Printer Friendly

GROWING HERBS INDOORS

Growing herbs is not limited to the garden. Most herbs that you can grow outdoors in containers also can grow indoors. If you live in an apartment and have no outdoor gardening space or if you want the flavor and fragrance of fresh herbs during the winter months, simply plant your favorites in containers and bring them inside. A pot of culinary herbs sitting on the kitchen windowsill will always be at hand when you are cooking. Pots of scented geraniums or mints growing in the living room will be a refreshing reminder of outdoor gardens and summertime.

Many perennial herbs such as the scented pelargoniums, lavender, and rosemary are tender where winters are severe and should be dug up from the garden, put into pots, and wintered indoors if the plants are not too large. It is even easier to grow these perennials outdoors in containers, then move them inside when winter approaches. Annual herbs can be started from seeds in containers indoors in the late fall or winter to provide fresh seasoning for winter cooking.

How Much Light?

Most of the culinary and ornamental herbs should get at least 5 hours of sun each day. A few, however, (such as chervil, lovage, lemon balm, the mints, sweet Cicely, and sweet woodruff) will grow well without direct sunlight as long as they receive good light.

A sunny window is a good location as long as the reflected heat is not too intense. If you don't have an available window that is exposed to direct sunlight, choose a spot that will provide the herbs with good light, and move the plants into the sun fora few hours whenever possible.

Fluorescent Lamps. An alternative to growing herbs in natural light is to raise them under fluorescent lights. Several manufacturers of fluorescent tubes produce types specifically designed for illuminating plants; these emit light in wave lengths favorable for plant growth. These special tubes are available in the usual fluorescent lamp sizes from 0.6-2m long and will fit into ordinary fluorescent fixtures. A standard fluorescent light arrangement consists of two of these tubes of whatever length you desire plus a reflector which is a canopy that throws light back onto the plants. You may have to do a bit of experimenting to determine the best intensity and length of exposure for your indoor herbs, but as a starting point give them 1+16 hours of light each day with the lights anywhere from 30-45cm above the top of the pots.

Temperature and Humidity

Herbs will be happy in the same indoor atmosphere that you prefer to live in yourself. Difficulties that arise with herbs indoors are often due to air that is too hot and dry, as is the case in many kitchens. Normal room temperature is best (around 70°). The herbs will survive nighttime drops in temperature as long as they do not reach freezing levels, but any prolonged periods of dry heat will be detrimental. Humidity should be between 30 and 50 percent. If it is less in your indoor growing area place a bowl or dish of water near the herbs: as it evaporates the water will moisten the air directly around the plants. You can check humidity with a small hygrometer often available in hardware, craft, or sporting goods stores.

Fresh, moving air is essential for indoor herbs. If the plants are next to a window, leave it open a crack for an hour or so each day, but be careful not to put them in a direct draft especially during the winter. Generally, any room that is not stuffy with stale air will be satisfactory.

Watering Guidelines

Check indoor herbs daily for soil moisture. If the soil just beneath the surface is dry, water the plants with room temperature tap water. The herbs will also appreciate having their foliage sprinkled with water to freshen them.

Be sure to rotate the containers frequently, regularly, and always in the same direction so that all sides of the plants get approximately equal exposure to light and air. Without this turning, the herbs will grow more exuberantly on the side exposed to the strongest light, while the shadow side will grow more slowly or the foliage there may wither and drop.

Pest and Disease Tips

Though it is usually supposed that the oil in their leaves makes herbs resistant to diseases and repels most insect pests, you would be wise to take a few precautions to assure their health. Herbs transplanted from the garden and brought indoors should be checked for aphids and red spider mites. If you find either on your plants, use a weak solution of yellow naphtha soap and water to control both pests on those herbs that you will use in cooking. Malathion is good for controlling aphids on non-culinary herbs.

Top of Page