The Best Way to Grow Herbs

Herbs are easy to grow and provide the cooking enthusiast with fresh ways to spice up her special dishes. Herbs also make decorative additions to a kitchen windowsill. The best way to grow herbs is in containers, indoors. This gives you control over temperature, light and moisture and cuts down on the number of pests you will have to deal with. The most important aspects to growing herbs in containers is to choose pots that have drainage holes in the bottom and to use a freely draining soil. Soggy roots usually rot, so fast drainage is critical.

Spray bottles
Fertilizer
Dishwashing liquid

Instructions

- 1
  Place the herb pots in an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Some herbs, such as mint, rosemary and thyme, can tolerate some indirect sun, but full sun is ideal.
- 2
  Give the pots a quarter turn once a week. This will allow all sides of the plant to receive sun.
- 3
  Maintain room temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
- 4
  Fill a spray bottle with water and mist the herb plants daily to provide humidity.
- 5
  Water the herbs when the soil is dry when you stick your finger an inch into it. Never let rosemary dry out completely
- 6
  Fertilize the potted herb plants every two weeks with a water-soluble, all-purpose fertilizer. Dilute the fertilizer to one-fourth the strength recommended on the label.
- 7
  Inspect the herb plants periodically for signs of pests. Pour a mixture of 3/4 tsp. dishwashing liquid and 2 cups of warm water into a spray bottle and spray the solution directly on the pests.
- 8
  Check the bottom of the pots for roots. If you see roots, transplant the herbs into the next size larger container, using fresh potting soil. The ideal time to transplant is in the spring.

What Herbs Do I Plant in a Container?

Germination of Fennel

Growing Herbs