Growing Herbs in Your Apartment

No matter where you live, you can have your own herb garden and reap the many benefits of being an herb gardener.  When I got my first apartment, one of the first things I did was begin herb gardening in pots, including basil, oregano and parsley.

In addition to those outside, I added some indoor herb plants. I lined up many little herb containers around the only window that faced south, such as lavender and lemongrass. The two herbs combined to create a delightful scent throughout the apartment.

In a later apartment in the city I had almost no sun because what little I could have had was blocked by an iron grate that covered the whole opening. I built my own flower bed to hang on outside the grating, using chicken wire and a lot of materials that allowed the right amount of drainage. Then I added a mixture of herbs and hanging vines. It looked brilliant, but needed to be watered too frequently.

You can enjoy the same successes that I have experienced if you take a couple of basic rules of thumb to herb gardening and apply them to your apartment or living space.

First things first, look around your apartment to find places where you can grow your herbs. Do you have a suitable indoor or outdoor space where you can get your green thumb on? Do not believe that you need some large elaborate spot either. Did you know that a number of herbs can grow in small places? For example, you can cultivate chives for your next baked potato in a container about the size of an espresso cup—provided it has enough drainage.

Check out the lighting to see what will work. The type, quality and amount of sunlight your herb plants get is hugely important. Not enough sun or the wrong type and you will have some pretty pathetic plants. In an apartment I had in the city several years ago I had two windows in the whole spot: one faced east, which meant that it got the full morning sun, but nothing else and the other, a tiny window in the bathroom faced south—which is the best way to face—and that one became my herb garden window. I actually believe it worked out quite well, because the herbs really seemed to benefit from the moisture and steam in the bathroom.

Now that you know where you are going to begin your herb garden and you have determined what kind of light you will have, such as the quality, type and amount of light you’ll have, you’re ready to start picking your plants. I could go on for days about which herbs to choose, but the bottom-line comes down to how you plan to use the herb plants. Are you looking to grow culinary herbs, florals, first-aid or medicinal herbs? Maybe you are looking for the right ingredients for your lotions or shampoos. For just about every need you have, there is an herb out there with your name on it. Start by flipping through a book on herb gardening and focus on herb plants that have the natural light needs that your space can respond to. Before you know it, you’ll be all set!

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Windowsill Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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