Question
Hi Will,

I have a few questions about starting a small herb garden indoors. I have tried it twice before with no luck. I live in south Georgia where the weather is warm 9 to 10 months a year.
I start the plants in small peat pots and water with a spray bottle daily.
and I keep them in front of a sliding glass door with plenty of sunlight.
Anyway when I plant herbs (i use a good potting soil mix (Miracle grow potting soil) they usually come up pretty fast with in a few days but they are always very skinny, they get to about 2 inches tall and then they lay over and die. and it does that with all the varities, (Parsley, basil, rosemary,oregano etc.) I usually buy the seeds from a supermarket. should I buy better seeds? should i be caring differently for these plants when they break through the soil.
Any suggestions will be appreciated
thank you
Michael

Answer
Hi Michael,

Herbs require a great deal of direct sunlight all day long. Without enough sun, the stems are thin and weak. There is no substitute for light. In fact, fertilizer will contribute to the elongated growth. Perhaps you can move them outside after the stems emerge.

The seed quality is probably fine as long as you are getting a good percentage of seeds that actually germinate.

If the falling over is due to the stems rotting at the soil line, then you should use a different soil mix and perhaps adjust your watering.

It is best to germinate seeds in a sterile mix of peat moss and perlite. Keep the mix damp, but after the stems have emerged allow the surface of the mix to dry a bit in between waterings. Constantly moist soil at the surface will cause bacteria in the soil to attack the delicate stems right where they come in contact with the soil. That is called "damping off."

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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