With the right plants and conditions, you can plant and enjoy fresh herbs in winter

Enjoy Fresh Herbs, Even In Winter

Nothing beats fresh herbs to improve and enhance your cooking. With the right selection and conditions, it’s possible to grow herbs right in your home, even in the dead of winter. Transplant herbs from your garden, or start from scratch with seeds to create your potted herb garden.

Grow Your Herbs on The Sunny Side

Indoor herbs need as much sun as they can get, so be sure to place them in a sunny spot, preferably in a south-facing window. (Windows facing east or west should also work, but north-facing windows won’t get enough light.) You can also choose to supplement the sun with a grow lamp that can shine on your herbs for up to 12 hours a day. Find grow lamps at your local garden center or online.

Plant Your Herbs in Quality Soil

Your herbs will need ample nutrients, oxygen and moisture at the root level. Always use a quality potting mix, such as Springfield’s Soil Rich, that will allow for proper airflow and drainage so your herbs can root deeply and thrive.

Or, Grow Your Herbs Hydroponically

Another great way to grow herbs indoors is to grow them using hydroponics. Growing plants hydroponically means growing without soil, either directly in water or with a soil-less media like coir (coconut fiber), perlite, or clay pebbles. So, when you add nutrients to the water, they go straight to the plant’s roots for faster growth and bigger harvests compared with traditional gardening. 

Grow Your Herbs from Seeds

If growing from seed, look for newer varieties that are dense and compact, since they are likely to grow better in containers. Plant seeds in a seed starting mix, such as Springfield’s Seed & Seedling Potting Mix. Plant most herb seeds no deeper than an inch, or simply sprinkle them on top of the soil and cover loosely. Cover the container with a plastic dome or bag, and place in a warm spot—out of direct sunlight—until the seeds germinate. Once your seeds have started to germinate, remove the plastic cover and move to a sunny location.

Water and Feed Your Herbs

Avoid over-watering your herbs. Let the potting mix dry down between waterings. Stick your finger in the potting mix up to your knuckle. If it’s dry, it’s time to water. Water thoroughly, until you see pooling near the container holes. Apply the water to the base of the plant, and try to keep water off the leaves. To promote a long growing-period, feed your herbs every two weeks with Springfield’s Bone Meal.

Maintain and Enjoy Your Herbs

Frequent, light pruning of the plants in your potted herb garden not only means that you get to enjoy them in your cooking but also helps keep your plants compact and growing new leaves. Pruning will prevent your plants from growing too tall, and harvesting often helps extend the growing period of your herbs so you can get the most out of them. Keep an eye out for flowers, and pinch them off just below the bud as soon as you see them appear.