Prairie Hawk Farm: Seed Starting Old School Style - Carton Planters

Prairie Hawk Farm: Seed Starting Old School Style - Carton Planters: Do you remember those childhood projects using empty milk cartons to plant seeds in? Well, that practice is still in use at this homestead. ...

More on Growing Herbs Indoors - Quick Tips

If you've been meaning to plant some herb pots to keep indoors, then choose larger, deep pots if space permits.  12" deep pots with a nice wide diameter are my favorite.  Avoid pots with a narrow diameter, as these will dry out quicker.  The increased amount of soil in deep pots allow for better moisture retention and give the roots more space to spread out in, so they're more forgiving of you forgetting to water them (I say when, not if).
If you only have a small space for plant pots, then remember that you can combine several herbs into one.  I've seen parsley, thyme, and basil sharing space happily in the same container.
Parsley, basil, and chia are pretty tough customers.  They make good starter plants for people who are new to growing herbs.  Yes, I said chia.  They're not just good for a laugh.  Chia is an easy-growing, super nutritious food source.  Use them just as you would sprouts:  as an additive to salads, sprinkled over burgers, baked potatoes, and anything else that you would top with sprouts.
Most of all, don't give up.  Even if you've killed lots of cute little herb pots in the past, don't believe that you can't do it.  Each failure brings us lessons that eventually lead to success.  Remember that you can always bring your questions here!

Growing Herbs in the Kitchen

Just because the cold weather has arrived doesn’t mean you have to give up fresh herbs. Growing many herbs year-round in the kitchen is easy and can add beauty to your kitchen as well as wonderful flavors to your food.

Most herbs can easily be started from seeds. Just place them is well drained soil like you would any other seed you were trying to sprout. Coming up with just the right pot can be a lot of fun too. I let the kids jazz up some clay pots. Having the kids decorate them for you not only gives them a creative outlet, but it can also get them interested in gardening. My kids love to see plants growing in pots they have painted for me. Keep the seeds in a window if possible, but keep them close enough that you don’t forget about them when you cook!

Basil, rosemary, thyme and parsley are only a few of the herbs you can grow in the kitchen, and some are ready to harvest in as little as six weeks. That means you could be using fresh grown herbs before the spring planting season begins. Many herbs will grow for years once started, and the flavor of fresh herbs just can’t be beat by the dried herbs you buy in the store. If you have a few extra minutes, give it a try!