Imagine coming home to plants on your windowsills and porch, colorful pots filled with vegetables and herbs. Indoor gardens can take up little space and effort in daily life, and can help lighten the load on your wallet. Even indoor gardening can have a positive effect on your mental health and is often described as therapeutic, relaxing and peaceful. You don’t need to have a farm to have a garden, you just need a pot and a windowsill.
Low-maintenance plants do not require much water or attention, and herbs, vegetables and even berries can grow in your care. Miguel Rojas said, “My favorite part is that plants give me a routine in day to day life.” You can often find seeds and starters for cheap or even free. James McKenzie, a LMC student, said, “If a person is just starting I would stick with small things like window herbs, you see them all the time,” he continued by saying, “It’s just the perfect little thing to start out with.”
Most hardware or hobby stores sell seeds and even saplings, so that’s a good place to start if you can’t find what you’re looking for at a seed library. A seed library is a collection of seeds that are free to take and use; they are located in most Contra Costa County libraries.
McKenzie said, “You don’t need a 20000 acre ranch to grow your own produce.” Growing your own herb in a windowsill can seem like a daunting task, but it can be made simple based on what you choose to garden. Leafy greens and herbs are some of the most versatile and low-maintenance plants that don’t require much besides the basic necessities that all plants need—sunlight, water, and soil.
Here are some tips and tricks on how to start your own windowsill garden:
The first task to knock off the list is the location of where you would like to place your windowsill garden. Make sure that the area is well-lit so that you don’t have to purchase an artificial light.
Make sure that it is easily accessible. Some areas to consider would be the window above your kitchen sink, or a window in your bedroom or living room.
Consider the climate of the area you choose. If it’s too hot, herbs and leafy greens might wilt, if it’s too cold, the plants won’t produce as quickly as you would like. Make sure the area you’re working with feels nice to you, so that it will be nice for your plants. The optimal temperature for any herb or leafy green plants is between 70 and 75 degrees according to Simply Living Well.
Some easy herbs to grow in your windowsill garden are chives, basil, rosemary and thyme. Each herb needs ample sunlight, proper soil and regular watering to produce the fullest herb garden possible. Some other herbs you can grow in your outdoor garden or windowsill are parsley and cilantro. These are mostly used as garnishes, but can be incorporated into vegetable, chicken, or seafood stocks.
