Herb Garden Beginnings?
January, the thick of winter. Not exactly the time of year you’re thinking of fresh herbs or produce. Maybe you are one of the few fastidious folks out there that tend an indoor herb garden. The rest of us just don’t have the time or the space. I can hardly keep my spider plants alive year round. But everyone will agree that fresh spices and herbs are tastier and more fragrant than their dried, bottled counterparts.
Falling into the “rest of us” category, I’ve never attempted a window box herb garden but was still elated with the potted rosemary plant from Urban Roots that I received as a Christmas present. (Thanks, Jake.) The plant is fairly large and wonderfully aromatic. Rosemary is a perennial so it’s worth maintaining, but be aware that it may not always be lush and green. Continue to tend to it even when it appears dry and place it outdoors come springtime.
A few days ago I finally decided to “use” my gift. I cut a small sprig and removed the leaves. After chopping them, I combined the rosemary with a splash of olive oil, a diced garlic clove, salt, and pepper. This very basic mixture made a delicious meat rub. My meat of choice was pork tenderloin. Mmm, mmm.
Rosemary complements nearly all meats; chicken, pork, and beef cuts. It is also commonly used to season potatoes. Beyond its culinary use, rosemary makes a decorative houseplant and also has various medicinal qualities.
Although I wouldn’t have purchased live herbs myself, I do appreciate having a fresh rosemary plant only an arm’s length away. Sure beats reaching for the McCormick on the rack. Maybe this is just the beginning. I can see how one’s standards for fresh herbs could be effected and result in tilling an indoor, year-round herb garden.
Urban Roots is currently closed for inventory. They’ll be reopening January 16.
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RhodeIslandBoy
Courtney:
Rosemary likes humidity indoors in the winter – obviously not an ideal Buffalo climate. Invest in a $1 mist bottle!
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eyepharded
Any tips on basil and parsley?
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RisingDamp666
I've got my own little "indoor herb garden". Will someone please help with the light bill? It's too early for harvest.
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Digginit
Very funny RD666! Yes - the lighting for an large indoor herb garden can get very expensive ;)
Key to Rosemary - DO NOT let it totally dry out during the winter while it is in your house. Once it dries out it is over. Keep it damp but not soaking wet. Keep it so it feels like a damp sponge. If you use a glazed saucer underneath (recommended) put some pebbles in the saucer, cover them with some water and set your pot on top of the saucer. What you have done is create a miniature humidity environment for your plant. As the water evaorates from the pebbles it will help keep your plant healthy. (This also works excellent for african violets and orchids) Keep your plant watered and keep water in the pebbles.
Basil - not much of a good plant to keep over the winter. Do not water basil at night - best to water In the AM so it can dry out during the day. It is an annual, therefore it only has a certain amount of time that it will stay alive without trying to produce flowers/seeds. I say use what you have, and when your current plant looks yellow and is not producing fresh leaves any longer, just buy another basil plant at Wegmans' (local grower brand "Gardener's own". This is MIke Weber from West Seneca and he really knows herbs!) They are only about $2.00 each.
For any herbs (listen up RD666) they all need as much sun as you can give them. Find the sunniest window you have, preferably NOT right next to or over a radiator. If you need to add a grow light because your house is too dark - check out Buffalo Hydroponics on Hertel.
RD666 - your "harvest" should be ready most likely in October or November when the hours of sunlight start to shorten ;) Until then - fertilize, fertilize, fertilize!
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RisingDamp666
I'm projecting mid-June because there's more aluminum foil on my walls than Andy Warhol's Factory. And my dutch seed connection promises this hybrid to "yield early and sticky".
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Digginit
RD666 - Laughed so hard this morning! I think you are on the right track to having a fantastic harvest this year. I anticipate you and your friends will have a great summer ;) Enjoy!
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lauras
Digginit - I thank you for the excellent suggestions. I glad I read your tips before beginning an indoor herb garden. I would have ended up with a science experiment gone bad. Thanks also for the tip about Mike Weber's local basil being available at Wegmans. Good stuff.
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