Home Grown
household herb gardens have plenty of potential uses
David Mink gatehouse plus

Although the coming of winter means the loss of the garden you’ve worked so hard on over the spring and summer, it doesn’t mean you can’t still practice your green thumb. Bringing your garden indoors by planting windowsill herbs may be just the thing to chase away those pesky winter blues.

There are a variety of herbs that are suited for growing indoors throughout the winter. These include basil, parsley, dill, chives, sage, oregano, sweet marjoram and summer savory. Most of these require minimal care, and many will grow easily on their own, provided they’re given a fighting chance.

Herbs can be started from seeds, from offshoots or from ready-made plants at your local greenhouse. Each plant will require at least a six-inch container, a good draining potting soil and at least 5 hours of sunlight per day.

To start, fill your pots with a two- or three-inch layer of potting mix. Plant your herbs in the mix, and then finish filling the pot, tamping firmly around the plant. Leave at least a one- to two-inch space at the top for watering.

Herbs don’t require a gross amount of water. Water sparingly.

“The herbs do better if grouped and set on a tray of pebbles that are kept wet,” said Ron Smith of North Dakota State University’s extension service. “Use only pasteurized potting soil, and allow it to dry slightly between waterings.”

Your plants will also grow more bushy if you trim and use them regularly. Remember, however, never to trim more than a third of the plant’s foliage. Overtrimming can stunt the growth of the plant, or even kill it.

In the absence of natural sunlight, herbs can be grown under fluorescent lighting. Sunlight is always a better option, as it takes at least twice as much fluorescent light to equal the growing strength of your everyday UV rays.

For extra help, check out www.herbal-society.org. The society highlights a different herb every month, providing full descriptions, uses and growing tips for nearly every herb imaginable. Herbs 101 . Yarrow — Dried yarrow flowers can be used for decoration and in potpourri mixes. . Honeysuckle — The flowers can be used for making teas, vinegars, jams, jellies and add interest to fruit curd. . Basil — Basil works well in combination with tomatoes. The leaves are best used fresh and added only during the last few minutes of cooking.

. Thyme — Thyme is superb in recipes that call for long, slow cooking as it is one of the few herbs that won’t lose its flavor when cooked for a long time. — Courtesy www.herbalsociety.org.