Herb garden is an easy indoor project

By Angela O'Callaghan

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 | midnight

An indoor herb garden might be the easiest and most practical project any homebound horticulturist can create. While it might be too chilly to play outdoors in the dirt, there is no reason not to encourage these enormously practical plants to grow inside.

"Herbs" is such a big category of plants; it includes virtually any non-woody plant whose edible leaves are fragrant in small amounts. They are rarely added to food in large quantities because they can be so potent. Some plants, such as garlic, are sometimes placed in this class although there are many of us who joke that it should be considered a food group unto itself. Others, like rosemary, have become such important members of Southwestern landscapes that they may be ignored as herbs.

Choosing which herbs to include is part of the fun. Is it most important to have something for cooking? In that case, select the basics. Some are particularly attractive as well as being culinary staples. There are many basil (Occimum spp.) varieties — with frilled leaves, or deep purple ones, or both, that will thrive in pots. Thyme is another adaptable herb with a wonderful assortment of leaf sizes and flavors. Mint, which can be invasive in a garden, will grow well indoors. Many cooking herbs will scent the air if one brushes them in passing.

In this big group are plants of all timings. There are annuals — those that flower and produce seeds once in their lives, usually in a time period of a year or so. Basil is in this group.

Biennials like parsley will also only produce seeds once, but they require a period of cool temperatures and short days to do so. Plants such as sage and thyme are perennials, which will flower and produce seeds many times. Growing them indoors enables the gardener to manipulate them easily, to trick them out of flowering. This can be important with annuals and perennials because once one of these has produced seeds, it will soon die. Mainly, the manipulation means simply pinching back the youngest leaves, the growing points where flowers would otherwise develop.

Like all indoor plants herbs need light, decent soil and even moisture to grow well. Fortunately for Southern Nevadans, light is seldom a problem. Even most north-facing windows will receive enough sunlight to support growth. Good potting mix, not soil from outdoors, is the best for growing plants in pots. The term "evenly moist soil" is a good description for the necessary water regime. Plants respond poorly to extremes of wet and dry.

Herbs, especially culinary ones, are terrific additions to the kitchen environment, and kitchens are certainly the obvious place for them. A series of potted herbs in the kitchen window will be flavorful and attractive, and the moist air around the sink will also help them stay perky.

Until it is time to move back outdoors, the little indoor herb garden can be very satisfying.

Angela O’Callaghan is the area specialist in social horticulture for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached c/o the Home News, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074, or [email protected].