For many Broadmoor Court Assisted Living residents, resident-tended gardens offer a space to enjoy gardening and care for their favorite flowers and vegetables. Others appreciate the convenience of cultivating a personal herb garden from the comfort of their homes.
Read on to learn about selecting herbs for a windowsill garden and how to care for them.
As you plan your windowsill garden, consider the herbs you enjoy adding to your meals. From there, narrow your list to herbs that stay compact, thrive in containers and are well-suited for indoor growth. Some of the most popular herbs for small spaces include:
Next, determine how much light your window gets and tailor your herb choices accordingly. For example, woody-stemmed herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, tend to require a lot of sun, with most varieties needing at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If your window is south-facing, you likely enjoy several hours of direct sunlight, making these herbs a prime choice.
On the other hand, if you get limited direct sunlight through your window, herbs such as chives, parsley and lemon balm tend to be more tolerant of low-light conditions and are likely to do well.
Mint varieties, such as peppermint and spearmint, often thrive with several hours of direct sunlight but can also do well with as little as 3 hours. The same goes for tarragon, cilantro and thyme. Limited or dappled sunlight may prevent these herbs from growing large, but their scent and flavor will be just as robust.
Once you've decided what to grow in your windowsill garden, it's time to determine the best container and soil.
When planning your windowsill garden, it's just as important to consider the containers as to choose the right herbs.
After you've selected the best container for your space, it's time to move on to your soil choices. Because your herbs are going into a container rather than the ground, the only nutrients they'll get are the ones you provide. Many people find potting soil has a good balance of nutrients for plants to thrive, while others prefer a 50/50 mix of potting soil and seed-starting mix for added nutrients.
It's best to avoid gardening soil in your windowsill herb garden, as it tends to be heavy, meaning it offers limited air circulation and poor drainage. Additionally, gardening soil doesn't contain minerals such as vermiculite and perlite, which are essential for plant growth, and it typically contains organisms that are potentially harmful to indoor plants.
Once you've chosen your herbs and prepared your containers by filling them with high-quality soil, it's time to plant your seeds or seedlings according to the directions on their packaging. After planting, water the pots thoroughly to help the soil settle.
A consistent watering and feeding schedule is essential for herb growth. Most herbs prefer regular watering but do best when their soil dries out slightly between waterings. It's also a good idea to use a water-soluble fertilizer monthly to ensure regular access to nutrients.
To encourage bushy growth and prevent your herbs from becoming leggy, prune them regularly by pinching off the tips of the stems just above a set of leaves. Harvesting the herbs frequently will also encourage new growth.
Having a small space doesn't mean you can't enjoy gardening and growing your favorite produce. By creatively utilizing the available space, selecting plants that thrive indoors and maintaining regular plant care, you can continue to experience the satisfaction of cultivating a garden.
