Indoor Herb Gardens
What You'll Need to Start
If you are interested in starting an indoor herb garden the old fashioned way, there are a few basic supplies you'll need.
Great Containers
When a plain old
terracotta planter seems too passé for your tastes, you might want to try some of these other options. Remember, it is very important to get a container that has some method of drainage. Galvanized planters, tin cans and whiskey barrels can all be drilled to make holes for drainage. However, cups, bowls and the like may look very pretty, but are less functional. To make them work, and not destroy the plants, be cautious about how often and how heavily you water the herbs. If the leaves begin to turn yellow or if the herbs grow to be very leggy, it's a sure sign that they are getting too much water.
Sample Garden Ideas
When planning an indoor garden, you'll need to buy seeds or plants to start. If you are not a natural green thumb or gourmet chef you might wonder where to start. Below are some ideas for starting different types of gardens. Depending on how much space you have, you may or may not want to include all of the herbs in a list in your garden. You may only want two or three because you commonly cook with those herbs. Either way, the bottom line is there are no rules and you should pick and choose according to your needs.
* '''Tea Garden''':
anise.
* '''Basic Medicinal Garden''':
purple coneflower.
* '''Salad Herb Garden''':
tarragon.
* '''Salsa Garden''':
tomatillo.
* '''Provencal Garden''':
yellow tomatoes.
* '''Italian Herb Garden''':
thyme.
* '''Fish Herb Garden''':
tarragon.
* '''Salt Substitute Herb Garden''':
tarragon.
* '''Dessert Herb Garden''':
violets.
The majority of this list has been taken from
Herb Gardening Tips Guide for more ideas.
Quick and Easy Herb Kits
Many companies make
herb kits to choose from, which you'll see below. The idea of the kits is to make starting an herb garden hassle free. The majority of them come with the container, soil, nutrients, instructions and seeds. All you have to provide is a sunny location and some water. Prices vary, but they are generally inexpensive.
The main concern you should have when selecting a kit is where you plan to put the garden, whether you want something for your kitchen counter, windowsill or a room elsewhere in the house. Not all of the kits are small and not all have a great aesthetic, so consider if you want the kit for ornamental or practical purposes, or both.
Move Over Hydroponics... It's Aeroponics
Hydroponics and
aeroponics are methods of growing that suspend the plant's roots in water or air to optimize growth (see a
diagram about how hydroponics and aeroponics work). They are faster methods of growing plants than the traditional method that eliminates having to fumble about with containers and soil. The benefit of these technologies is that they allow you to grow plants in a tropical environment right in your home, speeding up the growth period so that in just one month's time, you get to harvest your favorite herbs and vegetables. The results are rapid, healthy growth with little hassle.
