Easy Ways to Grow Culinary Herbs

Growing culinary herbs is very easy to accomplish with 5 simple tips. You are able to grow culinary herbs in a small patch of earth outside, in a small window planter and even in a small container inside.

No matter where you choose to plant the herbs, there are 5 basic requirements the herbs will need in order to thrive.

Sun Light

As with any plant, herbs need adequate sunlight in order to grow properly. Before planting your herbs, choose an outdoor area or indoor window that receives plenty of natural sun light throughout the day.

Herbs grow best when they receive at least 5 to 7 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Soil

When planting your herbs, they need to have well drained soil in order to grow appropriately. The soil's pH level needs to be around neutral of 6-7. Before planting your herbs, add a layer of compost containing nutrients for the herbs to grow.

If you choose to plant your herbs in a container, make sure there's at least one hole in the bottom of the container for the soil to adequately drain.

Water

Just like all other plants, herbs need water to grow. Successfully growing culinary herbs requires the soil to be more damp than wet.

Herbs prefer drier soil; therefore, the culinary herbs shouldn't be watered often. If you stick your finger one inch into the soil and it comes out wet, you're watering the herbs too much.

Fertilizer

You'll want to fertilize your herbs using organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers don't contain harmful chemicals that can pass through the herbs to you or your family once ingested. Choose a fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

These key nutrients allow your herbs to thrive. A couple of times per month, you'll need to fertilize the herbs with a spray. The fertilizer spray is much more efficient than root fertilizer.

Harvesting

When harvesting your herbs, make sure you don't harvest more than 1/3 of each plant. Although you can harvest your herbs anytime of day, the morning is considered to be the best time. The morning is when most oils remain on the herbs' leaves.

You'll also want to harvest your herbs before they begin to flower.

After your herbs are harvested, you can use them right away. If you don't want to use the herbs immediately, place the herbs in a plastic bag or plastic container to freeze them for up to six months.