Fanciful Indoor Herb Gardens Fresh herbs are easy to grow and use all around the house. Have some fun by finding containers for an indoor herb garden that remind you to use herbs every day. Portable Indoor Herb Garden Learn how to use vintage elements to create an herb garden that moves easily from the windowsill to the sink to the countertop. Plant an indoor herb garden for tea in your kitchen window with large ceramic teacups. Use a jeweler's bit to drill small holes in the bottoms of the cups for drainage. Herbs for tea: English mint, chamomile, pineapple sage, and orange mint. Learn more about growing herbs indoors in winter. Let a soothing herbal bath soak your worries away with this indoor herb garden. Simple plastic pots fit neatly into a wire rack next to the tub. Bubble-shape glass beads prevent soil splatters when watering. Toss freshly cut leaves into warm bath water, or tangle a bundle of leaves under the faucet as the tub is filling. Bath herbs: lemon balm, French lavender, apple-scented geranium, and chamomile.

Learn how to start herbs from seed. Fresh herbs are flavorful additions to many dishes. Plant your favorites in old aluminum kitchen canisters for an indoor herb garden. Drill small drainage holes in the bottom with an power drill. Make sure the planters get plenty of sun and don't let the soil dry out. Herbs for cooking: rosemary (pork, potatoes), parsley (pasta dishes), oregano (sauces, soups), sage (chicken, vegetables), basil (salads), and dill (fish). Starting Herbs from Seed Strawberry Jar Lamp, detail To avoid mixing water and electricity, the lamp's works are kept completely separate from the strawberry jar base in this indoor herb garden. Add a shade -- the kind that clips to the bulb -- to complete the project. For best growth of the herbs, keep the lamp near a sunny window, and turn the jar regularly to give each plant its time in the sun. Check out this miniature herb garden. Humans aren't the only ones who enjoy indoor herb gardens. Treat your cat by planting feline-friendly herbs in aluminum or stainless steel pet bowls for an indoor herb garden.

The no-slip bottoms will keep the containers in place when kitty comes nosing around. Be sure to drill drainage holes. Herbs for cats: catnip and lemongrass. Some indoor herb gardens delight the nose instead of the tongue. Plant scented herbs in taller containers that invite a brush of the hand to release aromas in these inventive indoor herb garden. Attach rattan to the surface of a glass vase (hot glue works fine) to make the container easier to hold and to disguise the long stretch of dirt and drainage pebbles inside. 1960s Outdoor FurnitureWater carefully to avoid soggy soil. Mini Dogs For Sale In MichiganHerbs for scent: lavender and scented geraniums, available in many fragrances, including chocolate, peppermint, and lemon.Chocolate Brown And Aqua Shower Curtain

Turn a broken toaster into a fanciful indoor herb garden holder. Remove the toaster's electrical innards, and leave the bottom open. Use a brick to put potted herbs at the right height to grow out of the toaster slots. Herbs for toast: Top toasted focaccia bread with butter and lemon-scented thyme leaves for a citrusy start to the day. Here's a new way to turn on to herbs: Transform a strawberry jar into an accent lamp as well as an indoor herb garden. Start by painting the terra-cotta pot with primer and flat (nonglossy) white latex paint. Cut a wooden disk to fit the top of the pot, and screw a wired lamp socket into the wood. (The lid lifts off for watering to avoid shocks. Use a grow-light bulb to augment window light for the plants. Herbs in this lamp: dwarf sage and oregano. Grow and Use Fresh Herbs An Herb-Lover's Favorite Herbs Use Flowers to Add Color to Cookie FrostingHow to Grow a One-Pot Indoor Herb Garden If you're a beginning indoor gardener, try starting with a one-pot herb garden in your kitchen or on any windowsill exposed to sunlight.

Plate or tray (optional) Step 1 Learn about cooking herbs Go online to learn about cooking herbs that are easy to grow indoors, if you’re a beginning gardener. Start with herbs that don’t require much sunlight, such as chives. Step 2 Go to a nearby garden store Go to a garden store. Buy a pot with drainage holes on the bottom. For growing an individual plant, a pot should be no larger than 6 inches in diameter. Buy a plate or tray to prevent any water from drainage holes from dripping on the floor. Step 3 Get a baby plant Get a baby plant or seedling if you’re a beginner. Growing from seeds can be a more complicated process. Start with one type of herb per pot. Different types of herbs growing in the same pot can have different growth patterns and require different care. Step 4 Fill the pot with soil Fill the pot with soil, three inches from the top. Dig a small hole in the soil. Remove the seedling from the nursery container and plant it. Pack soil over the roots.

