Winter Herb Havests From the Windowsill

Here is another good aticle I came across about growing some herbs and plants inside during this cold winter months..... 

Winter Herb Harvests From the Windowsill

by Laura Phillips

Fresh herbs had charm and flavor to winter meals. A sprig of fresh mint
in tea or just-cut chives on a baked potato can be real treat when
there's snow on the ground.

Starting with seeds...

Fill a small clay pot or other well-drained growing container with
packaged potting soil. Water the soil thoroughly and allow it to drain.
Then sprinkle the seeds thinly over the surface. It isn't necessary to
cover them. If you do, sprinkle a light dusting of soil over the
surface, less than one-eighth inch deep. Gently mist the surface.

Cover the entire pot with plastic wrap to maintain humidity. If the pot
is small enough, you can enclose it in a clear plastic bag. Place it in
a warm location, between 65 and 80 degrees, and be sure it receives
plenty of light. If the soil surface dries out, mist it lightly, and
cover it back up.

When sprouts appear, supply additional light by placing the pot in a
south-facing windowsill or by placing it under a fluorescent light.
Loosen the plastic to allow ventilation and water weekly with half-
strength fertilizer. Liquid seaweed or fish emulsion are excellent, but
somewhat smelly. A daily misting will keep the soil moist, but not
soggy.

When plants develop their third set of leaves, you can transplant
them. Again, use a sterilized potting mix and clean pots. Most herbs
can be planted in clumps of three to five seedlings. Plant the
seedlings slightly deeper than they grew in the original pot, with the
first set of leaves (seed leaves) just below the soil surface.

Place the pots in a south-facing window. If you supplement natural
daylight with several hours of artificial light, the plants will reward
you with more bushy growth. Remember to turn the pots regularly to
prevent lop-sided growth. Maintain the temperature above 50 degrees.
Remember that it is colder near the window than in the center of the
room. Be sure the foliage doesn't touch cold windowpanes. Fertilize
monthly.

If insects become a problem, wash the plants with a strong spray of
water or rinse the plant with a mild solution of non-detergent soap and
water. Never spray herbs you plan to eat with a chemical pesticide.

Best Herbs for Indoors...

Basil, an essential component for pesto and many tomato sauces, is easy
to grow. It sprouts within three to four days and requires no special
care. Basil comes in many varieties, but the most popular types are
sweet basil, spicy globe, and purple ruffles, which is as ornamental as
it is tasty. Spicy Globe, Minimum, and Green Bouquet are dwarf
varieties well-suited for pot culture.

Chives, sage, parsley, marjoram, thyme, and winter savory also can be
grown from seed indoors. Follow the planting steps listed with all
except parsley.

Parsley takes much longer to sprout than most herbs. You can speed up
the process two ways. Soak the seeds overnight in room-temperature
water before planting. The second method is a bit unorthodox, but it
has proven successful time after time. Sprinkle the seeds over a pot of
dry potting soil. Then gently flood the pot with boiling water, cover
it with plastic, and wait for the sprouts to appear.

Other good candidates for a windowsill garden include aloe, ginger,
lemon balm, mint, oregano, and rosemary. However, it is not advisable
to start any of these from seed. Even if you do get sprouts, they
probably won't yield the intended varieties. Ginger may be grown from
grocery store ginger roots. The others should be purchased from a
nursery or garden center.