Growing a Winter Indoor Herb

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Have you bid your herb plants “adieu” and resigned yourself to using dried herbs until the warm weather returns in the spring? Why not try an indoor herb garden this winter? These plants can then be transplanted into the garden when the danger of frost has passed.

If you already have some plants inside, you can take some cuttings of your existing plants. For variety, you’ll probably want to start new plants from seed. .

Here is a list of materials you will need:

Containers: These can be as simple as egg cartons or yogurt cups, but you can also use small terracotta or plastic pots, recycled 6-packs from the nursery or peat pots (these can be planted in the garden next spring, pot and all). Just make sure that your container will drain; if not, you will need to add some drainage holes.

  • Vermiculite: You will need this only if you are starting your plants from cuttings. Vermiculite will allow the cutting to stay moist enough but not so moist that it rots before it has a chance to develop roots.
  • Rooting hormone: Available in powdered or liquid form, it encourages faster development of roots. For use with cuttings only.
  • Potting soil: Choose a good quality, light potting soil. Sow your seeds directly into the soil, or use it when transplanting your rooted cuttings into a slightly larger pot.
  • Grow light: You may be able to dispense with the light, if you have a window that is sunny enough.

Follow these steps when starting your plants from cuttings:

  1. Take a cutting, about 4″ long from the herb you want to grow.
  2. Remove the lower leaves and dip the cutting into the rooting hormone. If you are using the powdered form of rooting hormone, shake off any excess powder.
  3. Stick the cutting into a small container filled with moist vermiculite. To increase humidity, cover your plant and container with a glass or clear plastic.
  4. Place plant in a sunny, warm window and keep the growing medium moist.
  5. When the plant is rooted well, it can be transferred into another container, using potting soil.

Follow these steps when starting your plants from seeds:

  1. Fill small containers with potting soil, pressing it in firmly.
  2. Following the instructions on the seed packet, plant at the recommended depth.
  3. To increase humidity, cover your plant and container with a glass or clear plastic.
  4. Place plant in a sunny, warm window and keep the growing medium moist, but not soggy.

Your herb plants will benefit from an occasional “bath” to wash the dust from them. In the spring, when danger of frost has passed, begin moving them outside. Acclimate them slowly over a period of a couple of weeks by placing them in semi-shade for a few hours a day at first and gradually increasing the time and amount of sunlight they receive until they are eventually outside in the full sun all day long. Next step? Transplant them into the garden!