Start Gardening Indoors with Spring Herbs

If you're eager to garden, start with an indoor windowsill herb garden and you'll save money on expensive grocery-store varieties. Plant herbs in pots and place them near a window that gets at least 5 hours of sun a day. Herbs adapt well to indoor growing conditions and can be put outside when the weather warms up.

Position well:

Most herbs need five hours of full midday sun in warm weather to produce the best flavour and growth. They can be planted indoors in containers or window boxes, then moved to the garden when it warms up. Although some herbs like parsley and thyme can tolerate a little cool weather, it's best to bring them indoors in the late fall to help preserve them. A sunny south-facing window is adequate for most indoor herbs.

 
 
 
Follow directions:

Not all herbs are created equal. If you've planted your herb garden in one large pot, group together herbs with similar growing requirements for more efficient plant care. For more tips, read our Plant Care Guides or refer to the section on growing conditions below for detailed planting tips on individual herbs.

 
 
 
Water properly:

Most herbs need to be kept damp but not wet; don't over water and do encourage proper drainage. Wait until the soil is dry, down to a depth of a 1/2 inch or so, then water thoroughly until soil is moist.

The best time to pick herbs is first thing in the morning, when they contain the most essential oils and are most fragrant and aromatic.


Harvest herbs by cutting back a shoot to just above a leaf to encourage regrowth. Fiskars has a wide variety of shears available in-store and online, complete with serrated blades and sharp precision-ground blades.
 
Growing conditions

Basil: Plant in full sun in moist well-drained soil.Mint: Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist soil.Oregano: Plant in full sun in rich fertile soil.Parsley: Plant in full sun or partial shade in rich moist soil.Sage: Plant in full sun in well-drained soil.Thyme: Plant in full sun in light well-drained soil.
 
Thanks to Home Depot for the tips!