Setup An Indoor Herb Garden For Your Apartment

Those of us who live in an apartment might want to have our own herb garden. Fortunately there are many good ways to do this. Here's how to get started...

Of course the first critical element is sunlight for the plants so you have to have a window that lets in enough light so that the herbs can grow.

After identifying a location with sunlight, you need a good surface upon which to place the planters. If you have a countertop near the window you're in good shape. Otherwise, find a small table that will fit in that area.

Then get some small round or square planters, or even a large rectangular planter, and place them on the flat surface in the sunlit area. You will grow your herbs in these.

Next, decide what herbs you would like to grow. Some good choices are thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, oregano, and chives. Even garlic can be a good option.

Choose an appropriate potting soil in which to plant your new herbs. You should get a soil that offers your plants some nourishment while also draining easily. There are a lot of potting soil choices available these days so you should not have a problem finding something good. If you're more adventurous you could even mix your own custom designed potting soil by selecting and combining a variety of soils that you like.

If you are planting a variety of herbs in a single large rectangular planter, remember that the herbs will grow rather quickly, so it's a good idea to give each type of herb plenty of space to grow.

Also, right when you plant the herbs you ought to identify which ones are in each location so that you can keep track of them and know what they are. Of course if you're already an herb guru and can easily recognize their appearance, you won't have to take this step. But it can be fun for others who visit to see the names of herbs.

One easy way to identify the herbs is to write the names of each on popsicle sticks. Then push the bottom of the sticks into the designated areas of the soil.

To get the seeds started, gently mist them. Then cover the planter with plastic so that you are creating a little greenhouse. This will help your seeds sprout and be healthy. Continue to mist each day or anytime it appears to be drying out. You should always see moisture beading up on the plastic.

After the seeds have sprouted, take the plastic off, but continue to gently mist the plants every day. If any of the young herb plants look unhealthy, remove them. You only have to tend to the plants that are going to live long enough to provide you with the herbs you need.

Once the seedlings have grown enough to have three or more leaves, it's time to begin watering them instead of misting. Simply use a glass or water or watering to pour water onto the soil in the planters.

Water the herbs regularly, but be sure you are not overwatering. Too much water in the soil might cause the roots to rot. Pay attention to the leaves. If turn brown or start looking unusual, this might be a clue that you are over watering or under watering. 

The key to watering just the right amount is to pay attention to the soil. Water when the soil begins to dry out or when it is already dried out.

To help add growth, you can fertilize your herb garden every few weeks. It's a good idea to use an organic fertilizer. This will help give your herbs a healthy diet and, in turn, they will give you greater yield. 

Once you have a healthy herb garden growing, you can easily enjoy fresh herbs anytime you want. Simply snip off whatever amount you need when you are cooking, and you will have fresh, tasty results.