Earthly Garden

Here is a great article about setting up an indoor herb garden for the winter. Tommorow I’ll share with you the best herbs for indoor growing and how to succeed with each one!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Just because the days are growing cooler and the leaves are starting to turn, doesn’t mean the end of fresh herbs and the garden’s bounty. Container herb gardening is a great way to spice up your winter cooking with fresh, tasty herbs all winter long.

Gardeners at all levels can enjoy fresh herbs this winter with these five simple tips from Dr. Calvin Finch, horticultural educator and one of the country’s leading master gardener program directors.

Contain It. Selecting the right container is key. Choices range from standard flower pots and planter boxes to wooden barrels, hanging baskets and larger pots. Be sure to choose a durable container that has adequate drainage. For most herbs, mid-size containers are large enough to ensure the root area stays moist and is unrestricted. Line the base of the container with newspaper to prevent soil loss.

Move It In. It’s relatively simple to cut a portion of an outdoor plant — such as chives, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme and plant it indoors. Get as many roots as possible when you remove the clump. You can also take a stem cutting by snipping a six-inch section of stem and removing the lower leaves before planting. Some plants, though, including basil and dill, will work best from seeding.

Choose Your Medium. Commercially prepared “soil-less” mixtures work well because they drain quickly and are free from soil-borne diseases and weed seeds. You can also purchase a good quality soil potting mixture, which generally consists of one part loam or topsoil, one part peat moss, leafmold or compost, and one part vermiculite or perlite. Regardless of the medium, make sure it is nutrient-rich to help plants reach their peak. Local soil alone won’t include the right balance of nutrients.

Let the Sunshine In,Your garden will require at least five hours of direct sunlight daily. Place plants in a south- or west-facing window. If good window light isn’t an option, fluorescent lighting can work as well.

Feed the Beast. Container plants can run out of “food” quickly since their roots can’t expand to find nutrients. At the time of planting, mix controlled-release fertilizer granules into the soil mix. Then, to maintain the nutrient supply, use a soluble liquid fertilizer with every other watering. Be sure to learn about the nutrient needs of your herbs, because requirements can vary substantially between plants. And be careful not to over-water. Check with your finger about one-third of the way into the pot to see if the soil is dry and needs watering.

Most Common Container Gardening Mistakes

Appropriate amount of light. Many plants that work well in containers indoors do not require full sun but many perform best with some light. Gardeners who are most successful research the light needs of their plants and seek locations that provide adequate light.

Over watering.Container plants require adequate water but the soil should not be soggy. Let the surface dry out between watering. It is usually best to water enough to have it run through into the saucer and then to empty the saucer. It’s much easier to kill herbs by overwatering than underwatering.

Sufficient nutrients.Fertilizers are critical in container gardening, but shouldn’t be used as a cure-all. Provide a controlled release fertilizer at planting and a soluble fertilizer every second watering for most plants, but don’t add extra fertilizer every time a leaf yellows. If you’re fertilizing properly, then consider water and light if your plants aren’t at peak health.

SOURCE Nutrients For Life Foundation

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