news&views Autumn 2018 | Page 19

Most herbs will require from four to six hours of direct sunlight daily to perform their best .
Most herbs will require from four to six hours of direct sunlight daily to perform their best .
glass or tile bit that is designed for this purpose . For metal containers such as tea tins , a regular drill bit will work . For unglazed containers , a masonry bit is best .
Humidity is often a problem during the winter months for growing herbs , as it is with many houseplants in our climate . An excellent way of adding humidity to a plant or grouping of plants is to put the pots on trays of pebbles . Fill a tray such as an old cookie sheet with small pebbles . Add pebbles to the tray , then add water until the water comes up to a height just below the tops of the pebbles . It is important that the water never touch the pot itself . Misting the plants frequently will also help .
While humidity needs to be optimized , it is just as important to ensure that there is proper air circulation around the plants . Plants grouped too closely together with poor air movement can experience fungal problems . Air movement in and around the plants is often neglected and yet is very important to the health of the plants .
Many herbs grow quickly and will need to be harvested frequently to keep their shape . You can dry the harvested herbs for use at a later date . You may also consider replanting herbs you harvest often so you ’ ll always have a fresh , young plant to take the place of an older one . Buying fresh-cut herbs in the grocery store can be an expensive proposition but buying a new plant every few weeks is still the less expensive alternative .
While fertilizing your plants is important , be
careful not to overfertilize . Fertilize with a well-balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 at one-quarter the recommended rate . Apply this diluted fertilizer every two weeks .
Herbs that grow well indoors include basil , bay , chives , marjoram , mint , oregano , parsley , rosemary , tarragon , and thyme .
Herbs that require special care include chamomile ( extra light ), chervil ( extra light ), coriander ( sparse watering ), lemon verbena ( sparse watering ), sage ( sparse watering ), and tansy ( sparse watering .)
There is something very appealing about walking into a kitchen that has a windowsill full of fresh herbs . The benefits of growing herbs are not only the visual appeal from the plants themselves , but also in the appeal of adding a very special touch to your meals . ● news & views AUTUMN 2018 | 19