For many of us, the beginning of Fall means the return of the cold. However, the sinking temperatures and the inevitable arrival of frost doesn’t have to spell the end to your growing season.
By following a few simple steps, you can grow incredible garden-fresh herbs all winter long.
So whether you’re a seasoned gardener with years of experience under your belt, or an enthusiastic first-timer who just left the garden department of the hardware store, here are a few tricks to keep your home green and growing on the inside while not much is growing outside.
What to grow:
Basil: Why Basil? Not only is Basil a great tasting herb that’s used in countless recipes, but it turns out that it’s quite easy to grow indoors as well. Start your Basil from seed and make sure it’s in a South-facing window so it receives plenty of warmth and light. Once grown, use your fresh Basil for your homemade pizzas, a basic Basil pesto sauce, or add it to your favorite bruschetta recipe.
Mint: Not only does it make your breath smell amazing, fresh Mint is beautifully green, smells great, and compliments a wide variety of fall drinks and dishes. Basically it’s the ultimate remedy herb to get you through the barren and cold winter months. Mint is also one of the easiest herbs to grow. Just make sure it gets plenty of morning sunlight and the soil stays moist. You’ll have your mint in no time.
Parsley: This well-known herb is one of the heartiest on our list, and is nearly frost-proof. In fact, perfect growing conditions for Parsley are the equivalent to winters in the southern United States. Parsley grows best with lots of sun, but still grows well in areas with less light. After your winter harvest, try adding Parsley to your steak or chicken marinade, or work it into your next salad.
Oregano: A staple in many Italian dishes, Oregano is a widely recognized herb that doesn’t require a recipe book or an introduction. Oregano is great because it’s easy to tend and grow successfully. If you’re starting from seed, simply place it on top of the soil, mist with water, and cover your pot with plastic wrap. Finally, place your pot on a warm, sunny windowsill and water once a week.
Dill: This is likely the easiest herb to grow indoors on our list. Dill thrives in indoor environments because it doesn’t need much water and only requires about 6 hours of sunlight per day. One thing I’ve found interesting about Dill, however is the misconception that Dill’s only culinary value lies in creating Dill pickles. This is far from the truth, you can actually use Dill leaves for your fish, chicken and vegetable dishes.
You are now a quick hardware store trip away from having the materials you need to succeed in growing your winter seeds. Once you have your pots filled with soil and your seeds watered, find a sunny windowsill or tabletop, and grow away.
Interested in adding more greenery to your space? Click here to read our blog post about the surprising and innovative ways plants are being used indoors today.
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