How to Grow Quality Herbs

Herbs are ideal for the home cook or to add some color and fragrance to your home.

An herb garden is useful for cooking, medicinal purposes and aromatherapy. When growing herbs, start with the best quality seeds or transplants and grow them indoors so you can control the environment. Growing quality herbs takes time and preparation, but the outcome is well worth it.

Things You'll Need

• Flower pots
• Planting containers
• Potting soil
• Sand
• Screen mesh
• Mushroom compost
• Fish emulsion

Instructions

1. Lay small pieces of screen mesh over the draining holes in planting containers that are at least 8 inches deep and wide. Layer a 1-inch coat of gravel over the drainage screen. Mix a premium-quality, well-draining potting soil with equal parts sand and mushroom compost. Layer it into the pot.

2. Lightly water the soil to make it slightly damp in preparation for transplanting. Carefully turn the current herb pot upside down into one hand while firmly grasping the base of the herb plant with your other hand. Gently tug it out of the pot, if necessary (they often will just slide out), and set the plant gently into the new pot.

3. Water the herbs deeply and let the soil settle around the root ball. Add more potting soil on top, if necessary, to even it out with the top of the planter.

4. Place the pots in an area that gets at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. For large amounts of herbs, use fluorescent lights as a supplement. Keep them away from heating or A/C units, as well as cooking fumes or fluctuating heat in a kitchen.

5. Water the herbs deeply one or two times per week so the soil is moist, but not saturated. Do not to overwater the herbs.

6. Fertilize the plants once a week with a fish emulsion during the growing season. The amount you should apply depends on the type of herb you are growing and the fish emulsion variety. Work the fish emulsion into the soil around the base of the herb plant without directly touching the plant. Wear gloves when handling fish emulsion

7. Clip the leaves or sprigs very carefully with small, sharp scissors to harvest them. Don't cut away more than 1/3 of the herb plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase the herbs from a reputable organic herb nursery as transplants.

• Basil, oregano, lemon verbena, coriander, lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme grow well indoors.

References

• West Virginia University: Growing Herbs in the Home Garden
• Gardener's Net: Growing Herbs
• Savvy Gardener: Growing Herbs At Home

Resources

• Taylor Garden: Organic Herbs and Spices
• Culinary Herb Guide: A Complete Guide To Growing And Using Herbs