Herbs at Home: Herbs Grown in a Window Pot

It seems that since the addition of the cooking channel people have begun to recognize how wonderful fresh herbs are when added to homemade recipes.  I know this for a fact as my mother is an addictive cooking show channel person and has since begun growing her own herbs.  She has plenty of garden space to do so, but there are those who live in apartments or in homes where there is no place to grow an actual herb garden. 

The solution to this problem is growing herbs in a window pot or window pots.  Window pots are designed nicely to sit on the edge of a window or hang from the rail of a balcony.  You can find these pots at just about any nursery or garden center and are relatively inexpensive.  They come in a variety of different sizes to suit your needs and are very easy to tend to.  Most herb window pots come with the seeds along with specific instructions concerning the care or your herbs and how to keep them thriving. 

Most Common Herbs

Some herbs do much better outdoors than indoors but for the most part you can successfully grow just about any herb in window pots if you educate yourself on how to successfully grow herbs indoors.  Here are some of the most common herbs that grow well indoors in window pots.

•    Basil:
o    There are over a dozen different varieties of basil which is mainly used in tomato sauces.  It varies in size, aroma, and color and is quite pleasant visually and aromatically.  Basil grows very well indoors however it’s lasts for about 6 months and then needs to be replanted.  These herbs start very easily by just planting seeds or you can buy them already started. 

•    Chives:
o    Chives come from the onion family and add a great deal of flavor to salads, eggs, Mexican food, and Italian food.  They are easy to start from seed or can be bought already started.  The regular onion chives have leaves that are hollow and the garlic chives have flat leaves and a very distinct flavor. 

•    Cilantro
o    It is also known as coriander and is usually best if you grow them from seeds and not already started.  The best way to plant cilantro is to plant them in at least four pots a week a part from each other so that you can always have a good supply on hand.  When the stems are long enough you should just snip them off; they will not grow back, thus the reason you need a rotation of pots.  A rare form of cilantro which is known as Vietnamese will grow back after snipping the stems.

•    Mints
o    Mints are very easy to grow; it is hard to make a mistake when growing them.  They grow well in indirect sun light and the only thing you really have to do to care for them is to keep them pruned and probably repotting them.   There are many varieties of mints but the most popular of the mint family is peppermint and spearmint.  You should buy mint plants that are already started as trying to start them from seed is quite difficult.

•    Oregano
o    There are bad kinds of oregano and good kinds of oregano; you’ll have to buy oregano plants already started to make sure you get the good kind; you can tell by the odor, which should be familiar, when you squeeze the leaves.  The most recommended type of oregano is Greek oregano as it has more flavor than others.

•    Rosemary
o    Rosemary can be used for many different dishes you are preparing.  It is recommended that you buy it already started and not try to plant the seeds yourself.  Rosemary requires a good bit of sunlight so make sure you place your window pot in a nice sunny window.

•    Tarragon
o    Tarragon has a very distinct licorice taste which you can produce by squeezing the leaves.  French tarragon is most recommended and requires a good bit of sunlight and will grow quite well year around. 

•    Thyme
o    There are a few different types of thyme that can be grown; the most common are the English and French types.  The plants themselves have a unique silver form to them.  You can either start the plants by seed or buy them already started. 
 

Doesn’t Sound so Difficult

It is probably best, if you are a first time herb grower, to start with just a few plants to get used to how they grow and to see if you can develop a proper green thumb.  Many types of these herbs require very little attention but you should certainly do some research and ask questions when you purchase your herb plants or seeds at the nursery or garden shop.  They are plants and will need some care so you must be prepared to devote some time to tending to your herbs and knowing when it’s time to snip them or repot them.
 

Is it Worth the Trouble?

It’s certainly much easier to just go to the grocery and purchase the herbs you desire but there is a bit of satisfaction when you grow something with your own two hands and then are able to use it in the preparation of your foods; it just seems to make it a bit more special.  Not only that, many herb plants are visually enhancing and can add a bit of color to your kitchen as the plants grow and mature. 

Anybody who has ever grown a vegetable garden will tell you the fruit of their labor is much sweeter than what you can buy from the grocery store; that’s because you put your heart and soul into it and there is a certain amount of pride that goes along with it; especially when you are hosting a dinner party and you use your own, fresh, homegrown herbs; you get bragging rights and rightly so.