vegetables all winter long.

How To Grow Herbs Indoors?

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Besides sunlight, what do your plant need in order to

grow?

Soil – A good quality purchased potting mix that drains

well is a better choice than dirt out of your garden. Plants

grown inside are more susceptible to soil borne diseases.

Leave about an inch of space at the top of your container

for watering.

Container Gardening has step by step photos on

transplanting your seedlings into a pot.

Water – Well water or spring water are better choices

than tap water that contains chlorine. Bring it to room

temperature so you don’t shock your plants.

Fertilize – A little liquid fertilizer, diluted once a month is

a good idea. Fish emulsion or liquid kelp are great

organic fertilizers, but you may not like the smell. There

are plenty of not so smelly alternatives, but they may not

be organic.

Worm casting tea is also a good option that your plants

will love and probably is not as smelly.

Heat – On a window sill in the middle of winter it may

not be warm enough for many of your herbs. A seedling

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heat mat may be an option to keep them warm enough.

Some must have heat in order to germinate.

One other consideration for growing inside is how large

your plant is going to get. Some herbs are just not great

candidates for growing on your kitchen counter just due

to their size. Consider what space you have for growing

your herbs in choosing which to grow.

Pruning And Using Your Inside Herbs

Once they start growing, prune often. Herbs respond

wonderfully to frequent pruning. Regular pruning makes

your herbs bushier and encourages it to grow more.

Harvesting also delays blossoming. When your herb

blossoms, it puts its energy into making the flower at the

expense of the herbs flavor.

Pruning also helps control the size of your herb.

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Grow What You Love

When you start any kind of garden you should consider

whether you will use it or not.

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I will not eat tarragon. I truly loth the herb. So, I don’t

grow it. But if you and your family like it, by all means it

should be growing in your kitchen.

If you like to cook Italian then basil, rosemary and

oregano should be on your list. If you like to cook

Mexican dishes then try cilantro, parsley, mint and

marjoram.

But some herbs do grow better indoors than others.

Below is a list of some that generally do well inside.

Grow And Use Herbs In Your Kitchen

Soft leaves like basil you can just cut up the whole leaf

and stem, but many herbs like rosemary and thyme need

to have the leaves striped from the stem. A simple herb

stripper will do the trick very easily.

If you would like to learn more about herbal medicine,

check out The Herbal Academy. This is my Honest

Review.

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Culinary and Medicinal

Many culinary herbs are also medicinal. So, every time

you eat them you are getting some of the “good for you”

properties.

Herbs contain minerals, phytonutrients and many also

have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. You can

grow herbs right on your countertop for great taste and

many of your family’s minor illnesses.

Others are just medicinal. The best advice I ever got

about medicinal herbs is, “start with one”. Learn all you

can about one herb. How to grow it, how to use it, what

are it’s “good for you” properties. Then learn about

another herb.

Here are a few herbs that work well for indoor

growing.

Aloe Vera – Medicinal -Start with a plant. It will multiply

and fill whatever size pot you give it – wonderful for

soothing and healing burns.

When I was in school, I burned my hand quite badly in

shop class. The teacher ran my hand under water while a

student ran to the science lab where there was an aloe

plant growing. My teacher slit a leaf open and laid it

along the side of my hand over the burn. My hand never

got infected and it healed very quickly.

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I’ve grown aloe plants ever sense. It works wonders on

most acne too. It was part of the beauty regimen of

Cleopatra.

Aloe is one of the easiest plants to grow. To tell when it

need water, squeeze the leaf. It is like a filled balloon. It

will be firm when it has enough water and gets sunken

when it needs water. Does better than most herbs in

moderate light.

Warning: If you are allergic to latex, do not use

aloe.

Basil – Culinary - Easy to grow from seed, but needs

bright light and warm temperatures. A cold window sill

will not make basil happy.

Most commonly used in Italian cooking, it is also used in

Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese cuisine. Famous for

making pesto. There are many different varieties.

It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Chives – Culinary - Easy to grow from seed. It needs

bright light and cool to moderate temperatures. It likes

moist soil.

Chives add the pop of color and flavor to your cooking.

You can even eat the flowers of this plant.

Chives are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, minerals and

antioxidants.

Cilantro – Culinary – Easy to grow from seed. Prefers

full sun and well-drained soil. Let it partially dry before

you water again.

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Perfect for those who like to make Mexican, Caribbean

and Asian dishes.

It’s a great source of Vitamin C

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Dill – Culinary - Most dill gets very large so choose a

dwarf or container variety. Easy to grow from seed. Dill

doesn’t grow back after harvesting so plant again.

Used in Greek cooking and is a must when making

pickles, and a favorite of mine, okra pickles. It makes a

wonderful dill infused vinegar.

Is a good source of Vitamin C and folate as well as

several minerals.

Holy Basil (Tulsi) – Medicinal - It likes warm

temperatures. It grows from seed, but only if the soil is

warm enough. It likes moist soil and bright light.

