Author Topic: Growing Herbs Indoors  (Read 2554 times)

Cool Friend

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Growing Herbs Indoors
« on: July 15, 2018, 11:55:01 AM »
My home doesn't have any access to actual garden space, but I have very large windows that get lots of sunlight, and roommates of mine have had good success with their potted plants.  I like to use fresh herbs in my cooking frequently, so I thought a good start would be to grow some of those.  I have no experience though.  What are the basic things I need to buy (on a Mustachian budget, of course)?  If I wanted to grow a few varieties (I'm most interested in parsley, rosemary, oregano, and maybe cilantro) would I be able to put them all in the same pot?

calimom

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2018, 06:27:49 PM »
Hello Cool Friend! I can try to address this, I own an indoor plantscaping business. The reality is, herbs inside do not do as well as those grown outdoors. It's worth a try though. Yes, you can pot a variety of things - like oregano, thyme, marjoram, etc. - in the same container. Try not to crowd them too much and put in the brightest spot possible. Use well draining soil and maybe some drainage rocks in the bottom of your pot. Watch the water, neither too dry or too wet. As they grow, prune them back so they don't get too leggy. There are some deals on herbs in 4"  nursery pots to be had at some big box stores and grocery stores. Wishing you luck and I know what you mean, fresh herbs are so tasty in cooking and salads.

Cool Friend

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2018, 08:10:34 AM »
Awesome, thank you so much for the tips!  Someday I hope to have a real outdoor space to work with, but for now I'll have to work with what I have.  Gonna see what prices are like at the Home Depot next weekend!

Vasilisa

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2018, 12:38:37 PM »
I second the "herbs don't grow great inside" thought. They're so much happier outdoors in the ground or in as large as a pot as you can manage outdoors. Is there really no where outside you could stash a few pots? Fire escape, front stairs, rooftop, neighbor's garden, community garden? Put you MMM thinking-cap on and see if you can get creative.

I'd do some research and see if you have a community garden close-by and/or a local garden club. Both can be great for advice, free plants and free pots. My local nursery has a section behind their store where people can leave and take pots and we have scored little decorative pots and giant 15-gallon pots for free.

Happy growing!

Cool Friend

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2018, 02:16:52 PM »
Sadly, there really is nowhere outside where I could expect the herbs to be safe.  For context, I live in a multilevel loft building in a very dense city.  I might be able to sneak something up to the roof (where we're technically not allowed and where the neighbors right below you can hear every step you take), but there's no guarantee the super won't just remove or destroy them.  My windows have about a 3-4 inch un-level stone lip, so I feel like there's a good chance wind or rain would knock them down if I tried to keep them out there.  There's a community garden, but the annual dues are $20 and that's if you make it off the waiting list.  I don't have my own fire escape, and the stairs to the entrance of the building are very high traffic, so any random person from the street could just steal/destroy the herbs, or the super could remove them for being in the way.

Is the difference in quality/success so significant that it's not really worth it to grow indoors?  Maybe this was a dumb idea.

FIRE@50

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2018, 02:23:01 PM »
Are there any city owned planters near your home? You could try planting some herbs there.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/powell-wyoming-pranksters-plant-marijuana-city-flower-pots-2018-07-15/

Raenia

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2018, 03:47:42 PM »
It's not a dumb idea, just don't expect great growth.  Not all your plants will take, so you just have to be prepared going in.  I'm in a similar boat, with nowhere to place them outside, so I have a rosemary and an oregano in a small pot by the window.  They're not doing great, but they're good for a few sprigs now and again.  The most difficult part so far has been figuring out exactly how often to water.  Keep an eye on them, and be careful not to over-water, I almost killed my oregano that way.  Still waiting to see if it recovers.

robartsd

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2018, 04:46:28 PM »
Any container garden needs careful attention to watering. Indoors is difficult because you want to make sure the soil is adequately drained, but you don't want a mess from runoff. Watering spikes or self watering pots can help as they are designed to wick water into the soil as needed.

Telecaster

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2018, 05:11:38 PM »
I love to cook with fresh herbs as well, so I think it is totally worth a shot.   For years I grew bay in a pot and yielded tons of fresh bay leaves.   I've done basil in the past as well.  Most herbs are Mediterranean plants, so they like lots of sun and warmth.   Since you have limited space, you may wish to consider what herbs you use the most, and prices and availability of the ones you regularly buy.  For example, fresh parsley is cheap by the bunch so that might be worth skipping.  Fresh thyme and rosemary are expensive, so they might be good candidates. 

FiftyIsTheNewTwenty

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2018, 02:07:11 PM »
Has anyone used a grow lamp to grow culinary herbs?  Mine are outside, but I have a spot that would make an attractive indoor herb garden too.

10dollarsatatime

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2018, 10:26:27 AM »
I've tried growing things indoors; specifically, I've tried starting plants for my garden.  It doesn't work well for me, but I don't have a great lighting situation for plants in my house.  Every single seedling I had got leggy before I could get them planted out in the garden.

My mom got me a Ball jar herb growing set for my birthday.  My boyfriend got me a grow light and stand for starting seedlings.  I'm going to attempt combining them and see if I can successfully grow indoor herbs this winter.

GuitarStv

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2018, 10:34:26 AM »
If I can make a suggestion - green onions.  Those things are damned near unkillable, and they'll grow just fine indoors.

I bought too many green onions from the grocery store many years ago.  We couldn't use them all, so I stuck the leftovers into some small pots and put them in the window.  For five years we had regular green onions whenever they were necessary (just trim the tops when you want some).  After five years and no fertilizer, they were starting to turn yellow, so I planted them in our back garden . . . where they promptly grew a zillion feet tall, went to seed, escaped and have successfully out-competed a good sized chunk of our lawn.  But now we've got lovely green onion smelling lawn when I mow.  :P

ReginaD.

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2018, 01:45:05 AM »
Just wanted to add that you can use herbs that you've bought in local grocery store instead of seeds.
I've experimented with a mint. All you need is to put fresh leaves in a glass of water and wait for roots to grow out of the cut. Then you set it in a pot.

limeandpepper

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Re: Growing Herbs Indoors
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2018, 03:58:38 AM »
Give it a go. I also have large windows and grow herbs completely indoors. If the window area also has good air circulation then even better. I grow mine in separate pots. Particularly prolific herbs in my windowsill herb garden are oregano, mint, Thai basil, and Vietnamese mint.