The Indoor Garden: Herbs in a Pot

Does your recipe call for fresh oregano? Ah, there's nothing like snipping some right out of your kitchen window. Need some chives in your scrambled eggs?

  • Topic: Edible Gardens
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger
  • Keywords: herbs, pots, containers, Planting Techniques, gardens, planters
  • Date: February 2004

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Does your recipe call for fresh oregano? Ah, there’s nothing like snipping some right out of your kitchen window. Need some chives in your scrambled eggs? They’re right there. Especially during the winter, indoor herb gardens prove a delight—we get fresh greens as well as that satisfaction of watching plants grow.

Good indoor herbs include: rosemary, sage, winter savory, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley and chives. Mary Haecox, our herb lady here at Santa Fe Greenhouses, has been growing and using medicinal and culinary herbs for years. She agrees that having herb gardens in the house in winter is fun, but says sometimes they can be tricky.

“Many herbs come from the Mediterranean area and have certain growing requirements, like rosemary,” she said. “It needs at least a half day of full sun and you don’t want to over water it. But one dry spell can kill it.”

But don’t be daunted. All you need to do is look around your house for the perfect environments, match them up with the right herbs, and you’re on your way. Some of the things to consider include:

  • Light—some plants need direct light (oregano, sage); others more diffuse (chives, parsley)
  • Temperature—plants need to stay warm
  • Soil—make sure it’s rich and well drained
  • Fertilization—different plants have varying needs
  • Water—regularly, but don’t let the soil get soggy
  • Pests—watch for aphids, white flies and spider mites
  • Air Circulation—avoid cold gusts and stagnant dry air

“If you put herb containers in the window, be sure to feel for drafts,” said Haecox. “If cold air is seeping in at the bottom, you can line the sill with a towel.”

Some other rules-of-thumb include:

  1. if a plant is getting spindly, it’s not getting enough light
  2. if leaves are turning yellow, it’s getting too much water
  3. fertilize once a month with seaweed or fish emulsion at half-strength
  4. water when the surface gets dry, using room temperature water to reduce shock
  • For plants that spread by underground stems, like the mints and ginger, wide, shallow pots are ideal. Herbs with long taproots like bay and parsley, need a deep pot.
  • Let bay, marjoram, oregano, sage and thyme dry out between waterings. But never let rosemary dry out.
  • If pests appear, use a soapy spray—mix 2 tablespoons flaked soap(Ivory is good) and one gallon warm water. Spray weekly.

Probably all of us have our favorite herbs and Haecox says hers is lemon thyme. “It has a good full flavor and you can put it on salads or use in a stir fry. Bake it on salmon then add some fresh leaves before eating it. It’s real yummy,” she said.

Yes, the snow is great. But to push spring a bit, there’s nothing like fresh herbs growing in the window. And kids love these miniature gardens.

After your indoor herbs get big and healthy this winter, you can plant them in the garden once it warms up. But be sure to put mints in pots, else they’ll take over your garden.

Have fun snipping fresh leaves!