How to Grow Herbs Indoors From Seed

Fresh herbs add new levels of flavor to any homemade dish to which most prepared, dried and bottled herb products cannot compare. Live herb plants also smell pleasant and awaken the senses. Thus, growing herbs indoors not only makes preparing your favorite meal easier, but can also freshen the scent of your home. Grow herbs indoors from seed to take advantage of all these benefits. Your only limitation is the number of pots and seeds you can get your hands on.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic pots
• Potting soil
• Herb seeds
• Plastic spray bottle
• Fluorescent lighting (optional)
• Fan (optional)
• Liquid garden fertilizer or fish emulsion

Instructions

1. Select your plant pots. Pots may be made of plastic, ceramic or metal. Choose one that complements your indoor decor. For best results, start with a 5-gallon-sized pot or bigger. The larger your pot, the larger your herb plants can grow.

2. Fill the pot with standard potting soil. Avoid filling the pot to its brim. A soil level 2 to 3 inches below the top edge of the pot is sufficient.

3. Select herb seeds. Choose herbs that you use often and have a wide range of uses. Examples include mint, basil, chives and rosemary. Seeds can be obtained in the garden department of most retailers, as well as at local nurseries. Sow the seeds according to the guidelines outlined on the seed packet as different herbs have different sowing requirements. For easiest maintenance, keep a single type of herb in each pot.

4. Fill a plastic spray bottle with water. Mist the surface of the potting soil until the soil is damp to the touch. Water twice daily until the herb seeds germinate. Most herbs sprout within 10 to 14 days of planting.

5. Provide light. Most herb species need full sunlight to thrive. Set up the pots near a large window that receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. If this is not possible, place the pots under a fluorescent light. A simple shop light from a local hardware store will work. Hang the light 8 inches above the potted herbs and run the light for 12 to 14 hours a day.

6. Add fresh air. Herbs grown indoors need air circulation to prevent fungus and mold from growing on their leaves. Open a window near the herbs, or place a small fan near the plants and direct the airflow through their leaves.

7. Fertilize the indoor herbs. The small nature of a pot restricts the amount of nutrients that the plant receives. Apply a liquid garden fertilizer or fish emulsion once a week. Administer according to the instructions of the fertilizer's or emulsion's specific manufacturer, as potency varies according to the product.

Tips & Warnings

• Gardeners can purchase an indoor kit for growing herbs. These systems typically include a built-in light and fan to create the optimum growing environment. You may purchase such kits from a local nursery, or from an online retailer such as Amazon.

• You may need to transplant your herbs into progressively larger pots as they grow. Some herbs, such as mint, are relatively shallow-growing. Others, such as basil or rosemary, can live several years and grow very large. Inspect the soil at the border of the pot for root density. It is time for a bigger pot if you notice many roots growing along the side of the current pot.

References

• "Little Herb Gardens ... ;" G. Brennan, M. Luebbermann; 2004
• " ... Guide to Growing and Cooking With Herbs;" K. Schlosser; 2007

Resources

• Maryland Cooperative Extension: Indoor Plant Tips
• Buy an Indoor Herb Garden System Online