How to Grow Herbs in a Peat Pot on a Windowsill

Select seeds for herbs that stay dense and compact when they grow into mature plants. Herbs in this category include parsley, oregano, mint and chives.

Fill each peat starter pot with high quality seed starting mix. These mixes may be purchased in stores and consist of sterile, soil-free materials such as peat or spahagnum moss. Regular soil is too heavy for seeds and may contain pathogens that damage their health.

Pour enough water over the starter mix to make it moist, never soggy or muddy.

Sprinkle seeds into each starter cup. Cover larger seeds with a sprinkling of seed starting mix but leave small seeds laying on the surface of the soil.

Place the peat starter pots into a tray, baking dish, plastic box or other container that won't leak water onto your window sill as the pots decompose. Place the tray into your sunny window.

Cover the containers with a sheet of plastic wrap or a plastic bag. Check the pots daily to ensure the soil remains moist. Remove the plastic wrap as soon as the seeds sprout and tiny plants appear.

Water the seedlings daily or as the soil loses moisture to promote good growth.

Transplant the small starter pots into larger, more permanent pots in five to 10 weeks. Remember to choose containers large enough to hold your mature plants but small enough to remain in your windowsill.