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