Kitchen Herb Garden About This Page:

[Huntermom]

I love fresh herbs and prefer to cook with them, however, my pocketbook doesn't appreciate the cost. I am seriously thinking of starting a kitchen garden and maybe moving it outside in the summer.

My children and I are basil lovers so I think I may start with a pot of that and then expand.

Do any of you have indoor herb gardens? Any suggestions or recommendations?

[krisk11]

I too am curious about this

[unewillow]

I don't have one, but I've heard good things about the Chia Herb Gardens.

[Tink and co.]

We've had one in the past. It was easy enough, but I put it outside in the summer and witnessed my dog lifting his leg on it. I just couldn't cook with those herbs again! Now that dog has passed on. I may try it again. This is the same dog that broke into our "dog proof" composter and wound up poisoning himself. I must get back to composting too.

[lauriep]

I had one for years, as well as an outside herb garden in season. No longer do because I live in a teeny apartment with only one window. The only problem I ever had was that the inside herbs were very prone to white-fly. I never used pesticides, but kept the problem mostly under control by daily misting with plain water, occasional re-potting, and cutting back even when not using the herbs. I grew rosemary, basil, thyme, lemon-thyme and marjoram.

[chezp]

I've found basil very easy to grow. I did a garden last year, but DH, who's the main cook in the house, completely forgot about it and never used anything, so the stuff died off and I ended up throwing it, which was a real shame. Chives are another very simple thing to grow. I don't have a problem with growing things, it's getting him to use the results that's the problem!

[Disneydiana]

My basil plant just died but I've had it for about 3 years now. It was so easy to grow and maintain. I'm going to have to plant another one. I planted 2 in a large pot and placed them on my kitchen window over the sink. Whenever I washed dished I watered it. I'm terrible with plants so the fact that this basil plant lasted as long as it did was a miracle. I loved having fresh basil w/ mozzarella and tomato. I would just sprinkle some balsamic vinegar and a little bit or EVOO and I was set.

[Caldercup]

I have a raised bed with all my herbs -- parsley, rosemary, chives, sage, and thyme. I grow basil in big pots because we use so much of it. They all need lots of afternoon sun and good drainage, but are simple to care for once established. You just need to pinch them back occasionally -- but we harvest them every few days and kill two birds with one stone!

Oh... I also grow lemon balm to add to our summer iced tea, but that's stuff is pervasive and will take over every bed, so definitely don't grow it near anything else.

[Teresa]

I've always wanted to do one, so I find it interesting what other's experiences are. We have a mint plant I planted for decoration and we've been using it for the last 2 years - I didn't even realize that's what it was until I needed mint and DD said "well, mom, why don't you use the mint plant in the front?" Duh!

[katydid]

My raised beds wrap around one corner of our kitchen patio. I love having my herbs nearby. I grow basil, parsley, thyme, chives, cilantro, oregano, sage, and mint. The Mint is in a separate pot so it does not take over the garden.

The chives seem to re-seed and return the next year. The sage re-grows and the rest I re-plant each year although I usually pick one to bring indoors. This year it is thyme on my kitchen windowsill. If if lasts the winter I will return it to the garden.

I think it is a huge money saver, and the herbs look so lovely in the garden too!

[ChukkerB]

Chia herb garden is really cool. Unfortunately we can't have one anymore,the cats eat everything before it grows. A bald "Chia Garcia" is just dumb looking.

[Disneybine]

I admire those of you who have the patience to grow a kitchen herb garden. I don't really use fresh herbs much (yet) so I've never given growing them much thought. Who knows, maybe in a few years!