Growing herbs indoors

[TygrBright]

I'll cross-post this in Gardening, too.

I'm rearranging things in the kitchen/dining area, to make use of a corner that has good windows facing E/NE and SE/S. It has radiant (floor) heating set at 66 in the winter, and it gets down to about 66-67 F at night, but with passive solar it's quite warm during the day (73-76 F.) This is the Southwest, so it's fairly dry, naturally.

I cook with gas, but the stove is a good 12-15 feet from this corner area, so there's not much direct exposure.

Given these conditions, what can anyone tell me about success with growing herbs indoors, in pots. I'll be wintering in my outdoor pot of lemon grass, to start with. What else might do well, given that we're talking comparatively warm night temperatures?

curiously,
Bright

[Adsos Letter]

1. They should do fine.

My wife raises some herbs in our kitchen window (the sill is about a foot wide). You'll probably want to pay a bit more attention to watering than you would outside.

Completely ot, but I gotta say that I've always enjoyed your closing signature style.

[cbayer]

2. You can grow a lot of things, but you may need to replenish your plants during the winter.

Whatever you do, don't buy one of those cute "kits" with little pots and different seeds. Worthless.

I grew thyme, basil, oregano and parsley with good success this summer. What kind of herbs were you thinking about?

[TygrBright]

3. I was hoping for at least...

Italian parsley, basil, and mint, since those are the ones that benefit most from being fresh leaves. At least as I use them.

It would be nice to have a little rosemary and lavender for smellgood, too, but I am not sure I can pull those off.

No, I wasn't thinking of the cutesy-wootsy kits with matching adorable little pots. I was thinking of seedlings in 4" nursery pots, on a humiditray. I could put them in terracotta cachepots if I was feeling ambitious, I suppose.

I'll dry bunches of thyme, sage, tarragon, and oregano from the garden before the frost shuts everything down, and hope for the best with them. Some winters I can get rosemary off the bush right up through Christmas, sometimes not. But rosemary from Penzey's is okay, if not.

So your success with basil and parsley is encouraging!

appreciatively,
Bright

[cbayer]

5. I'm not sure about the mint.

They grow extensive root systems and may not do well in a small pot, but it's worth a try.

Rosemary and lavender are both really bushy. I'm not sure they would do well at all.

You might want to look at a "grow" store. I'm not sure where you are, but in some areas of the country there are stores that specialize in hydroponics and other equipment that can be used very successfully for indoor growing. These are sold primarily to people who are growing MJ, but can be used for other things.

Best of luck and let me know how it goes!

[TygrBright]

7. Thanks!

Yes, Santa Fe has an abundance of vendors for hydroponic and other indoor gardening systems, so it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with something that has a little supplemental lighting option, at least.

hopefully,
Bright

[cbayer]

9. If I knew you were in Santa Fe, I had forgotten.

It is one of my favorite place in the US. I lived there for a year many, many years ago and have revisited frequently.

Great time of year to be there right now.

Enjoy!

[TygrBright]

12. It is beautiful here indeed right now.

And our mountain winters are mitigated by the sun and dry air.

If you're ever back in the neighborhood, so to speak, be sure to look us up!

hospitably,
Bright

[The empressof all]

4. I think its mostly trial and error

I find I can grow oregano, parsley and chives quite well. I do supplement with a grow light because they are in a darkesh corner and our lower level of sun in Wa during the winter makes it a bit more difficult. I also use an aerogarden for fresh basil.

http://www.aerogarden.com/?cid=ppc_m

I have the six chamber one and it produces more than enough basil all winter for our family and to gift a neighbor

I think mint could do quite well as well in a bright window.

[TygrBright]

6. Oh, good reminder! Chives are another one I'd like to try.

Not sure I'm ready to invest in an aerogarden, but I might go as far as an ornamental stand that includes optional/removable fixtures for supplemental lighting on a timer. It's a very bright area but the day length is what it is, regardless.

Another issue is going to be working in the space for the plants, with space for a kitty teevee viewing platform, and making sure that the Feline Overlord doesn't confuse the two...

trepidatiously,
Bright

[The empressof all]

8. The areogarden is pricey

I got mine on sale and has been well worth it to feed my fresh basil addiction. Keep an eye out on craigslist for one. The replacement bulbs are a bit pricey as well but I have found they do not need to be replaced that often so it is a manageable expense for me.

I grow my herbs in pots on an Ikea rail system. It keeps them off the counter and out of the way but still handy.

[TygrBright]

10. The Ikea rail system-- wall mounted or overhead? n/t

[The empressof all]

17. Mine is wall mounted

It's next to a window in a spring and summer bright kitchen. I planted it last winter and it's done well

[pinto]

11. From my experience in general - the more sun the better, the larger container the better.

Those temps sound perfect. I used to drench the pots under a fine tub shower in the AM, drain and put back in place. Have fun!

[TygrBright]

13. I'm thinking plain organic potting loam, or is that too rich?

Most herbs I'm familiar with like a somewhat-lean soil, but that is outdoors, of course.

An organic loam with a good drainage layer of pebbles underneath, is what I'm thinking, or would it be worthwhile to amend with vermiculite and a little sand or poultry grit?

speculatively,
Bright

[pinto]

14. I think any potting mix that drains well is key, whatever you choose.

You can trial run a plantless pot with potting soil you may have on hand. Drench it well and drain. The soil shouldn't remain "soggy" for 2-3 days at a time - that's a menu for mold. I agree with empress above, trial and error and again, enjoy it!

[japple]

15. Basil is very easy to grow. I just put it in a little jar of water and it develops

beautiful roots in no time. You can probably keep it going indefinitely. I usually just either put it in the ground or use it in cooking. Mint, rosemary, lavender, (even parsley) has over-wintered here in N. GA until last year. We had such a severe winter that everything was killed. My fig trees were severely damaged. I had to cut everything back to the ground and (of course) no one in this area got mature figs this summer. The herbs never came back. Everyone in this area lost many of their long term plants as well.

I'm wondering if I can wrap things like lavender, rosemary and protect it this year? Will try a few new things.

[TygrBright]

16. On the Eastern Shore in Maryland, lavender occasionally succumbed...

...to a particularly cold and/or snowy winter.

My neighbor used to put a stake in next to his, and then arrange a net cylinder around it (I think he made them from bird netting) and fill it with straw.

He never lost a one, even the year we had multiple blizzards.

helpfully,
Bright