Oneka Floral & Design

Growing herbs inside is more complicated than outside, just because of problems with sunlight, heat and drainage, but when wintery weather visits and the frost blankets all your outside herb plants you can always find comfort in your inside herbs. Because you are likely to use your inside herb plants in your recipes, the kitchen will be a great place to grow them.

My kitchen table is directly below the window and that is where I keep my potted herbs through the cold winter months–It’s best if your window faces the the south so that your herbs will receive that delightful sunlight they need.. If you do not have a southward-facing window, don’t feel bad because any sunlight can be helpful sunshine.

It usually doesn’t do well to move your herb plants from outdoors to inside so for the best results, I recommend that you begin with a potted plant from your local market, home improvement store, nursery or greenhouse. I usually just allow my annuals to go at the end of the season and get new, special indoor annuals for the winter.

This way I won’t ever have to live without my herbs and I don’t have to go through all the drama about bringing in a plant and having it get leggy.

Here are a few of the herbs that I can’t survive the winter without:

• Garlic: Be sure to grow garlic in your kitchen herb garden. Its pink and white flowers will add to the beauty of your kitchen and can deter pesky insects from gathering. Try making a floral arrangement of garlic flowers. They look beautiful and can last for many days. They will have a small scent of garlic flavor. Try them on your salad. When garlic buds start smelling garlicky, toss them out. If you get hungry, you can always eat them.

• Rosemary: When you use rosemary, you are adding one the most uniquely flavored plants around. You can pull off a few sprigs and sprinkle in with your other ingredients. I remove the rosemary before I dish out the dish, easy because I can’t take the rough pine-like leaves and I’m too lazy to crush them. Please do not let that prevent you from crushing it with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor.

• Basil: This terrific addition to your Italian entrée is a fast herb and does well indoors. Within a couple of weeks, you’ll be able to cut the leaves to use in a whole host of delicious meals. If you are looking in the supermarket for your plant, focus on the Sweet Basil kind.

• Parsley: Purchase your parsley mature rather than by starting from seeds. You’ll be pleased with the results, because starting with parsley seeds can take forever. Use your parsley to just about anything. Just do not limit this lovely herb plant to the supporting role of a garnish. Its ability to improve the taste of other dishes make pasrlsy a wonderful herb plant to have around all winter long.

There’s no reason to stop at the kitchen either. Once you get your indoor garden going in the kitchen, move along to the living room and bedroom. There’s nothing like a sweet little pot of lavender in the bedroom to help you go to sleep more quickly.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Home Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.