Who doesn’t love fresh herbs and flowers? At Charles Window, we love every season but seeing new plants and flowers popping up in spring is a unique experience. Today we’re here not just to tell you about new garden windows you could have installed to easily build your own garden, but also to show you what you need to get started.
It all starts with a sunny windowsill
The first and most important thing you need is a sunny windowsill. Ideally, find a window that faces either south or southwest. Then make sure that the window gets around six hours of good sunlight every day. This isn’t 100% necessary but it is the best way to get the best results.
Pick your herbs
Next, you’ll have to decide which herbs to buy. You can think about this in several ways. For example, you could think about which herbs you use the most and grow those, or you could think about which herbs you don’t generally use but would like to start using. Many people choose what’s known as the “fab four” because they’re very fragrant and work great in indoor gardens:
- Basil. Use this on bruschetta or make tomato and basil sauce.
- Rosemary. Rosemary and garlic potatoes are a favorite around here.
- Dill. Cucumber feta cheese bites are perfected with a bit of dill.
- Thyme. Cook up a delicious sauce for chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, cream, and thyme.
Find the right container
Next, you’ll need a container to start your garden. It should be between 6 and 12 inches deep. It also needs to have drainage holes. Put a saucer or some other similar thing under the container. This will catch any drainage so you don’t risk damaging the windowsill.
Buy soilless potting mix
Yes, you may assume that garden soil is the best option for your window garden but this isn’t generally true. Why? Because it’s very heavy, which means it won’t drain correctly in an indoor container. It may also have soil diseases that could prevent you from getting the bounty you’re looking for.
Follow the instructions for your herbs
Once you have everything you need, you’ll follow the instructions that came with the herbs you’re growing. While the general process is the same for them all, there are likely small things to do differently with each one. If you need a beautiful window in which to get the entire process started, reach out to Charles Window today.