Easy Kitchen Herb Gardens

   Growing your own herbs can be a rewarding experience for avid gardeners or beginners. Having fresh herbs on hand in your kitchen that are accessible and easy to maintain is crucial for any home cook. Below, I have created a simple guide for starting an easy kitchen herb garden. 

   First, you should consider your space, temperature and the lighting you have available for growing plants. Growing herbs from seed requires space and adequate sunlight. Do you have a windowsill or will you require a grow light ? Keep in mind, herbs require sun at least 4-10 hours a day. 

If you plan on growing herbs indoors over the winter, make sure your kitchen is warm enough to sustain the plants.  One way to ensure your plants have the best opportunity to grow, is by keeping track of the room temperature. Thermometers are cheap and can be used to ensure your grow lights or windows are providing enough warmth for the herbs. 

Some surfaces, such as marble counters, are too cold for herbs. Temperatures from 70-75 degrees fahrenheit is ideal for germinating seeds. Once the plants are grown,  herbs can handle temperatures between 65-70 degrees fahrenheit. An inexpensive way to keep your plants at the correct temperature is to purchase a heated pad. Heated pads can be purchased in hardware stores and plant nurseries. 

Suppose you don’t have the space for a grow light and do not have adequate sun in your kitchen. Don’t fret! There are quite a few herbs that can grow in shade. For example, cilantro requires damp and darkness to germinate. The plant grows better in the shade, as this method will allow the plant to produce more cilantro leaves rather than flowering and producing coriander seeds. 

Thyme is great for savory dishes such as potatoes, poultry and beef. It requires partial shade and is easy to grow from seed in containers. 

Parsley is another cold hardy plant that grows well indoors. It germinates within 8-10 weeks from seed, and can thrive in a container in your kitchen with minimal sunlight. This herb will provide extra color and flavor to your dishes. 

Keep in mind, all plants require some sunlight, even plants that grow well in the shade. Be sure to move the plants into the  sun for at least 1-2 hours a day, or provide them with a grow light if you have one. 

Designing your kitchen herb garden is easy! Look at the space you have available and plan accordingly.  Typically, a single herb plant will need a pot about 8-12 inches in diameter. As your plants grow, they may need to be repotted into larger containers, so plan extra space between herbs. Some vertical garden kits can grow directly placed against a wall in your kitchen! 

If you have limited space, consider planting multiple herbs together in one larger container. Some herbs that grow well together are, rosemary, thyme and sage. This trio will look lovely together and all three require full sun and minimal watering. 

Parsley and basil grow well together, as each requires soil with high moisture levels. With proper watering, they will thrive together in a medium sized container on your countertop. 

Try to avoid planting strong tasting or bitter herbs together. Herbs of similar varieties like mint and spearmint may cross pollinate and produce a less than desirable flavor. 

      Second, look at which herbs you use the most while creating dishes and plan your kitchen herb garden accordingly. 

Some common herbs for cooking are oregano, basil, thyme, coriander, dill and rosemary. Basil, dill and rosemary can be tricky to grow indoors as these plants can grow into large bushes. While delicious and frequently used in cooking, they require extra time and planning to grow in your kitchen. These plants require frequent trimming and use to avoid overgrowth.

Fresh herbs aren’t as potent as dried herbs, so depending on how much you use each herb in dishes per week, plan to grow enough to accommodate your needs. Below is a typical herb conversion.

   Of course, some plants cannot thrive in containers. Plants such as lavender can be difficult to grow in pots. Lavenders have the potential to grow into large shrubs (as pictured below) and can soon outgrow containers.  A few plants that grow well in containers are rosemary, parsley, oregano and basil. 

Rosemary is a woody herb and can grow well with minimal watering. Rosemary does not adapt well to the cold, so be sure to keep the temperature in your kitchen herb garden around 70 degrees fahrenheit. Basil is a productive plant and can offer daily harvesting once full grown, but be sure to provide a large pot for use. Parsley and oregano tend to spread, much to gardeners dismay, so container gardening is perfect for these herbs. 

   Third, consider time and cost. Will you have time to grow your herbs from seed? See the chart below for germination times. 

If you’ve decided to grow from seed , beginners should use a  starter kit. Starter kits provide trays, peat moss for planting seeds, and common herb seeds. Some even come with heating mats and fluorescent grow lamps.  

You will need to plant each seed according to its germination time, if you plan to transplant them all at once. Use each cell in the tray to insert soil or peat moss and insert approximately 5 seeds per cell. Moisten lightly and ensure they receive 8-10 hours of sunlight daily, along with regular moistening from a spray bottle. If you have a grow lamp, make sure it is no more than 4 inches away from the seedlings 

You can also choose to buy a whole plant from a local nursery or hardware store. Plants can cost anywhere from $4-$10 depending on the herb, whereas seeds cost anywhere from 99 cents to $3 per packet. In addition, you will need to buy potting soil for your seedlings which can range from $4-$15 per bag, depending on the amount of soil you need.

 Once germination is completed, seedlings can be transplanted into 8-10 inch diameter containers and watered immediately. Be sure to monitor your newly transplanted herbs for wilting or browning leaves. Some plants take longer to adjust to new containers and environments and may need more sun or water than normal. 

   Lastly, create a watering schedule for your kitchen herbs. Using a simple notebook or planner, you can keep track of how often you are watering your seedlings or fully grown herbs.

Keep in mind that plants such as rosemary, thyme and sage prefer dryer, aerated soil, so these plants require less water. Plants with light brown soil on the tops that are pulling away from the edges of the container, are usually dry and need watering.

Overwatered soil will appear black and may have a musty/moldy scent. For pots with drainage and trays underneath, be sure the plants are not left sitting in puddles of water. This can lead to root rot and a diseased plant. 

With this in depth explanation, every beginner should be able to set up a kitchen herb garden in no time at all!

You can create a mini garden for your culinary needs.

Best of luck, and most importantly, have fun!