Here at Atitlan Organics, we can’t get enough of fresh, organically-grown herbs. We use them in a variety of ways; everywhere from housemade gourmet salad dressings and marinades, pestos, infused vinegars and natural insect repellants to adding a flavorful kick to our vibrant and bountiful farm-to-table salads.
Are you eager to start growing your own herbs but not sure where to start?
Don’t let limited space or a midas touch prevent you from delighting in the joy of growing your own edible plants. We’re here to help guide you throw the simple and easy process of growing an indoor herb garden so that you’ll be harvesting your own culinary herbs in no time.
Sunlight is Your Friend
One of the most important steps in ensuring a healthy and abundant herb garden is choosing the best possible location in order to maximize sunlight exposure. Most herbs need a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight a day to truly thrive and flourish. A good rule of thumb is to choose a south-facing window to take advantage of the natural light.
Get Creative with Containers
Sure, you can go down to your local nursery or hardware store and pick-up a few clay pots to begin your herb-growing adventure. Being that we are a zero waste farm, we encourage you to take that extra step and look around your house for materials you can upcycle and repurpose in unique and interesting ways. Look to things like old colanders, used yogurt containers or even tin cans you can brighten up with a splash of paint.
Make sure your container has at least 3- 5 drainage holes to allow for proper water flow, using a small drill to puncture holes if necessary. Proper drainage is crucial to a vibrant and healthy herb garden and letting the roots soak in wet soil can lead to rotted and damaged roots. You’ll also want something beneath the containers to capture the water so that it doesn’t leak all over the place. You can use either a clay, glazed or even metal saucer.
Tending to Your Herb Garden
One of our favorite things about herb gardens, besides the fact they are tasty, is that they are extremely low maintenance. You only need to water them every 2-3 days. Be sure to pay attention to what the plants are telling you. Are their leaves turning yellow and starting to fade? This may be a sign that you are either over, or under-watering, your herbs. Gently press your thumb into the soil up to a ¼ an inch to check the moisture level. Also, keep in mind the specific needs of your herbs; basil tends to be a thirsty bunch but other herbs like rosemary or chives prefer a drier soil.
One final note is that when it comes to choosing which herbs to plant, select ones that you already enjoy cooking with; whether it is sprinkling chives on your roasted potatoes, adding lemon thyme to a mixed green salad for a burst of flavor or crushing up fresh mint for your summer mojitos. Chives, basil, mint (spearmint or peppermint), lemon thyme, rosemary and sage are all good options and staples in our kitchen at the Bambu Guest House.