Don’t use soil from outside because exposure to outdoor elements can make it incompatible with indoor growing conditions. Step 5 Locate the pot Locate the pot where it can get maximum sunlight, especially in the winter. A window facing southwest is ideal. Step 6 Add organic fertilizer Add organic fertilizer, like fish emulsion or liquid seaweed, every two weeks. Too much fertilizing can negatively affect the taste of herbs like basil. Step 7 Don't overwater Don’t overwater, which can rot the roots. Routinely touch the soil and if it feels dry, moisten the soil at the stem. Yellow leaves can indicate overwatering. Enjoy your indoor garden. Koalas adhere to a diet of eucalyptus leaves, an herb that’s poisonous to most other animals.Best Herbs for Container Gardens Whether you've got an acre of land or just a windowsill, it's a good idea to grow herbs in containers for easy access to their wonderful flavors. Share your take on this idea!Upload your photo here.

You don't need an estate to grow a gorgeous (and useful!) herb garden. Most herbs are perfect container garden plants and will thrive on your deck, patio, balcony, fire escape, or front steps, provided you offer them the right growing conditions. First and foremost, herbs need full sun for best performance. Place your containers in locations that receive at least eight hours of direct sun. Grow indoor herbs in the sunniest location you can find, but don't expect them to perform as well as they do outside. Also, don't give your herbs too much love. most herbs will give you the strongest fragrance and flavor if they're grown in lean soil. while most herbs prefer dry conditions, some need more moisture to thrive. Use a soil-less potting mix to provide excellent drainage and space for roots to grow. Perennial herbs can survive in containers outdoors year-round if the pots are large enough (holding at least 5 gallons of soil), have good drainage, and are hardy in your Zone.

ceramic or clay containers will often crack from freeze-thaw cycles. Or lift your perennial herbs from pots and transplant them into the garden in late summer, giving the herb enough time to establish a new root system to survive winter. You can also treat container-grown perennial herbs as annuals, discarding them at the end of the season. Best Herbs for Container Gardens Basil, a beloved Italian annual herb, grows best in full sun and fertile, moist soil. Once the root system is established, about six weeks after sowing, it tolerates short periods of drought. Basil is a good companion with parsley, thyme, and other herbs when grown in a pot that holds at least 5 gallons of soil. For small containers, choose a compact variety such as 'Spicy Bush'. Learn more about basil. Chives are grassy, clump-forming perennials with hollow leaves. Essentially tiny onions, chives are grown for their leaves and blooms rather than their bulbs. Their fragrant pink-purple spring flowers are also edible.

Plant them in well-drained potting soil that's rich with organic matter. They can tolerate light shade but do best in full sun. Chives grow well in container gardens. Because they're hardy in Zones 3-10, you can leave them outdoors year-round. Learn more about chives. Cilantro, also known as coriander, can be used for its tangy leaves or its dried, ground seeds. Plant this annual herb in well-drained soil. Cilantro grows best in sun, although it tolerates some shade. Because it has a long taproot, place it in a container garden that is at least 12 inches deep. Learn more about cilantro. Tarragon is a classic French herb used to season fish and many other foods. Its name is derived from the French word for little dragon, referring to the herb's bold flavor. Plant it in full sun and well-drained potting mix. It tolerates drought well and should not be overwatered. Tarragon grows in partial shade but does best in full sun. Learn more about tarragon. Lavender is a bushy perennial shrub that does best in full sun and well-drained potting mix.

Keep it on the dry side and avoid fertilizer. Lavender hardiness depends on the variety; the toughest are hardy in Zones 5-10. Learn more about lavender. Lemon balm, an old-fashioned favorite that spreads freely and self-sows readily, is perfect for container gardens so it doesn't take over the yard. Plant in partial shade or full sun and in moist, rich, well-drained potting mix. Learn more about lemon balm. Lemon verbena is a tropical shrub (hardy in Zones 9-10) that's commonly grown as an annual in container gardens. Plant nursery-grown plants in pots filled with well-drained potting mix. lemon verbena grows best with few nutrients. It prefers full sun. Learn more about lemon verbena. Marjoram, an oregano relative, has a sweeter, milder flavor and aroma than its cousin. Grow it in full sun and well-drained potting mix. It's perennial in Zones 8-10, so gardeners in colder areas can grow it in container gardens indoors over winter. Learn more about marjoram.

Mint is such a vigorous plant that it will become invasive unless it is confined in a pot. Grow it in full sun or partial shade. Mint can grow in many soil types and degrees of sunlight, but it produces the best leaves in rich soil. It's a perennial, but its hardiness varies by variety, so check which type you are growing. Learn more about mint plants. Oregano is an essential ingredient in Mediterranean cuisines. The plant is a shrubby perennial that does best in full sun and well-drained potting mix. The more sun oregano receives, the more pungent the flavor of the leaves. It does not tolerate wet soil. Learn more about oregano. Rosemary, a Mediterranean evergreen shrub, likes hot, dry, sunny spots. Quick-draining soil is the key to good growth. Keep the soil moist but never wet when grown indoors. Zones 7-10Learn more about rosemary. Sage is a favorite for seasoning poultry. Best grown in full sun and moist, well-drained potting mix, sage is perfect for adding structure to container gardens.