If you love using fresh herbs while cooking a meal, then you must grow a herb garden on your windowsill. It is quite easy to create one and the best part is not only you get easy access to some of the freshest herbs, but also these potted plants require minimal care. You can supply your kitchen with various herbs that are needed all-year-round, by choosing a sunny spot on your window and growing the herbs you love the most – fresh coriander, basil and mint.
Create a Mini-Herb Garden on Your Windowsill
If you are lucky and have a balcony, then you can grow your kitchen garden there as well. However, not everyone owns a balcony, a terrace or a verandah. For such nature-loving homeowners, who do not have much space, a herb garden on a windowsill can easily be created. Take a look at these steps involved in creating the perfect mini-herb garden in your kitchen!
- Choose a sunny spot
- Select the right containers
- Choose the herbs you want
- Use the right potting mix and fertilizer
- Have ample drainage points
Let us now discuss each step on how you can have a windowsill herb garden of your own.
Choose a sunny spot
Select the area on your window that receives plenty of sunlight. A sunny windowsill is an ideal place for your plants to thrive and flourish. A southwest window provides around 6-8 hours of sunlight in a day, which is best for your herb garden. Once you have decided where you will place your containers, it is time to choose the type of container for your herb garden.
Select the right containers
You don’t have to be fancy in selecting the containers for your kitchen garden. Be a bit creative in picking up the right pot. Some empty plastic bottles can be cut out from the middle and can be used as a container.
Any vacant paper cups and plates can also be used as pots for your herb garden. If you want to spruce up your kitchen decor with these lively herb plants, then go for some bright-coloured pots that would look amazing on your windowsill.
Use the right potting mix and fertilizer
Fill the pot with the right potting mix. It should have the right amount of fresh manure and sand for the plants to thrive. Make sure that you don’t overwater the plants or else the soil will get water-logged, creating rotten roots and the plant will die. Keep ample drainage points in the container so that excess water completely drains out.
Choose the herbs you want
Grow what you eat. Everyone has their own herb-favourites. Some people like more coriander and chillies on their dish, while others love the aroma of fresh mint leaves.
You can grow all the usual herbs on your windowsill. Some of the easy herbs to grow at home is mint, coriander, basil, chillies, curry leaves and anything you want to garnish your food with. All of these herbs are quite easy to grow and maintain. Check out some of these common herbs that you can grow on your own.
Spring Onions
All you need to do is plant a rotten onion 1-inch deep into the soil. The onion bulb will develop roots and fresh spring onion leaves will sprout in no time. Whenever you want a handful of spring onion sprigs, cut out the required leaves from its base and always leave the center ones in the pot, so that more leaves continue to sprout.
Fresh Garlic Chives
Sow a garlic clove into the soil and water it often. In a week’s time, you will see garlic chives sprouting. If you want the process to be quicker, take a container without soil, add some water and put the garlic cloves in it.
You will see roots start developing and then some leaves begin to sprout. Sow this clove in the soil with the pointy end facing upwards. You will get fresh garlic chives that you can use in your omelet or pasta dressing.
Coriander
Growing coriander on your windowsill is fairly easy. You need a handful of coriander seeds. Sprinkle the seeds in the pot and cover it with soil. Spray some water regularly. You will see fresh coriander leaves sprout. Cut out the leaves you want and use them when needed.
Mint Leaves
The next time you purchase mint or podina from your local grocery store, don’t throw away the stems once you have plucked out all the mint leaves. Cut out the lower edges of the stems and place them in a container with some water.
Don’t soak it in water but keep the stems moist at all times. Once mint leaves start sprouting, transfer the stems into the pot. You will see a fresh batch of mint leaves in a few days. Keep using those mint leaves and the plant will sprout more leaves.
Fenugreek Leaves
One of the best plants for your windowsill herb garden is fenugreek. This aromatic herb is fairly easy to grow and maintain. Throw in a few fenugreek (methi) seeds in the pot on your windowsill. Keep the soil moist for all times. You will see green leaves sprouting in less than a week’s time. You can use methi leaves in salads and as a garnish for your curries.
The Dos and Don’ts of a Herb Garden on a Windowsill
For an indoor garden, there are a few dos and don’ts that you must keep in mind to have flourishing plants. Follow these useful tips for your indoor herb garden.
- Don’t overwater plants
Make sure to keep the soil moist but not too water-logged. You can check the soil’s water content by placing your finger an inch deeper into the soil, if it comes out dry, then you need to water the plant. Another way of checking if the plant needs water or not is to see if the leaves of the plants are drooping or not. If you see the leaves are slightly drooping and the soil is also dry, then water the plants.
- Be careful of pests and spider webs
If you see fine web-like structures in the leaves, use a natural spray. Don’t use a pesticide in the kitchen because most of the pesticides or insecticides are inflammable and also they contain harmful content that is not good for your health.
For a natural pesticide, use a few drops of Neem Essential Oil in a spray pump and spray it on your windowsill herb garden. Another natural insecticide that can be made at home is to not throw garlic peels. Soak them in water and leave it 3-4 days, the solution of the soaked-in garlic peels will become cloudy and give out a pungent odour, which is perfect! Fill the solution in a spray pump bottle and sprinkle onto the leaves. This will keep spiders and other insects at bay.
- Use fertilizer to give a boost to the plants
One of the best ways to grow a herb garden on your windowsill is to use a good fertilizer to keep the plants flourishing well. You can also use natural fertilizers. Soak in leftover banana and orange or any citrus peels for a week. Then water the plants with this water as the soaked-in peels release essential vitamins and minerals needed for the plants.
- Don’t overcrowd space on the windowsill
It is also important not to overcrowd the window because it can affect the air-flow of the plants. If there are a lot of plants on the window, it would hamper your kitchen décor, but will also affect the growth of the plants.
Make sure there is enough sunlight, water and good airflow.
- Use kitchen waste as your indoor herb garden compost
It is always a good idea to use kitchen waste and convert it into garden compost. Don’t throw away eggshells, tea leaves, banana and orange peels into the dustbin. Grind them and feed your plants this nutrient-dense natural fertilizer.
This was a comprehensive guide to grow a herb garden on your windowsill. If you have any queries, then don’t forget to write to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you.
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