If you are a fan of fresh herbs, then you surely know how challenging it is to get fresh herbs during the winter. But with a few easy steps, you can make your herb garden even in your apartment.
For cooking delicious and healthy meals, it is important to use fresh herbs. Not only do they give the dish a unique taste, but they also add powerful antioxidant properties to your diet. The key to making a successful DIY indoor herb garden is knowing what all the plants need – light, heat, water, air circulation, and fertilizer.
Choose Your Herbs
We can buy plants that that are called transplants, or we can grow plants ourselves from seeds. For every plant (flowers, herbs, or vegetables) you choose to have on the balcony, it is important to know which plant prefers to sunbathe and which one likes to stay more in the shade.
Basil, without which no pasta is complete, parsley, oregano, thyme, sage – are sun-loving herbs. There is also lovely rosemary that grows into a tree bush and lavender that you might like more to smell than to eat. Melissa and mint are two wonderful plants that require a lot of space – they spread very quickly! Generally, just as we don’t like crowds on the road or the bus, plants don’t like crowds, so it’s not good to push them into one vase. Try placing two average herbs, three at most, in one average balcony vase (20 or 24 inches in length). Always make sure the plant has enough space because it will grow better.
Planting
So when you decide which herb you want to plant, the next question is how.
First, put a few small stones in the vase for drainage, that is, there will be excess water among the stones so that the plant will not rot if you accidentally water it too much.
What kind of soil is best to grow herbs?
You can make the soil mix yourself – the best ratios are 1/3 of garden soil, 1/3 of ripe, sifted hummus (made from kitchen bio-waste – such as potato peel, or ripped lettuce), and 1/3 stones.
If you do not want to make your soil mix, you can buy a ready-made mix or substrate from garden shops.
Next, place seeds on top of the soil, lightly cover with more soil, and gently spray with water. If you are transplanting these herbs, put them gently into the soil, then squeeze the soil a little around the roots.
When should you water your herbs and how often?
Spices should be watered frequently (every day) but with a small amount of water. Plants should not be flooded. It is good to water early in the morning when the sun is not too strong. It is really important not to water the herbs during the sunniest part of the day because your plants could get disturbed by the temperature difference.
Now that you know how to create your home DIY herb garden, you should start gathering the necessary equipment so you could enjoy your own lovely creation as soon as possible.