What do you do when your green thumb is calling this spring, but you're short on outdoor growing space? Bring the garden indoors. It's easier than you might think since there are a number of herbs that are even less complicated growing in the kitchen windowsill than in the garden outside.
Melodie McDanal, a Georgia certified plant professional and local Pike Nurseries associate said, "In Georgia, herbs can have difficulty growing outside in our dense clay soil and humid environment. If you're growing your herbs indoors, you'll have an easier time of it."
Many common herbs are from the Mediterranean region and that means lots of sun, well-drained soil and dry summers. McDanal recommends a variety of herbs that are not only perfect for an indoor garden, but that will also add just the right touch to your meals this spring.
• Basil: Great for Asian cooking with a slight undertone of clove, the fragrance of basil leaves will scent the entire kitchen. Start with sweet basil and prepare caprese salads and pestos. From there branch out and try other basils like purple ruffles and red rubin, which have pretty purple foliage and milder flavors to use in salads. Boxwood basil has small leaves and a compact growing habit, making it the perfect type of basil for small containers and mixed container gardens.
• Oregano: If you love cooking Italian dishes then oregano is a must to plant in your indoor garden. Dried oregano is a kitchen staple and once you've cooked with the fresh stuff, you won't want to go back. Oregano is perennial and it spreads quickly, so plant it where it has room to spill over the side of the container.
• Rosemary: This might be the most popular herb to use in cooking. Rosemary is evergreen so it lasts all year long and it is easy to grow. Drought tolerant, rosemary requires very little maintenance. It can be used with many different dishes, but try it with barbecue – its woody stems make great skewers for the grill
• Tarragon: An underused herb with an amazing flavor of licorice, try tarragon in stews. This herb is also great with chicken, in pastas and it can really liven up a southern potato salad.
• Mint: Mint is a very vigorous spreader that will overwhelm other herbs in the same container so be careful. It is perfect to use in desserts, but mint can also be served in salads, drinks and even fruit.
• Thyme: This herb has a lovely fragrance and both the lemon thyme and the wooly thyme with a soft, fuzzy and gray appearance are great container garden accents. Snip the leaves of thyme to use when cooking lamb, poultry, stews, chicken and tomatoes.
• Lavender: A must-have for an indoor garden, lavender is a wonderful plant to grow for its fragrance, gorgeous flowers and it is easy to dry for fragrant potpourri. Lavender is an excellent culinary choice to use with chicken, ham and salmon or to make breads, desserts and drinks.
Whether you want to start your indoor garden with seeds or bring home plants that are already thriving, you will find a large variety of herbs to choose from including certified organic seeds at Pikes Nurseries. McDanal says the folks at Pike can offer advice to help you turn your kitchen windowsill into a fragrant and culinary delight.
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