Tulsi is often made into a tea. Used for aiding digestion,

reducing stress and cold symptoms. Though it is usually

used medicinally it can be used as an herb in cooking.

Lemon Balm – Medicinal & Culinary – Lemon balm is

easy to grow as it doesn’t need as much sun as many

other herbs. It may be hard to find the plants in some

places, but it’s not too hard to start from seed. The most

important thing to know is the seeds need light to

germinate so don’t cover them with soil and use a dome

or something to keep them from drying out while they

germinate.

Lemon balm tastes so good and is so good for so many

things, I can’t begin to mention them all. Start by making

tea. Both hot and cold are wonderful made from lemon

balm. It’s in the mint family so it grows about the same

way.

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Mint – Culinary - This is actually best grown in a pot as it

can quickly take over a garden. Once it is established, it

loves to be harvested. Mint needs full to partial sunlight.

Peppermint does not grow true from seed. If you plant

mint seed you might get the flavor of any in the mint

family. It does grow true from cuttings so it is advised

you buy mint plants so you get the kind you like.

Used in Thai and middle eastern dishes. It is wonderful

made into a tea hot or iced to calm an upset or gassy

stomach.

Oregano – Culinary – Oregano likes bright light and

warm air. Make sure the soil drains well and don’t over

water. Easier grown from seedlings or cuttings. Seeds

may take too long.

Oregano has properties that help prevent inflammation

and boosts the immune system, so use it liberally in your

cooking and in your salads.

It is also used In Italian, Mexican and Greek cuisine.

Parsley – Culinary – Easy to grow as long as you don’t

overwater it as it is prone to root rot. It likes a lot of sun.

It’s easy to start from seed, but may take a while to get

to the harvest stage.

Parsley is a very nutritious herb. In fact, I was told once,

that I should eat the parsley that was on my plate for a

garnish, and throw the rest of the food away, because it

was the most nutritious thing on my plate. I wouldn’t go

that far, but it can sure boost your nutrition in the dead

of winter when there is not much else growing.

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Try making a pesto with it or half and half with basil.

Parslied potatoes are a favorite of mine.

Rosemary – Culinary - Rosemary likes high humidity,

high temperatures and moderately dry roots. It takes a

long time to get started so it might be best to start from

a plant. The same rosemary plant can grow for years.

Wonderful used to cook root vegetables and any meat. It

is said to improve memory just by smelling the leaves. It

is wonderful in the kitchen to run your hand over and

enjoy the aroma.

Rosemary also boosts the immune system. Some people

have gotten relief from migraines using rosemary.

Sage – Culinary – Choose a dwarf variety to grow inside.

Sage likes full sun. It is drought tolerant and slow

growing so start with plants.

Sage has a strong flavor so use sparingly. It is great to

season sauces, is a must for making sausage, goes well

with squash and don’t forget stuffing. It makes a

wonderful herbal tea. It is the perfect addition to a

holiday meal as it aids digestion.

Sage has both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Steam inhalation helps break up respiratory congestion.

Tarragon – Culinary – Tarragon needs partial sun, warm

temperatures and well-drained soil. It is a very easy herb

to grow.

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It is a very good source of vitamin A vitamin C, and

several minerals. It has anti-bacterial properties and is

basically just good for your body.

It is often used in chicken, seafood, vegetable and egg

dishes.

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Thyme – Culinary - The seeds are tiny and need light to

germinate, so it’s easier to grow from plants. Thyme likes

a lot of sunshine and a little water.

It goes well in so many things. It is wonderful in stocks,

soups and sauces and goes well with many other herbs

as well.

There are many varieties, my favorite is lemon thyme,

which goes well on fish or vegetables and just about

anything else you put it with. Used in French and Middle

Eastern cooking.

Thyme is the best thing I’ve found for a sore throat. Used

to treat upper respiratory ailments. Make a tea and drink

it.

Tip: If you are using fresh herbs in a recipe that calls for

dried herbs, you will need to use three times the amount

of fresh herb in that recipe.

Ways To Use Herbs

You are likely to end up with more herbs than you know

what to do with. There are many ways to use your herbs.

You can cook them, dehydrate them, infuse them in oil,

vinegar or honey. You can make them into tea. And don’t

forget all the creams, slaves and other beauty products

that are enhanced by a few herbs.

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They even help clean your air, just by growing on your

kitchen counter. How’s that for hard working herbs?

Whether you like to season your dishes with fresh herbs,

have a refreshing morning tea or extend the healthful

benefits of herbs to your family, having your own indoor

herb garden can be a very rewarding experience.

Do you want to learn more about starting and herb

garden? Check out my course A Beginners Guide To Herb

Gardening.

Visit the blog at Life Is Just Ducky.com and check out

more gardening and backyard homesteading articles.

Happy Gardening!

I believe everyone can grow at least part of their own food! Let me show you how.