How to grow indoor herb tea garden

Growing an indoor tea garden is easy, fun, and rewarding.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pebbles or aquarium rock(enough to make a one inch layer of in the bottom of your plants container)
• Herb plants of your choice, suggestions listed at the conclusion of this article
• organic indoor potting soil
• Window box or another container with drainage suitable for plants to live in.

1. 

   Line a window box with 1" layer of pebbles for drainage. This is important especially for an indoor plant.

2. 
   Seedlings are easier to grow

   add organic potting soil to within 3 inches from the rim of the top of the box. Plants should be spaced 4 inches apart.

3. 
   Beautiful & healthy plants

   Insert plant and firmly press it's base(right above the roots) into the soil. Fill in soil around the plant so it's secure and standing upright. I prefer to start with seedlings or young plants. You can start most herbs from seed by following the directions on the back of the seed packet. It's important your plants get enough light, so place them in a sunny, preferably southern facing, window. Water only when the soil is dry, for my region of the country (mid-west) this is once a week.

4. 
   have fun with it!

   Most herbs are ready for harvest after a few dozen leaves have developed. Make sure to cut with a sharp pair of scissors at any point on the upper third of the plant. Keep the shape of the plant by cutting around the tops, and avoid pulling at the plant while cutting. It's also less stressful for the plant if you harvest late in the day, early evening hours. You can preserve the herbs you've harvested by drying the leaves on a paper towel for a few days before transferring to a enclosed container.

5. 

   Last but not least it's time to make some tea! I use a tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of boiling water and steep about 5-7 minutes to bring out all the herbal flavors and healing properties. Strain and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Here's some great herbs that I would recommend to any beginning herb gardener: I love growing oregano because it adds a unique flavor and is very hearty. This herb is commonly used in Italian dishes. Peppermint relaxes muscles and soothes sore throats. Sage grows very easily and is known for its strong antimicrobial agents that prevent colds and coughs. Rosemary is another herb commonly used in teas and cooking, as a bonus rosemary and its aroma therapy effects have been known to ward off migraines.

[schmammel]

on 10/25/2009 I like your ideas - good article