Container Gardening

Indoor Herb Gardening Will Improve Your Cooking

By Sarah Marcheschi

Oregano

Oregano is a staple in many kitchens, and with good reason. Its robust and distinctive flavor is a key ingredient in Greek cooking, especially atop pizzas and other popular tomato-based Italian dishes like lasagna. That’s where oregano really shines! Similar to rosemary, oregano likes a drier, sandy soil, and 6 – 8 hours of good daily sunlight. Water the herb only once a week, or when the soil surface is dry to the touch, as overwatering will result in root rot and mean the death of your plant. To harvest leaves cut  as needed once stems reach 4 – 6 inches in height. Regular trimming encourages healthy foliage and compact, bushy growth.

Parsley

If I could only choose one herb to grow indoors it would have to be parsley. I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out. I tend to think of parsley as the Rodney Dangerfield of the herbal culinary world – relegated for years to the role of garnish. Let’s face it, it just gets no respect! But, this plant is truly a workhorse. In addition to being so low maintenance you could almost forget it’s a living thing that actually DOES need water from time to time, parsley adds color and flavor to everything from soups to salads, and from meat to fish. I use the snipped leaves in more preparations than I can count, including my morning smoothies. And it doesn’t just look good – parsley fights inflammation, boosts the immune system, and reduces the risk of certain cancers and other diseases. Parsley thrives in a sunny kitchen windowsill, with six hours of sun per day, and twice weekly watering, or whenever the soil feels dry.

 

Indoor Herb Gardening: Getting Started

While all of these plants can be grown from seeds, if you’re a beginner, it’s often easiest to start with seedlings that have already been established and are ready to provide you with leaves to harvest during the winter months. Purchase herbs at your local garden center before the end of the fall season. Alternatively, find them in the produce section of most grocery stores anytime throughout the year.

If you have an established herb plant outdoor, just grab the pruning shears and snip off a six inch sprig. Remove the leaves from the bottom few inches of the stem and place in a glass of water to root. Then, transfer to a pot with soil, and water regularly while the plant gets established. If you’re short on those sunny south-facing windowsills I’ve been mentioning, supplement with fluorescent or grow-lights. The plants on this list are hardy and will do fine indoors with a bit of routine care. Good news! You can use the extra time to start tackling all those recipes.

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