Window and Portch Gardens
Just like an outdoor garden, you will need to assess the locations you have so you can choose the right herbs for a porch or a window. Just like the outdoor garden, many indoor herbs that require a lot of sun will also need some shade during the hottest time of day. Instead of a windowsill, place these herbs on a table near a window where they can get direct sun as well as some shade. As with an outdoor garden, we are sometimes pleasantly surprised with what works, so it is worth experimenting.
One benefit to potted plants is that they can be moved to different windows to follow the sun throughout the year. Also, from an outdoor spot they can easily go indoors for the winter. During the winter when heated rooms become rather dry, humidifiers are beneficial for us as well as our plants. However, it is also helpful to occasionally spray the leaves with tepid water to give them a boost. Avoid windowsills that are just above radiators as plants will dry out quickly and not do well with the fluctuating temperatures.
Don’t feel constrained by conventional flowerpots. Containers for plants can be varied and imaginative. A neighbor of mine used several old metal coffee pots as planters. Anything can be used as long as it provides good drainage, which means you may have to drill a hole or two into something that did not start its life as a flowerpot. An old basket can be recycled to hold a collection of small flowerpots.
Several types of herbs can be grouped together in one pot and pots can be arranged together to create an interesting display. Just like an outdoor garden, position a tall plant in the center of a flowerpot with shorter ones around it. As mentioned in Chapter 3, peppermint and spearmint have rambunctious root systems that tend to take over the garden. The easiest way to deal with this is to grow them in containers even if you have an outdoor garden. They should be given containers of their own because they will crowd out any other plant that may be sharing the flowerpot with them. Here are some herbs that do well when grown in containers:
• Basil
• Bay
• Cayenne
• Chamomile
• Dill
• Garlic
• Lavender
• Lemon balm
• Lemongrass
• Marjoram
• Parsley
• Peppermint*
• Sage
• Spearmint*
• Thyme
• Yarrow
*These plants should be in a container by themselves.
When planting in containers, use ones that are large enough to allow room for the roots to grow. If the container is too small, plants become root-bound, which means the roots will fill the pot and the plants will do poorly. Start with a layer of gravel or seashells, which will help provide drainage and keep the bottom part of the soil from becoming waterlogged. Also, if you are growing perennials, you will need to repot them into larger containers as they grow.
Good soil is key for any type of garden. When growing plants in containers, use potting mix rather than potting soil. Bagged potting soil is often too thick and clumpy and will result in poor drainage. A potting mix includes peat or composted plant matter and gives container plants the texture and drainage they need.
Plants in containers have a smaller amount of soil from which to draw nutrients, so it is important to add a little compost during the growing season. Instead of compost, you can use a “compost tea.” To make the tea you will need a bucket and a muslin or cotton bag large enough to hold several handfuls of compost. Once you fill the bag, tie it closed, put it in the bucket, and fill it with water. Let it soak for three days, return the compost to the pile, and use the tea to water your plants.
Hanging baskets and flower boxes work well on porches where space may be at a premium. If a porch or balcony gets a lot of wind, secure a small trellis to a railing to act as a windbreak. On a balcony, you may want to use lightweight pots instead of clay ones to avoid adding too much weight to the structure. Even if you have an outdoor garden, consider using a few potted herbs to provide a focal point and variety.
While I have some herbs scattered around my flower gardens, I grow most of them in containers on my back porch. The sunlight is just right there and I can easily move them indoors to a table by my sunny kitchen window.
Part 2 provides details on how to harvest and prepare herbs for storage. It also contains information on how to make and use herbal preparations as well as information on essential and carrier oils.