Herbs always end up in the kitchen so wouldn’t it be more convenient to create them in the kitchen?  Perhaps on top of your kitchen windowsill!  You may wonder if a windowsill herb garden is a good idea, since the plants will be exposed to a great deal of sun.  

Sun is good for plants, especially for certain herbal products.

The windowsill garden is easy to make, cheap to make, fun to smell and of course, very conveniently located. When you create a windowsill herb garden your plants are all in one place and can be set in easy to carry containers or pots.  

Containers can be made from plastic or clay, and they should be medium size, anywhere from 6-12 inches deep.  The most important factor is whether or not they can allow for adequate drainage.  If the container isn’t constructed with easy drainage in mind, then the plant can suffer from waterlog and develop soil disease.  

How to Set Up a Windowsill Herb Garden

It is up to you whether you wish to use a large container for several plants or individual pots for each one.  However, your garden should be able to fit around the windowsill of your kitchen or any other room.  Ideally, you want to put this small garden by a window, as they will need plenty of sunlight.  (Fluorescent lights can be used as a substitute, with occasional direct sunlight)

What type of herbs should you grow?

Not all herbs can grow in this type of environment but many can, and the nursery will help you choose appropriate types.  Some of the most popular types of windowsill herbs include Oregano, rosemary, mint, chives, thyme, basic, parsley, sage and marjoram.  

The next step in creating your windowsill herb garden is to place these seeds in the container with soilless potting mix.  This mix contains natural materials that allow for easier drainage.  After firming, try and keep an inch of space between the very top of the container and the start of the soil.  You don’t want that much for watering especially considering that windowsill plants generally suffer from excessive moisture.  

Other Steps in the Process

When it comes to plant food, use fertilizer about once a month and make sure that it’s of the edible variety.  Like watering, don’t over fertilize; you want to keep the natural taste of the herb, and natural means a balanced amount of food and water.  

The entire process of starting your own windowsill herb garden should take less than 20 minutes (nursery travel time not included).  Stick to the nursery’s recommendation for types of herbs to grow—after all, even if some herbs could grow in good health, the small space of a windowsill herb garden might hinder growth for certain plants that grow taller or wider than others.

Creating your own indoor garden can keep your herbs close to you, improve the smell and visual aesthetic of your home and are very easy to create and maintain.   

For more information, look up windowsill friendly plants or ask customer service at the local nursery.