Here's one of mine:
Here are a couple of tips I've picked up along the way:
- Don't put too many seeds in one pot. Trust your green thumb. If you care for them, they will grow. So, if you add a bunch of seeds thinking that many of them just won't grow you'll overcrowd your pot when they do and defeat the whole purpose.
- I use green tea for fertilizer. Not going to finish that cup? Pour it in! It's not just a miracle drink for humans. (if you use loose tea leaves make sure you strain them out. Rotten tea leaves attract unwanted bugs... fine outside. Not so fun in your apartment).
- I sing to my plants. Hey, it may not do anything, but they are a captive audience (or at least they humor me).
- I harvest them often. They grow back; so don't be afraid to enjoy the fruits of your labor! This encourages thick and healthy growth. Generally, try not to trim more than a third of the herb's foliage.
- Typically, you get the best results if you put your herbs on a south facing windowsill. You can also use florescent lights to supplement any serious lack of light.
- If your herbs grow faster than you can use them you can harvest them and freeze or dry them.
- Make sure your windowsill is not drafty in the winter.
So how do you get started? Well, let me tell you!:
- You'll need pots that are 4-6 inches deep and have a drainage system (either a whole in the bottom or you can create one by putting stones in the bottom)
- Seeds (I find that oregano, thyme, parsley, cilantro, chives and rosemary all grow pretty well indoors).
- Compost (if you don't compost, you can generally find compost somewhere in your community. Check your city council's website or google it.)
Steps:
- Fill about half to 2/3 of your pot with compost.
- Place a few seeds down.
- Cover with compost.
- Pour water into the pot so that the soil is damp but not flooded.
- Wait for your seedlings to grow.
- Once they start to grow place them on the windowsill for sunlight. Voila!
Good luck and enjoy!
~Shreena
After visiting twin oaks this weekend, they are growing with 90% human compost, so your fertilizer quotiont is erring on the side of safety in the extreme.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the soil look pretty, though? :-)
ReplyDeletemay i suggest egg shell - rinsed and crushed you can add a little to soil, also fish, nice bits of fish ( i guess outside, not really for the inside).
ReplyDeleteOoo! I love the egg shell idea! Thanks for sharing. I wonder if you definitely need to rinse the egg shell, though.
ReplyDeleteI no longer eat fish, but great suggestion for others who do!
The picture of the oregano looks so cool when you click on it to magnify it!
ReplyDeleteUm... so this post is kinda late, but I just learned of this blog. :) On the other end of herb-seeding season, I'm ready to dry some. Any tips on how to do that during such a wet/humid spell??
ReplyDeleteHey Patricia! You can use your oven to dry out herbs in times of humidity. Put the herbs on a baking sheet and into the oven at 200 degrees for 2 to 3 hours. Then store them in a container to retain the flavor.
ReplyDeleteYou can also infuse oil with some herbs.
Also, I haven't tried this myself, but you could try drying herbs the same way you would press flowers --> put the herbs in between a paper towel and then under a heavy book. Leave it for a few days. You'll know the herbs are ready to be stored when they crumble in your hand. I'm not sure how this will affect the flavor, though.
Good luck!
~Shreena
P.S. This is a great idea for a new blog post. Thank you!
ReplyDelete