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Indoor winter herb gardens make it possible to enjoy fresh herbs year round. These herbs can be grown organically, in an Earth-friendly manner.
The first step is to gather all necessary materials.
- Open pollinated heirloom seeds. Open pollinated, heirloom seeds are organic, traditional seeds that produce herbs from generations ago.
- Organic compost.
- Crushed egg shells.
- Cooled coffee, tea water, or water from cooking vegetables or pasta.
- Eco-friendly planters that fit on a windowsill. One planter will be needed for each type of herb.
- Popsicle sticks and a pen or marker.
A clean surface, either indoor or out, is necessary to begin. Lay out the planters and the container of compost, as well as the rest of the items from the list above.
Fill each pot nearly full of compost. Write the names of the herbs on separate popsicle sticks and poke them part-way into the pots. Add seeds to their corresponding pots according to the manufacturers’ instructions, then top with a thin layer of crushed egg shells. The water types in the list above, as well as the compost and the crushed eggshells, will provide many nutrients that will help the herbs to grow. Water the seeds with tea, pasta or vegetable water , and place the planters on whichever windowsill will provide the most sunlight during the winter months.
Over the winter, try to keep the soil damp but not too wet.
Once the plants have grown in, begin snipping a few leaves off each plant throughout the week. Use the herbs in soups, salads and other meal components. Many herbs can also be used in tea.
Though it is not necessary to do so, it is possible to transplant the herbs outside to the garden after the last frost in the spring.
Growing herbs in an eco-friendly manner throughout the winter and adding them to your cooking will give your family a nutritional boost and provide some green to get you through the winter months.
