| Growing an organic herb garden is a | | | | those in which the live nursery plants were |
| delightful project. The fragrant plants not | | | | purchased. This will give your plants room to |
| only look and smell good; they are also good | | | | start growing. |
| for flavoring foods. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Once your herbs are stabilized and growing |
| Indoor organic herb gardens have the | | | | well, transplant them into larger containers. |
| advantage of being year-round, giving a | | | | |
| continuous supply of fresh herbs. An indoor | | | | 4. Basil, mint, oregano, and sage are |
| organic herb garden can be as small as a few | | | | examples of herbs that can be grown in pots |
| pots on a window sill or as large as a | | | | of about 8 to 10 inches. |
| greenhouse filled with containers of aromatic | | | | |
| organic herbs. | | | | 5. If you want a large crop of herbs that is |
| | | | constantly being replenished in your organic |
| Herb Choices | | | | herb garden, use 3 to 5 gallon containers. |
| | | | This will assure you of having plenty of |
| There are many ways to decide which herbs to | | | | rosemary, basil, etc. when you want it. |
| include in your organic herb garden. Here are | | | | |
| some ideas. | | | | Container Soil |
| | | | |
| 1. Italian Herb Garden: Plant rosemary, | | | | Indoor organic herb gardens call for building |
| oregano, basil, fennel, and chives. Terra | | | | organic soil. Your soil should have a pH of |
| cotta containers will make your indoor | | | | about 7, since herbs prefer a more alkaline |
| organic herb garden look authentically old | | | | soil. If yours is too acid, add some |
| world. | | | | calcified seaweed. Be sure you use only |
| | | | organic fertilizers to build your soil. |
| 2. French Herb Garden: Begin with lemon | | | | |
| basil, marjoram, and parsley, and add other | | | | Indoor Lighting |
| herbs you like to use in French cooking. | | | | |
| | | | An indoor organic herb garden will need |
| 3. Fragrant Herb Garden: Choose angelica, | | | | lighting, especially if your room is not |
| bergamot, catmint, chamomile, thyme, | | | | sunny. Lighting is especially important for |
| lavender, lemon balm, mint, and sage. This | | | | year-round indoor gardens. |
| organic herb garden is a natural air | | | | |
| freshener. | | | | Different plants have different light |
| | | | requirements, some preferring bright sun and |
| 4. Tea Herb Garden: If you enjoy herbal teas, | | | | others preferring shade. Most herbs prefer |
| your organic herb garden might focus on | | | | full sun, but there are exceptions, so learn |
| appropriate herbs for your tea: catnip, | | | | what each of your herbs needs. |
| chamomile, lavender, lemon grass, mint, and | | | | |
| peppermint. | | | | Incandescent lights, even though called "grow |
| | | | lights", are a poor choice for your indoor |
| You may not want to theme your indoor organic | | | | organic herb garden. Fluorescent lights are |
| herb garden, but simply grow a few herbs that | | | | better, and have the advantage of being |
| appeal to you. | | | | inexpensive, easily available, and easy to |
| | | | set up. The best choice for lighting your |
| Containers | | | | indoor organic herb garden is high intensity |
| | | | discharge lighting, often called HID lights. |
| Many herbs are well-suited to container | | | | These are even more affordable and efficient. |
| gardening, but you will want to choose | | | | |
| containers according to the herbs you intend | | | | Useful and Beautiful |
| to grow. | | | | |
| | | | An indoor organic herb garden can be both |
| 1. Those tiny herb peat pots sold in discount | | | | useful and beautiful. Herbs are generally |
| stores give the wrong idea. Your indoor | | | | eager to please, and require little |
| organic herb garden will not last long with | | | | maintenance. Simply give them the right food, |
| such small thinking. | | | | water, and sunlight, and they will reward you |
| | | | abundantly. |
| 2. Begin with containers a bit larger than | | | | |