How to Grow Herbs Indoors in the Winter

Sage

Fresh herbs add a gourmet zing to soups, stews, salads and other dishes, but buying them in a grocery store can be prohibitively expensive, especially in the winter when the herbs are often shipped in from greenhouses or warmer climates. Many cooks instead choose to grow their own herbs, to save money and ensure optimum freshness, and some herbs can be grown indoors year round. Growing herbs indoors in the winter is also a great antidote to the season's dreariness for anxious gardeners itching for spring.

Things You'll Need

• Herb transplants
• Containers, preferably terra cotta pots
• Potting soil

Instructions

1. Choose which herbs you would like to grow. Most herbs grow well in containers, but not all of them very gracefully over winter. Some, like dill, are annuals that will die off at the end of summer no matter what you do. Others are biennials, which have a life cycle of 2 years, or perennials, which will live for several years. Some good choices to grow indoors in the winter include bay, marjoram, parsley, scented geranium, chives, mint, rosemary, winter savory, oregano and sage. It can be difficult to start herbs from seed in the fall or winter, so your best bet is to either buy plants or dig up and transplant herbs from your garden outside.

2. Get containers to put them in. Any container with good drainage will do, but terra cotta pots are an especially good choice, since the clay allows moisture to vent. Use a high-quality potting soil to grow healthy herbs.

3. Choose a sunny window in which to place your herbs. Most herbs need at least 6 hours' direct sunlight, plus an additional 6 to 8 hours of indirect light, and in the winter this can be tough to provide. If you can, use a south-facing window for maximum light exposure. You may need to supplement with artificial lights. Full-spectrum grow lights are the best, but plain fluorescent lights will do in a pinch. Make sure to rotate your herbs every few days so that each side gets adequate light.

4. Monitor the temperature. Herbs do best with daytime temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures closer to 55.

5. Don''t forget to water. Depending on the humidity levels in your house, you will need to water your herbs every 2 to 4 days. The soil should remain evenly damp but not too wet.

6. If you fertilize, do it sparingly. "Hungry" herbs tend to have more flavorful leaves. A single application of fertilizer or plant food in the fall should be enough to carry you through the winter.

7. Remove and discard yellow leaves so that the plant doesn't waste any energy maintaining them. For maximum flavor, do not allow herbs to flower (pinch back any buds that appear).

8. Use your herbs regularly. Not only will this add flavor to your everyday cooking, it will encourage your herbs to continue to put out more leaves, ensuring that you will have a supply of fresh herbs all through the winter.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish