CasaSugar

Do You Grow Herbs Indoors in the Winter?

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:15:35 -0800

When I lived in the snowy Midwest, I always kept a kitchen window herb garden during the Winter, and also grew alfalfa sprouts in a jar. Having something green in such a snowy part of the year kept my spirits up, and also added flavor to my cooking. Do you grow herbs or other edibles indoors in the Winter?

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Casa Quickie: Basil Starters, the Cheap and Easy Way

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:45:03 -0700

The next time you buy a batch of basil at the grocery store or farmer's market, don't throw away the stems! Leave a few leaves on any basil cutting that is 3 to 5 inches long. Then, pinch off the flowers on the top of the basil, cut a clean, angled end on the basil, and stick it in some water. Place it in a bright location and within a few weeks you should have enough root growth to plant a crop of basil.

DIY: Grow an Herb Garden Indoors

CasaSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0700

Want an easy way to get into gardening? Then try an indoor herb garden!

Supplies:

1 large container with 20-inch diameter (plastic or clay, with a drainage hole)
1 saucer to fit container
Certified organic potting soil mix
Herb plants
Gravel or screen mesh
Certified organic fertilizer

To learn the steps, read more.

Here's how, compiled from Beautyjust4you and GardenGuides:

Choose a location for your garden that gets at least 5 hours of sun a day, preferably near a Southern or Western window.
To keep the soil from coming out of your container's drainage hole, cover it loosely with some gravel or screen mesh.
Sit your pot in a saucer to catch the drainage.
Fill your pot with 2/3 organic potting soil mix.
For better selection and advice, go to a nursery that specializes in herbs to buy your plants.
Choose herbs that need similar amounts of sunlight (i.e., rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, and oregano all need 5-6 hrs.)
Place the taller herbs (i.e. rosemary) in the center of your pot, and the others around the sides. Place them at about the same depth they were growing in their nursery pots.
While planting, gently loosen the soil around each root ball.
Fill the pot with more soil, to about 2 inches from the top.
Give them a good first watering, but don't overwater them or let them stand in a saucer full of water.
Soak once or twice a week, and allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
Feed your garden once a month with a bit of organic fertilizer.
Your herbs should be ready for use in a few weeks. Always clip the outer leaves only as you need them, leaving plenty of growth on the plant.
To maintain your indoor garden long-term, repot it once a year, and renew your annual herbs (i.e. basil, dill, fennel, mint, parsley, rosemary, coriander).
Check out my post to read about five easy herbs to start your garden.

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Garden Therapy: Winter Tips

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:15:49 -0800

Since snow and ice don't make for a successful garden, most of us have to resort to satisfying our green thumb through nurturing indoor plants and kitchen window herb gardens in the Winter. To make the most of your Winter plants, try these indoor gardening tips.

Indoor plants will turn to follow the light, so you should rotate an indoor plant to encourage proper growth. Otherwise, your plant will likely lean to one side.
Concerned that your plant isn't getting enough light this Winter? If your plant has small leaves, thinner stems than usual, and its color is lighter than it has been in the Summer months, it is likely light-deficient. Try moving it closer to a window.
Another option is to supplement natural sunlight with artificial lighting, such as with a table lamp.

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Enjoy Garden Herbs Year-Round

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:45:34 -0700

Like many other gardeners, I've enjoyed the convenience of stepping onto my deck to pick sage, basil, marjoram, parsley, and many other herbs throughout the summer. These herbs were a great addition to salads and entrées, and left my tastebuds humming throughout many a meal.

As the temperature drops across the country, some gardeners may have already resigned themselves to giving up their herbs until next spring. But I'm here to tell you that you don't have to!

If you already have herbs in your garden, then you can transfer them indoors for the fall and winter. According to Lighter Footsteps, mint, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and chives all have a great chance to make it indoors.

To find out how to transplant your herbs, just read more

Mix equal parts commercial potting soil, sand, and peat moss.
Transfer the healthiest-lookng herbs to pots, while being gentle with the plants' roots.
Store the pots in a shaded, protected area, such as a porch or garage.
Give your herbs one to two weeks to adjust to the reduction in heat and sunlight before bringing them indoors part-time.
After another week or two, the herbs will be ready to stay inside for the rest of the fall and winter.
Keep potted herbs where they'll get plenty of light, but make sure that they aren't by any heating ducts or major appliances.
Water regularly, but make sure not to overwater.
Enjoy fresh herbs in your winter meals, even if there's snow falling outside your kitchen window!

Casa Quickie: White Picket Fence Planter

CasaSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:30:18 -0700

Yet again, Martha Stewart wins me over with an ingenious and simple craft project! By gluing wooden plant markers to a wooden planter box, and painting it white, you can create your very own indoor white picket fenced garden. Here, herbs are grown, but you can certainly choose any plant you like. I like the idea of growing grass, such as wheat grass, to replicate the look of a suburban front yard. Throw down a miniature newspaper and a kid's bicycle to create a Truman Show-esque diorama.
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Steal of the Day: Teak Planters

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:31 -0700

Aside from the occasional crack, I certainly have no complaints about classic, terracotta planters; they'll never go out of style. But, who says you shouldn't mix it up a bit? The Smith & Hawken Teak Planters ($13.99- $18.99) will add a new visual element to your indoor herb garden, without overwhelming your wallet. I love the beautiful woodgrain of teak, and also the fact that these planters' watertight aluminum liners will trap water to prevent staining your floors and tabletops. I say this steal is good to grow in!