We love herbs and spices, but we hate the plastic packaging they are wrapped in most supermarkets. A great solution to your herbal needs is to simply grow your own! No more plastic, no more overpriced herbs, and always access to a fresh supply.
We can almost hear you think: “Well that’s all fun and games, but I live in a tiny apartment with no space for such things'“. We are here to prove that statement false! You don’t need a big garden to grow your own produce. Even the tiniest of balconies or windowsills can provide you with enough space to let your herbs and spices flourish. And that’s what we want!
Here are some tips we have for different spaces:
Garden / Balcony. The best way for your herbs to grow is to place them in separate pots. If you have the space to do this, please do so. This also makes it a bit easier to recognize each herb when harvesting the leaves! Make sure to opt for pots with drainage.
French Balcony. You will need hanging balcony planters - and loads of them. This room you can use to grow your favorite flavor-makers. Simply hang some wide planters on the railing, and sow several different kinds of herbs in one planter. One thing you need to bear in mind, however, is if these herbs grow well together. Read more about good combinations in our Beginner’s Guide below.
No balcony. Not to worry! There are beautiful garden racks with several layers you can fill up with all your lovely herbal delights. Place them near the window and it should work totally fine. Only note that they will not get any rain - so a steady watering schedule is a must. If the garden rack is still too big for your home, decide on your 4 or 5 favorite herbs, and place those in pots with good drainage in the windowsill. Especially a window in the kitchen would be perfect for spontaneous access when cooking!
A beginner’s step by step guide on how to grow your own herbs
Now that we’ve decided on the location of your (indoor) garden. Let’s have a look at how to sow, grow & harvest your herbs.
1) Pick your herbs
There are four questions to ask with each herb when deciding on your own garden: do they want dry or moist soil, are they seasonal or all-year-round, do they need a lot of sunlight & how aggressive are their roots?
Dry / Sunny options that go well together: thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano. These Mediterranean herbs need a pot with good drainage.
Moist / Shadowy options that go well together: chive, tarragon, cilantro, basil, parsley. Unlike the herbs mentioned above, these herbs like moist soil and wet roots. Drainage is still important, but they should never have dry soil.
Seasonal / All-year-round: certain types of thyme are meant for summer and others for winter. Make sure to double-check before buying seeds! Also, herbs such as oregano, lavender, sage, and coriander only do well in Spring and Summer, whereas parsley and rosemary do well all year-round.
Roots. Herbs such as mint and dill grow roots like crazy. They can suffocate other herbs, so make sure to plant these in separate pots.
2) Sowing & Growing
After you acquired your seeds, soil, a good set of pots, and after you figured out what herbs you want to plant where, you’re ready for the fun part… Sowing!
You can fill the bottom bit of your pots with shards or stones if you’re unsure of their draining capacities. Next, fill them with soil.
Make sure to leave space in between the different kinds of herbs and sow the seeds.
On top of the seeds, drop another 2 cm layer of soil.
Water them immediately after.
Make sure to keep the soil wet until they sprout. Once they’ve sprouted, go back to the amount of water they prefer (as mentioned above).
After they bloomed into beautiful herbal plants, you can harvest their leaves. Cut your branches nearby the soil, so that spot can grow into two new branches.
And voila! You’ve got yourself a little herbal garden! Just imagine how much plastic and money you’re saving by not purchasing plastic containers… It’s a win-win situation!
