A Timely Garden Tip posted by Tagawa Gardens
Hey there, garden friends! You know that moment when you’re cooking and think, “I wish I had some fresh basil right now”? Imagine reaching over to your windowsill and—voilà!—there it is! That’s the magic of a windowsill herb garden. Let’s take a look at how easily you can create your own little slice of herbal heaven.
Having a windowsill herb garden can be a game-changer! Fresh herbs just an arm’s length away can transform your meals! There’s likely to come a time when you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!
Growing Windowsill Herbs in Colorado
Here at Tagawa Gardens, we’ve found that some of the most popular herbs can be right at home on a windowsill:
Basil – Next time you’re with a group of friends, ask for a show of hands on their favorite herb. Odds are it’ll be basil. During the spring and summer season, Tagawa Gardens carries more than 20 varieties of basil… many of them suitable for growing on a windowsill. Basil needs six to eight hours of sun. South- and west-facing windows are ideal. All varieties of basil are extremely cold-sensitive, so be especially careful your plants aren’t exposed to a chill when the temperatures outside approach freezing. Keep basil consistently moist but never soggy, and make sure the pots you’re using have plenty of drainage.
Thyme – Thyme has no problem with our dry indoor air, but don’t even think about watering it if the top layer of soil is still moist. Plant thyme in regular potting soil with a big dose of gritty succulent soil mixed in to avoid root rot. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller containers, and its trailing habit adds some visual pop to your windowsill display. The best part? If you occasionally forget to water (happens to the best of us!), thyme is forgiving enough to soldier on.
Chives – These tough little plants can be one of your best friends in your herb garden. They adapt beautifully to growing indoors and don’t mind those cold weather temperature swings near windows. Their grass-like growth keeps providing fresh flavor all year, even when your outdoor garden is buried under a foot of February snow! The pretty blossoms are edible too, and can be a sweet decorative touch on serving platters.
Mint – We all know mint is the garden equivalent of that friend who shows up uninvited and stays too long in outdoor gardens, but in a pot on your windowsill? Perfectly behaved! Mint is pretty adaptable to different light conditions and adds such a fresh pop to both summer drinks and winter teas. Tagawa Gardens carries nearly 20 varieties of mint during spring and summer… and nearly that many types year round! Don’t keep the plants too wet. Water deeply, let the plants dry out a bit, then water again.
Getting Your Garden Growing
The list of supplies you’ll want for creating your windowsill garden is pretty basic.
What You’ll Need
Containers – Choose pots that will fit on your windowsill but still have enough room for healthy roots. Drainage holes are a must. Plastic pots are fine, but consider a glazed pot from Tagawa Gardens houseplant department for a more decorative look. Clay pots are excellent too. If it’s practical, find a long, narrow container that will fit on your windowsill and hold more than one herb. Just remember you don’t want to crowd your young herb plants. Give them room to grow!
Potting Mix – Never use soil from your garden. It’s too heavy and could create disease problem for your herbs. Instead, go for a quality houseplant potting mix, perhaps an organic brand. Tagawa Gardens has several indoor soils to choose from. Consider mixing in some perlite to improve drainage.
Must-Have Tools – Nothing fancy needed! Just a small trowel, some pruning scissors, and a watering can with a narrow spout for precise watering.
Planting Step-by-Step
- First things first—prep those containers! If you’re re-using a container, clean it first with a 10% bleach solution. Dunk it, then rinse it well with plain water and let it dry.
- Fill your pots with potting mix to about an inch below the rim. Give the container a gentle tap to settle the soil without compressing it too much.
- Given the depth of most windowsills, you’ll likely need to put just one herb in each pot. Remember to plant your young herbs at the same depth they were growing in their nursery containers, not higher and not lower. And take care not to disturb the roots of your new plants any more than necessary. If you’re concerned about soil spilling out of the drainage holes in your herb pots, line the bottom with a coffee filter. Do not add a layer of small rocks, which is counterproductive.
- After planting, give everything a good drink until water runs out of the drainage holes. If any pockets of soil sink, top off the soil until the surface is even.
Keeping Your Herbs Happy
Your herb garden is up and growing, so here’s Tagawa Gardens’ best advice to help it thrive:
Light & Temperature Tricks
Most herbs are sun-lovers, but our Colorado rays are INTENSE! South-facing windows give perfect light in winter, while east-facing windows are ideal during our scorching summers. Watch for signs of leaf scorch. Just as too much sun can burn our skin, it can also create brown patches on leaves. If that happens, you may need to adjust the amount of sun reaching your herbs.
Your herbs will be happiest when temperatures hover between 65-70°F. Keep them away from both air conditioning and heating vents. Drafty windows and cold weather can damage your herb garden, too. To be safe, protect your plants by pulling them back from the windows a bit.
Low humidity is the name of the game in Colorado Gardening
- Check soil moisture daily in your herb pots, or until you get a clear sense of how long a thorough watering lasts. You can judge how wet the soil is by using a moisture meter from Tagawa Gardens. You can also learn to key into a pot’s moisture content by simply lifting the pot and judging the weight.
- Water when the top layer feels dry, but just before your plants begin to wilt. Herbs that require more consistent moisture are an exception.
- Use room temperature water—cold water can be an unwelcome shock!
- Water at the base of plants until it drips from drainage holes, but don’t be afraid to give your herbs a light shower now and then to keep the leaves clean.
- If your plants are sitting on a saucer or otherwise don’t drain freely, remember never to let them sit in standing water for more than 15 minutes.
Harvesting For the Best Flavor
Regular harvesting isn’t just about having fresh herbs for dinner. It also encourages bushier growth and prevents herbs from getting leggy in lower-light indoor conditions. Cut stems just above a leaf junction, and don’t take more than one-third of the plant at a time. Be sure to harvest from all over each plant, not just from one side.
Harvesting herbs in the morning gives the most concentrated flavors. And if your herbs start to put out flowers, snip those blossoms as soon as you notice them. That will help the plant concentrate its energy into more leaves, not divert it to flowers you don’t want.
It’s More Than Just Herbs
Growing a windowsill herb garden brings the joy of gardening indoors, no matter what crazy weather is going on outdoors. Beyond having fresh herbs at arm’s reach, these little green friends create a living connection to nature right in your kitchen.
Creating your indoor herb garden does more than just level up your cooking game—it builds gardening confidence while adding natural beauty to your space. Each time you snip fresh herbs, you’re connecting to the timeless joy of nurturing plants, even if it’s on a smaller scale.
Ready to start your own windowsill herb garden? Visit Tagawa Gardens—we’d love to help you pick the perfect herbs for your unique Colorado growing space! Our team can help with everything from variety selection to personalized growing tips. We’re not just selling plants; we’re sharing the joy of growing!
See you soon at Tagawa Gardens, where your windowsill herb garden adventure begins!
