There's no doubt that the warm weather which arrives during summer and spring months calls out to the gardener inside many of us.
Unfortunately, some of us don't have access to outdoor spaces with which we can grow herbs.
Luckily, growing herb gardens can be readily done indoors.
An indoor herb garden needs minimal maintenance and at the same time it offers the beauty and ambiance that comes with having indoor plants.
In this regard, growing herbs indoors serves a dual purpose since they have pleasant aromas and as such they are used in flavoring various recipes.
The first thing to do when you want to grow herbs indoors is visit the local green house or your local discount store and purvey the gardening section for ideas, inspiration, and supplies.
To grow herbs indoors you need to buy healthy seedlings as this is the easiest way to start out.
Healthy seedlings can be found by checking the expiration date of the seed package.
Additionally, ensure that you obtain some extra seed just in case not all the seeds germinate.
Herbs that grow well indoors include oregano, rosemary, chamomile, basil and mint.
The next task while obtaining your herb gardening supplies is to choose your plant containers.
These may be made from metal, plastic or ceramic.
Pick the one that complements your indoor decor.
For best results, try to use a minimum five gallon pot.
A large pot makes it possible for the plants to grow deeper roots and grow to larger size.
Although dedicated indoor herb gardening pots and kits exist, there is no need to acquire these.
Indoor herb gardens can grow in all variety of containers so this may be a good area to save some money.
Whatever your choice, you must ensure the containers have adequate drainage.
The next thing you should worry about when you want to grow herbs indoors is the soil.
Potting soil should be mixed with a small amount of lime and sand so that the plants are provided with optimal growing conditions.
Before you add soil to the container, layer the bottom with gravel to provide proper drainage.
The pot should then be filled with potting soil, but not all the way to the brim.
Leave two to three inches of clearance under the edge of the pot.
The location of your indoor herb garden determines how robust the individual plants will become.
Many herb plants need at least moderate sunlight.
The best locations are near sun-receiving windows.
The south facing windows are the most ideal since they provide more direct light than northern facing windows.
If you suspect that the herb garden is not receiving enough light, you should probably supplement it by adding some fluorescent lighting.
When the season is warm, you can leave the plants outdoors for a while as this will boost their growth.
Finally, your herbs require an ample supply of water so they will be able to thrive and flourish.
Even though it is essential to ensure that the herbs get enough water, over watering them can be extremely harmful to the plants.
You also need to monitor the level of soil moisture as this lets you know the number of times your herb garden needs to be watered.
Adapt a habit of watering the plants once in every one or two weeks.
Growing herbs indoors is relatively easy and can be done for minimal expense.
So don't let living conditions or financial concerns dissuade you from growing an indoor herb garden.
You'll be glad you did.